ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Feb. 11, 2020 - The National GEM Consortium (GEM) announced that Marquita M. Qualls, PhD has been named Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Programs.
Last fall, GEM launched the Inclusion In Innovation Initiative (I4), a cooperative partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), to develop a national diversity and inclusion infrastructure for the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program. This [QD1] program teaches academic researchers about entrepreneurship and trains them to translate basic research and technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace.
"We are excited to have Dr. Qualls join GEM in this capacity and lead the work emerging from our partnership with NSF. Her experience and leadership lends well to success in these areas," said Mr. Brennon Marcano, CEO of GEM."
For the past 11 years, Dr. Qualls operated Entropia Consulting, her boutique management consulting firm focused on leadership development. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade at GlaxoSmithKline, holding roles of increased global responsibility spanning drug development, technology evaluation, program management, strategy, and people development. Among her career leadership roles, she is a former National President of NOBCChE [QD2] and served as both a Mentor and Entrepreneur in Residence at Innovate Mississippi, an organization committed to strengthening and growing the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in Mississippi.
Ensuring that underrepresented groups are exposed to resources that support a path towards entrepreneurship is a key component of I4 and the overall STEM workforce map. Mr. Marcano adds, "It is rare to find an individual who can effectively navigate the flavors of the public sector through non-profit and government functions to support entrepreneurship initiatives. We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Qualls on the team".
Dr. Qualls holds a B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Tennessee State University and Purdue University, respectively. She is a certified professional coach and earned a certificate in Entrepreneurship Education from Babson College.
About The National GEM Consortium
The mission of the National GEM Consortium (http://www.gemfellowship.org) is to enhance the value of the nation's human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups (African Americans, American Indians and Hispanic Americans) at the master's and doctoral levels in engineering and science. We are a unique and powerful connection to a national network of universities and employers. This partnership promotes the participation of underrepresented groups in post-graduate STEM education and the technical workforce. The employees shaping our nation's ability to remain a global leader in innovation and economic prosperity must fully utilize the talents of all Americans and reflect the country's changing demographics.
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