AUTM on the Air

Over the next two weeks, we’re doing something a little different, with a special two-part conversation featuring five extraordinary women who will be joining the AUTM Board of Directors in February 2026. To give us the space to really dig in, we split these conversations across two episodes, so we could spend more time on the perspectives, experiences, and leadership each of these new board members brings to the tech transfer community.
In this episode, we’re joined by Felicia Metz from the University of Maryland Ventures, Maithili Shroff from the University of New Hampshire, and Katie Butcher from Northwestern University. Next week, the conversation continues with Patricia Stepp of Rice University and Laura Schoppe, founder of TechPipeline, bringing in additional viewpoints from both inside and outside the university setting.
Katie Butcher brings an MBA from Notre Dame and a Master of Science in Law from Northwestern into her role, giving her a strong mix of business and legal experience that shapes how licensing and commercialization work at Northwestern. Felicia Metz is an Associate Director at University of Maryland Ventures, where her work spans patent prosecution, building and managing IP portfolios, and licensing strategy. 
Maithili Shroff is a Licensing Manager at the University of New Hampshire, an R1 institution, where she draws on her PhD training to support innovation and intellectual property commercialization, with a perspective shaped by working across a wide range of research areas. Together, these three leaders reflect the breadth of backgrounds, expertise, and lived experience shaping the future of tech transfer, and they offer a thoughtful look at why this moment matters for the profession and for AUTM’s leadership going forward.

In This Episode:
[00] This is a special two-part series introducing five women who will join the AUTM Board of Directors in February 2026.
[03:26] Katie shares her path to tech transfer. She has an MBA and has worked in the legal field. She spent her first 20 years in the entertainment industry. 
[04:33] Her background was strong, but she also had a lot of learning on the job in science, technology, and learning. It's been an exciting adventure being in this field. 
[05:58] Felicia entered tech transfer as a student and unexpectedly built a long-term career in the field.
[08:10] She explains how the profession has evolved toward specialization and complementary skill sets across offices.
[09:41] Maithili describes how her PhD led her to question what happens to research after publication.
[11:22] She shares how the AUTM fellowship and the collaborative culture of the community shaped her career path.
[13:18] The panel discusses why tech transfer welcomes professionals from many backgrounds, not just STEM or law.
[15:23] Curiosity, flexibility, and comfort with ambiguity are emphasized as essential traits for success.
[16:49] Why running for the AUTM Board felt timely and meaningful.
[18:42] The importance of representing non-STEM and operational roles in tech transfer leadership.
[20:14] Advocacy, higher-education pressures, and why board service feels urgent right now.
[21:20] We discuss funding uncertainty, policy shifts, and broader challenges facing tech transfer.
[24:02] Budget constraints, staffing pressures, and the reality of doing more with fewer resources are explored.
[26:09] The importance of telling the tech transfer story and demonstrating real-world impact comes into focus.
[29:10] Data and metrics are discussed as tools for visibility, accountability, and storytelling.
[32:18] Artificial intelligence enters the conversation as both a disruptive force and a potential support tool.
[35:10] The panel considers how AI could improve efficiency without replacing human judgment.
[38:00] The guests share their hopes for where tech transfer and AUTM could be in five years.
[39:50] Felicia shares a personal story that underscores why tech transfer work truly matters.
[43:47] Reflections on partnership, service, and shared success.

Resources: 
AUTM
Katie Butcher - Northwestern University
Katie Butcher - LinkedIn
Felicia Metz - University of Maryland
Felicia Metz - LinkedIn
Maithili Shroff - University of New Hampshire
Maithili Shroff - LinkedIn
AUTM Better World Project
Patents, Peer Review, and Policy: What Congress Needs to Understand Now with Kate Zernike
Lessons From the WIPO-AUTM Knowledge and Technology Transfer Summit with Steve Susalka

