The University of Georgia has announced the first group of Faculty Innovation Fellows, a new program designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among faculty members. The initiative is part of the university’s broader Innovation District project, which aims to foster collaboration between researchers, industry partners, and entrepreneurs.
Faculty selected for the fellowship will receive training in business development, strategic planning, and information about campus resources. Their role includes serving as ambassadors within their respective colleges and advising colleagues on innovation-related opportunities.
During their fellowship, participants are expected to complete discovery projects, organize events that connect researchers with potential industry or entrepreneurial collaborators, and help bridge connections between their colleges and the Innovation District. By doing so, they aim to encourage more faculty members to explore ways to turn research ideas into practical applications.
Chris Rhodes, executive director of UGA’s Innovation District, commented on the selection: “I couldn’t be happier with this group of inaugural Fellows. They wholly embody the spirit of collaboration and creativity that the Innovation District tries to promote. They already make the Innovation District better, and they will help more of their peers in the colleges take the first step towards commercial impact.”
The 2025 Faculty Innovation Fellows come from five different colleges at UGA:
– College of Engineering: Mahos Bourlai
– College of Family and Consumer Sciences: Dee Warmath
– College of Public Health: Jenay Beer
– School of Social Work: Zoe Johnson
– Franklin College of Arts and Sciences: Chad Howe, Brian Bauer, Adam Milewski
More information about each Fellow can be found through links provided by the university.
