Tuscon, AZ /PRNewswire/—The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) announced today that Carol Stewart has been appointed as its Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Stewart is an experienced research park leader with a more than 25-year career serving the academic/not-for-profit sector, as well as the high-tech industry in Waterloo region located in Ontario, Canada. In addition to Ms. Stewart's appointment, AURP formally announced its 2017 Board of Directors and executive officers.
Ms. Stewart currently manages the David Johnston Research + Technology Park at the University of Waterloo, where she spearheads creation, planning, and development of the park, among other responsibilities, and she leaves the R+T Park as it approaches the one-million-square-foot milestone. Ms. Stewart is the Co-Founder and Immediate Past-President of AURP Canada (the association's Canadian chapter) and has been an active board member of AURP since 2010.
"Throughout Carol's career and during her time with AURP Canada, she has demonstrated her ability to foster collaboration and cultivate innovation amongst every level and type of partner and affiliate. She empowers those around her and encourages a drive that is infectious. We are excited about our selection of Ms. Stewart as the next AURP leader to continue to move forward both the Association and research parks," said AURP President Mason Ailstock, President and Founder of Convergent Consultants, PBC. "Additionally, we are equally pleased with this year's AURP board appointees, and look forward to an exciting year."
The 2017 newly-elected AURP board members include:
- Leah Burton, Director of Centennial Campus Partnership Office and Industry Alliances at NC State University
- Stephen Frayser, MBA, MPA, Executive Director of STAR Park at Texas State University
- Denis Gauvreau, PhD, Director of International Affairs at Genopole France
- Tiffany Griego, MBA, Managing Director of Asset Management for Stanford Real Estate at Stanford University
- Greg King, CEcD, Associate Vice President for Economic Development at Georgia Institute of Technology
Mr. Ailstock, who formerly served as Chief Operating Officer of The Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, now serves as AURP President for a two-year term. Jeanne Mell, Vice President of Marketing Communications and Community Engagement at The University City Science Center, serves as Vice President. Ken Marcus, Director at University of Arizona Science and Technology Park and Chief Financial Officer of the Campus Research Corporation, serves as Treasurer. Mr. Frayser serves as Secretary. At-large officers include Ms. Burton and Aaron Miscenich, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer, New Orleans BioInnovation Center, Inc. Charles D'Agostino, MBA, Executive Director of the LSU Innovation Park, completed his two-year term as President of the AURP Board of Directors and continues as Past President of AURP.
A full roster of the 2017 AURP Board of Directors is available at http://www.aurp.net/leadership.
About the Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
The Association of University Research Parks is a professional association of university related research and science parks. AURP's mission is to foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth through university, industry and government partnerships. For more information, visit AURP's web site at www.aurp.net.