We’re diving into the blue economy with a fascinating conversation about ocean innovation and entrepreneurship. The discussion focuses on the practical reality of building ocean-focused companies, including the scientific complexity, regulatory hurdles, funding constraints, and long development timelines that make this sector very different from more familiar startup environments.
Our guest is Tamara Kahn Zissman, Director of Founder Success at Seaworthy Collective, a Miami-based nonprofit accelerator supporting BlueTech startups focused on ocean impact. Before working with founders, Tamara spent more than a decade at sea using advanced geophysical sensors in demanding environments. Her work took her from the Arctic to the waters off Borneo, giving her a firsthand view of how ocean systems, climate pressures, and human activity intersect.
Tamara holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. At Seaworthy Collective, she designs and leads programs built around human-centered design, helping “Sea Change Makers” grow ocean data technologies into viable, planet-positive businesses. We also discuss the Ocean Enterprise Studio and Incubator launching in February 2026, with applications open through January 28, 2026.

In This Episode:
[00:04] The blue economy and why ocean innovation is becoming a critical focus within research commercialization.
[02:44] Tamara Kahn Zissman explains what blue tech means and how the definition of the blue economy has shifted toward sustainability and regeneration.
[04:15] She describes the ocean as one of the planet’s most important climate regulators and explains why data gaps remain such a major challenge.
[06:21] We explore the founding vision behind Seaworthy Collective and how the organization evolved to better support ocean entrepreneurs.
[07:18] Tamara discusses Seaworthy’s emphasis on human-centered design and why supporting founders as people is essential for long-term success.
[10:20] Unique barriers ocean startups face, including capital intensity, long validation cycles, and regulatory complexity.
[12:30] How collaboration across accelerators can create stronger commercialization pathways than competition alone.
[13:36] What Seaworthy looks for in applicants and why alignment between founders and program support matters.
[14:42] Tamara outlines the structure of the Ocean Enterprise Studio and Incubator and the level of commitment expected from participants.
[16:28] The benefits of mixed cohorts that include both aspiring founders and early-stage startups.
[18:45] How community support within cohorts accelerates learning and confidence for first-time founders.
[21:30] We talk about the role of ocean data technologies and why they are central to the future of the blue economy.
[24:10] How Seaworthy helps founders translate strong science into viable business models without losing impact.
[27:05] Non-dilutive funding and why it plays a critical role in ocean innovation.
[30:15] How the Continuum network connects ocean enterprise accelerators across the country.
[33:20] We discuss how researchers and tech transfer professionals can better engage with ocean-focused startups.
[36:56] Details on Seaworthy’s Ocean Enterprise Studio and Incubator launching in February 2026 with a January 28, 2026 application deadline.
[38:21] What gives her hope about the future of ocean innovation and growing awareness of the blue economy.
[39:52] A call for researchers and entrepreneurs to turn ocean research into real-world solutions.

Resources: 
AUTM
Seaworthy Collective
Seaworthy Ocean Enterprise Studio & Incubator
NOAA Ocean Enterprise Network
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Tamara Kahn Zissman - LinkedIn

In November 2025, Bangkok, Thailand became the epicenter of a global conversation about the future of innovation. Leaders from around the world gathered for the WIPO-AUTM Knowledge and Technology Transfer Summit, creating a rare space for open discussion about what is working, what is strained, and what needs to evolve in the tech transfer profession.
With participants representing 27 countries, the summit surfaced a striking reality. Whether operating within long-established innovation ecosystems or building tech transfer capacity from the ground up, institutions are wrestling with many of the same core issues. Conversations repeatedly returned to questions of impact, sustainability, and talent, as well as a growing disconnect between how innovation actually unfolds and how it is often funded or evaluated. Short timelines and rigid expectations simply do not match the slow, uneven, and sometimes unpredictable path from research to real-world application.
At the same time, it was clear that there is no single right model. Every region approaches technology transfer through the lens of its own culture, institutions, and policy environment. Some emphasize startups, others focus on licensing or industry partnerships, and ownership structures vary widely. What connects these approaches is a shared understanding that technology transfer is no longer a straight line from disclosure to deal. It has become an ecosystem role that requires flexibility, patience, and long-term thinking.
To help unpack what these global conversations mean for the future of the profession, we’re joined by Steve Susalka, CEO of AUTM, who chaired the summit and had a front-row seat to these discussions. Drawing on perspectives from across continents and systems, Steve offers a grounded view of where technology transfer stands today, where it’s headed, and what it will take to strengthen the profession, support the people doing the work, and expand its real-world impact.

