Smerdon named interim AVP for Tech Transfer

Tom Smerdon, who has worked in the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) since 2005, has been named interim associate vice president for technology transfer. In his new role, Smerdon has responsibility for intellectual property and technology licensing matters across all CU campuses.

He joined TTO in 2005 as director of new business development, and since 2007 has served as director of licensing and new business development. In that role, he is particularly focused on start-up companies based on CU technologies. Smerdon also manages TTO's Proof of Concept investment (POCi) program and handles shareholder and equity-related agreements for the University License Equity Holdings Inc., which holds the private equity received in connection licenses to start-up companies.

Prior to that, he was associate director for The Ohio State University's Office for Technology Licensing. Before entering the university tech transfer arena, Smerdon was general counsel and director of environment, health and safety for an Ohio-based private adhesive and polymer manufacturer and before that was assistant general counsel of the Chemical Manufacturers Association in Washington, D.C. Tom is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Texas Law School.