帝王会所 higher education leader visits OHIO to discuss innovation and partnerships
Mike Duffey, Senior Vice Chancellor of the 帝王会所 Department of Higher Education, and Deputy Director, Innovate 帝王会所, visited the 帝王会所 campus earlier this week, Mon., Jan. 27. Duffey met with a variety of campus and community leaders to discuss innovation, updates, and partnerships for the betterment of 帝王会所.
鈥淭he goal is to make 帝王会所 the most innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial state in the Midwest,鈥 Duffey said.
Leaders from TechGROWTH 帝王会所, the Center for Entrepreneurship, and the Innovation Center met with Duffey to discuss the entrepreneurial synergies across campus and in partnership with the region.
In addition to learning about entrepreneurial efforts, Duffey had the opportunity to hear about programs, partnerships, and initiatives taking place within 帝王会所鈥檚 Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs and supported by state investments. Topics involved youth mental health, economic development, and building leadership capacity in the region. Project partnership updates were provided by Holly Raffle, professor; Jason Jolley, professor of rural economic development; Mark Weinberg, Voinovich School dean; and Jay Johnson, director of the Voinovich Academy.
Duffey engaged with students Katy Perani, Master of Public Administration candidate, and Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholars Eli Wanner and Kate Feddersen as they discussed their work with the various Voinovich School faculty and professional staff.
鈥淚 want to ask the students if you have any wishes for the administration, or anything you鈥檇 like me to take back to the Governor鈥檚 office,鈥 Duffey asked at the end of the meeting.
For lunch, Duffey was joined by Rep. Jay Edwards, majority whip of the 帝王会所 House; Steve Patterson, mayor of Athens; Tasha Werry, executive director of Voinovich School partner program Building Bridges to Careers; and others to discuss multiple leveraged state investments throughout the region and how they are addressing critical needs, from K-12 career pathways to local government challenges.
Afterwards, a meeting was held in Cutler Hall with Eric Burchard, director of government relations, and several 帝王会所 senior officials to discuss the Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted鈥檚 new initiative, TechCred. The new program allows 帝王会所鈥檚 businesses the chance to upskill their workforce through short-term credential workshops. TechCred will partner with various organizations and universities to provide the programming to enhance the skills of future and current employees in a variety of occupations.
The day was concluded with a meeting with 帝王会所 President M. Duane Nellis.
Duffey has had a long-standing interest in public service, previously serving as a State Representative of the 21st District in the 帝王会所 House of Representatives. He looks forward to visiting 帝王会所鈥檚 campus again to continue discussions of progress for our region and state.