In This Episode:
[05:32] Steve Susalka shares why the WIPO-AUTM Summit prioritized global dialogue over prescribing best practices.
[07:12] Similar concerns surface regardless of whether countries have mature or emerging tech transfer systems.
[09:01] Common challenges emerge across 27 countries, even among vastly different innovation ecosystems.
[11:04] Why misunderstanding the role of tech transfer creates unrealistic expectations at the institutional level.
[13:18] Short-term funding cycles collide with the long timelines required for meaningful innovation.
[15:02] The tension between public mission and commercial pressure facing many university offices.
[17:44] A comparison of global ownership models and how they influence faculty, startups, and industry engagement.
[19:26] How early industry engagement can reduce friction later in the commercialization process.
[22:09] Startup formation as a critical bridge across the “valley of death” for early-stage technologies.
[24:41] Why some of the most impactful technologies require patience, risk tolerance, and exclusive pathways.
[27:36] The profession’s shift away from linear tech transfer models toward ecosystem-based approaches.
[29:58] The growing importance of culture-building and education alongside traditional licensing work.
[32:15] Why attempting to replicate Silicon Valley or MIT often fails without comparable infrastructure and culture.
[34:22] Tech transfer professionals as translators between academia, industry, and government.
[36:58] The human toll of tech transfer work, including burnout, turnover, and career sustainability concerns.
[39:11] What sustainability really means for tech transfer offices beyond annual budgets.
[41:27] How promotion and tenure systems can either reinforce or undermine innovation efforts on campus.
[44:08] Why global collaboration can help regions avoid repeating the same hard-earned lessons.
[46:03] What surprised Steve most in conversations with leaders from emerging innovation ecosystems.
[48:37] Why measuring success purely through revenue misses the broader value of innovation activity.
[50:41] AUTM’s role in advocating for the profession and making its impact more visible.
[55:12] Aligning funding expectations with realistic innovation timelines as a path to greater impact.
[59:08] Steve’s closing call to action for institutions, policymakers, and tech transfer professionals worldwide.

Resources: 
AUTM
Fostering Global Innovation: AUTM's Role in Shaping International Tech Transfer Conversations
WIPO
Stephen Susalka - LinkedIn

This is the second episode in our special series on mental health and Tech Transfer.
If you missed our first conversation with Jane Wainwright, I encourage you to go back and listen. It’s a candid look at why this topic matters and why it deserves real attention, not to be pushed to the side. Today, we’re continuing that discussion because the pressures inside tech transfer offices haven’t let up with constant policy shifts, funding uncertainty, tight deadlines, and the feeling of being stretched thinner every month. 
We’re joined today by two researchers from Western Kentucky University who understand these challenges from both the academic and human sides. Dr. Daniel Boamah is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work and a licensed clinical social worker. His research focuses on intellectual and developmental disabilities, child welfare, and addressing disparities affecting African-American males, immigrants, and refugees. He also serves as the clinical director at KYSTEP’s Multigroups and Survivors of Torture Recovery Center, where he works directly with individuals navigating trauma and long-term healing.
Dr. Kimberly Green is the department chair and an associate professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at WKU. She’s a nationally certified speech-language pathologist with deep experience in cultural competence, interprofessional collaboration, and diversity and inclusion efforts. She also participated in the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions’ 2023 Leadership Development Program, which prepares future leaders in health professions education.
Daniel and Kimberly have also partnered on an innovative project using virtual reality to increase awareness of implicit bias in child welfare decision-making, with work supported by multiple grants and recognition across Kentucky’s innovation ecosystem. They’ve been through the Tech Transfer process themselves, and they understand the emotional weight that comes with high-stakes, resource-limited environments. Today, we talk openly about where stress shows up in TTOs, how external pressures are affecting well-being, and what realistic, evidence-based support can look like for professionals who feel like they’re holding everything together without enough backup.

