The Office of Innovation provides support to faculty and staff who invent approaches, processes and technologies to solve pressing problems. By leveraging collaboration, local and national resources, and expert connections within industry plus funding vehicles, we help promising innovations find a pathway forward.
The Office of Innovation has built a robust ecosystem to support innovation and entrepreneurism on campus and within the State of Iowa based on fortifying these three areas necessary to succeed: talent, capital and culture.
Meet Our Team
Jon Darsee
Chief Innovation Officer
jon-darsee@uiowa.edu
Stephanie Dengler
Director of Operations,
Iowa Research Park
stephanie-dengler@uiowa.edu
Jeff Kueter
COO
Director, Strategic Initiatives and External Engagement
Director, Protostudios and Iowa MADE
Liz Hubing
Assoc. Director of Business Development and Communication
elizabeth-hubing@uiowa.edu
Austin Korns
Associate Director of Economic Development
austin-korns@uiowa.edu
Chris Parker
Director, UI Ventures
Chief Technology Officer, Medical Innovation
christopher-parker@uiowa.edu
Jordan Kaufmann
Exec. Director, Iowa Nurse Innovators
Special Advisor to the Chief Innovation Officer
jordan-kaufmann@uiowa.edu
Allison Hurt
Associate Director, Iowa Nurse Innovators
allison-hurt@uiowa.edu
Nicole Weathers
Nurse Innovator Liaison, Iowa Nurse Innovators
nicole-weathers@uiowa.edu
Amber M. Cardona
Administrative Service Specialist
amber-cardona@uiowa.edu
Jordan Jones
Director of Bible Archaeology & Special Projects, Creative Media Producer
jordan-jones@uiowa.edu
Chuck Romans
3D Design Director, Protostudios
charles-romans@uiowa.edu
Michael Sneller
3D Design Product Designer, Protostudios
michael-sneller@uiowa.edu
Ron Troester
3D Print Technician, Protostudios
ronald-troester@uiowa.edu
Sharon Spurgeon
Admin Services Coordinator, Protostudios
sharon-dsouza@uiowa.edu
Rose Grau
Marketing Coordinator, Office of Innovation
rose-grau@uiowa.edu
Garret Caltrider
Innovation Coordinator, Iowa MADE, Protostudios
garret-caltrider@uiowa.edu
Mikayla Kamon
Innovation Coordinator, Iowa MADE, Protostudios
mikayla-kamon@uiowa.edu
Erica Wahe
Student Junior Prototyping Assistant, Protostudios
erica-wahe@uiowa.edu
Samin Tushan
Junior Prototyping Assistant, Protostudios
stushan@uiowa.edu
Anwitha Vempati
Junior Prototyping Associate, Protostudios
Anwitha-Vempati@uiowa.edu
Aayush Mistry
Junior Prototyping Associate, Protostudios
Aayush-Mistry@uiowa.edu
Marin Denes
Junior Prototyping Associate, Protostudios
marin-denes@uiowa.edu
Heriberto Salgado Jr.
Junior Prototyping Associate, Protostudios
heriberto-salgado@uiowa.edu
Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows
In its fourth year, The Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows program has selected 12 graduate trainees to participate in a prestigious, year-long educational experience designed to immerse them in the dynamic world of healthcare innovation.