Indiana University

Universities are engines of economic development—from educating students for the demands of the 21st century workplace to fueling the scientific and technological discoveries that build new businesses.

In response to the changing Indiana economy, IU President Michael A. McRobbie established the IU Office of Engagement in 2007 to build relationships between university researchers and Indiana business leaders. The Office of Engagement now coordinates economic development activities across all eight campuses and in every corner of the state. Among the Office’s success stories are:

• A healthcare/hospital study in Gary that is helping align the healthcare needs of the community with expanded health and human services degree programs at IU Northwest

• Inventrek Technology Park in Kokomo, providing office and lab space to local start-ups

• Center for Entrepreneurship in Richmond, where students and community members are starting their own businesses and creating new jobs for local workers

• Plans for a new cancer research center in South Bend that brings together IU and University of Notre Dame researchers focused on cutting-edge cancer treatments that target cancers at the molecular level

To help IU continue to find new ways to fuel economic growth in Indiana, IU President Michael A. McRobbie assembled a 12-member Economic Development Cabinet in June 2009. These distinguished business and community leaders will meet at least three times a year to offer insight into the ways that the university can leverage its research assets into projects that will contribute to statewide growth. Members of the Cabinet include:

• Dr. Gary Anderson, IU Foundation board member; Venture Capitalist in Residence, IU Bloomington Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship

• Dr. Gregory Ayers, president, Ayers Medical Consulting, LLC

• Joseph Davie, trustee, Joseph and Janet Davie Foundation

• Neil Diver, principal, The Development Group

• Harry Gonso, IU Foundation board member; partner, Ice Miller, LLP

• Michael Hatfield, president and CEO, Cyan Optics, Inc.

• Mark Hill, managing partner, Collina Ventures, LLC

• Scott Jones, co-founder, chairman and CEO, ChaCha Search, Inc.

• Jane Halagiere Martin, IU Foundation board member; general partner, Village Ventures, Inc.

• Dr. Michael Mirro, cardiologist, treasurer and corporate secretary, Fort Wayne Cardiology

• William R. Neale, partner, Krieg DeVault, LLP

• Anne Shane, vice president, BioCrossroads