In This Episode:
[03:18] How culture inside small, specialized TTO teams can either support or hinder mental well-being.
[04:28] Daniel outlines how close-knit work environments amplify stress and compound personal and professional pressure.
[05:36] Kimberly describes the perfect storm created by rushed timelines, shrinking budgets, and pressure to deliver measurable results.
[06:31] We discuss the physical effects of burnout, including sleep disruption and declining overall health.
[07:55] Insights from their own commercialization journey, highlighting the emotional demands placed on TTO staff.
[09:01] The conversation turns to federal funding uncertainty and how proposed indirect cost caps are impacting morale and stability.
[10:22] The psychological ripple effect of budget cuts, including quiet quitting and fractured loyalty.
[11:48] We explore how external stressors, such as community trauma and world events, further intensify workplace pressure.
[13:06] Job insecurity and how fear, anxiety, and grief spread through close professional communities.
[14:13] The real impact of secondary trauma and emotional contagion within teams and families.
[15:42] Daniel shares evidence-based strategies for boundaries, coping skills, and building support networks.
[17:24] Kimberly highlights no-cost interventions such as affinity groups, behavior monitoring, and trust-centered communication.
[18:44] Concerns about EAP usage and strategies to reduce stigma through leadership transparency.
[20:02] Sustainable output requires building wellness into workflow rather than expecting staff to “power through.”
[21:08] The importance of peer support and external networking for small TTO teams.
[22:36] Leadership’s role is examined, including the need for proactive communication and meaningful involvement in problem-solving.
[23:54] Why authentic recognition and listening are central to preventing burnout and turnover.
[25:13] How harmful responses like “suck it up” undermine trust and accelerate burnout.
[26:51] Reframing resilience and grit, noting they cannot be achieved without recovery time and realistic expectations.
[28:18] Individual resilience from trauma-informed organizational change and why both matter.
[29:34] Practical steps for individuals to unplug, seek help, and be present during the holiday season.
[31:21] Workplace trauma is unpacked, revealing how fear, grief, and emotional contagion move through small, overstressed teams.
[34:40] Practical mental health strategies are offered, including monitoring physical cues, limiting constant availability, and normalizing unplugging.
[38:42] Kimberly emphasizes that meaningful improvements often come from trust, communication, and simple organizational shifts — not expensive programs.
[41:11] Stigma surrounding employee assistance programs is addressed, along with ways leaders can model openness to help others feel safe using resources.
[44:07] Taking time off becomes complicated when returning means facing a higher workload, reinforcing the need to rethink recovery time.
[47:00] Peer support expands outside the home institution, providing a new perspective and a healthier emotional balance for isolated teams.
[50:44] Red tape frustrations appear as a major pressure point, prompting a call for proactive collaboration rather than reactive crisis management.
[53:15] Leaders are encouraged to ask staff directly what they need instead of guessing from a distance.
[57:58] Resilience loses meaning when constant pressure leads to exhaustion rather than growth, and rest must be part of the equation.
[1:01:43] How system-level responsibility must match expectations placed on individuals to support mental well-being truly.
[1:05:24] Practical holiday-season reminders include being present, seeking help, and allowing yourself to unplug without guilt.
[1:08:46] The power of leadership modeling, transparency, and ongoing communication in rebuilding trust.

