UGA Industry Forward graduates inaugural faculty cohort
University faculty develop plans to forge industry partnerships
Following the success of the Industry Forward Symposium at the University of Georgia, the Industry Forward program commissioned its first faculty cohort in May.
Industry Forward is a collaboration between the UGA Office of Business Engagement and industry-facing units to empower faculty and staff to engage productively with corporate partners. Through a suite of professional development programs, faculty and staff are exposed to different opportunities, each of which focus on the following core competencies: industry culture, UGA processes and procedures, communication, networking, and relationship management.
The faculty cohort delves into the practical application of this training, enlisting faculty whose research and creative activity align with industry-relevant needs and connections.
Over the spring semester, participants attended sessions centered around topics like customer discovery, leveraging technology and pitching to a non-technical audience, featuring industry relations experts and UGA professionals. Faculty were placed in groups of three to five with peers of similar research interests and were mentored by a faculty member with rich industry-engagement experiences.
Faculty members involved include:
- Thirimachos Bourlai, College of Engineering
- Chris Dundas, Frankling College of Arts and Sciences
- Avishek Dutta, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Charlotte Garing, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Natalie Krahn, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Mackenzie Long, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Ari Schlesinger, College of Engineering, UGA School of Computing
- Haijian Sun, College of Engineering
“For a junior faculty member, the Industry Forward program offers an invaluable masterclass in translating academic expertise into high-impact industry partnerships,” said Haijian Sun, an assistant professor in the UGA College of Engineering. “The insights gained here are crucial for building sustainable, real-world research ecosystems right from the start of our careers.”
By the close of this year’s program, each faculty member developed a tailored 12‑month industry engagement plan that reflects their expertise, goals and partnership opportunities. Since completing the two months of sessions and trainings, the faculty participants can begin implementing their industry engagement plans with the support of their faculty mentor and the Office of Business Engagement.
These faculty mentors include:
- Karin Allenspach Jorn, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Jaime Camelio, College of Engineering
- Erin Lincoln, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
“As a mentor in the Industry Forward Faculty Cohort, I gained new insights while building connections with faculty across UGA. The program increased my awareness of UGA resources for industry engagement, and the small-group mentorship discussions provided a rewarding environment to both share perspectives and learn from others,” said Erin Lincoln, director of the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