Resources: 
Daniel Boamah, Ph.D., LCSW - Western Kentucky University
Daniel Boamah, Ph.D., MA, LCSW - LinkedIn
Kimberly J. Green, Ed.D., CCC-SLP - Western Kentucky University
Kimberly J. Green - LinkedIn
Development of a Multitenant Virtual Reality Platform for Increasing Awareness of Implicit Bias in Child Welfare Decision-Making A Public Health Crisis
Improving Mental Health Across IP and Tech Transfer with Jane Wainwright
Breaking the Silence on Mental Health in Technology Transfer with Megan Aanstoos, Anji Miller, and Ed Ergenzinger

Every now and then, someone inside a Tech Transfer office tries something small, something meant for their own team, and it ends up resonating far beyond their campus. That’s the path our guest followed, and it’s a great reminder of how ideas in this profession can ripple outward in ways we don’t always expect.
My guest today is Chadwig “Chad” Riggs, former marketing associate at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Office of Technology Licensing and the creator of Technology Transfer Professionals Day, which is celebrated each year on December 12, the anniversary of the Bayh–Dole Act. Chad talks about how this whole effort began with a quick holiday video meant to help colleagues understand the licensing process, and how it slowly turned into a day of recognition, education, and connection. He also shares small touches, like custom inventor mugs or light-bulb candy favors, that helped bring faculty into the conversation and made tech transfer feel more approachable.
From there, the idea eventually made its way to AUTM, and Chad explains what it took to turn an internal activity into a national recognition day. Along the way, we touch on why acknowledgement matters, especially now, and how stories like St. Jude’s ALK gene journey show the real-world impact that can come from sustained licensing and partnership work. It’s an encouraging reminder that shining a light on the people behind commercialization can strengthen the whole ecosystem.

In This Episode: 
[00:33] We discuss Chad Riggs’ background at St. Jude’s Office of Technology Licensing.
[01:20] How marketing, outreach, and internal engagement became central to his Tech Transfer role.
[02:45] He recalls how a simple holiday video sparked the idea for broader year-round education and recognition.
[04:13] Chad describes the early holiday videos at St. Jude and why Tech Transfer needed its own presence.
[05:40] We learn how he wanted to build excitement around disclosures and increase faculty participation.
[07:05] The team brainstorms their first set of activities for Technology Transfer Professionals Day.
[08:10] Chad talks about St. Jude’s culture of celebrating different professional groups across the hospital.
[09:30] The realization hits: Tech Transfer deserves its own day, too.
[10:15] He outlines the initial reaction from colleagues and leaders when he proposed the idea.
[11:00] Chad explains why choosing December 12, the anniversary of Bayh–Dole, was non-negotiable.
[11:43] The team launches their first celebration with inventor mugs, quizzes, and creative giveaways.
[13:10] He discusses the importance of pairing recognition with education about the disclosure and licensing process.
[14:30] Chad shares how elevator screens, newsletters, and repeated messaging helped build internal awareness.
[15:45] He breaks down why the Bayh–Dole Act remains central to Tech Transfer’s identity and purpose.
[17:25] The story shifts to how Chad brought the idea to AUTM and pushed for national adoption.
[18:50] He talks about navigating committees, lobbying concerns, and sticking to the holiday’s true intent.
[20:15] Chad reflects on watching institutions nationwide make the celebration their own.
[21:40] Creative examples, like office competitions, stickers, and venture program spotlights, start appearing.
[23:00] The AUTM toolkit expands the day with graphics, hashtags, and award ideas.
[24:10] Chad shares how recognition days help fight burnout and remind researchers that TTOs are real people.
[25:35] He emphasizes the importance of visibility and human connection in a “black box” profession.
[26:50] The conversation turns to morale, retention, and why small acknowledgments matter.
[27:55] Chad explains how giving people ownership of ideas increases engagement and buy-in.
[29:15] He talks about the value of creative exercises and “batting practice” for building stronger innovation habits.
[30:40] Chad shares the ALK gene story as a powerful example of the long-term impact of Tech Transfer.
[32:20] The discussion covers how one discovery evolved into multiple FDA-approved therapies.
[34:05] He highlights the economic and clinical reach of ALK inhibitors around the world.
[35:10] Chad reflects on decades of work that eventually returned to benefit pediatric patients.
[36:00] Tech Transfer is the bridge that takes research from the benchtop to the bedside.

Resources: 
Celebrate the Contributions of Tech Transfer Professionals
Better World Project
Bayh–Dole Coalition
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Chad Riggs - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Chad Riggs - LinkedIn