Education
Smooth sailing
How Luis Proenza navigated the University of Akron toward new partnerships for innovation
By Megan Tackett
Smart Business Akron/Canton | September 2008
Page 1 of 1
Apogee is a fitting name for the
sailboat Luis Proenza built with
his wife, as it means “furthest or highest point.” When on land,
Proenza is busy taking the University
of Akron to new heights, and bringing
the entire region along for the ride.
Since acquiring the president’s office
at the university in 1999, Proenza has
always focused on energizing the
entire Northeast Ohio region. To illustrate his point about regionalism,
Proenza likes to show a satellite image
of Ohio. By just looking at the image,
nobody can separate Cleveland from
Akron or the university from the city
— the entire Northeast Ohio area is
one luminous blob.
Proenza takes that “satellite
approach” with the university, which is
why he has placed such an emphasis
on economic development.
Under his stewardship, UA rose to the
top of the polymer industry and became a beacon for the role of universities
within their locales. Staying on course
toward jump-starting the region’s economy, in September 2006 Proenza
made UA the first higher education institution to be a full
member of The Fund for Our
Economic Future, a philanthropic effort comprising 85
entities. In order to join,
Proenza arranged for UA to
make the $100,000 minimum
contribution over three-year
installments.
But UA goes further than charity. To
help bring jobs and money to Northeast
Ohio, UA undertakes joint research and
licensing agreements for technologies
developed with such organizations as
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and The
Cleveland Clinic. When the University
of Akron Research Foundation opened,
it streamlined the entire process, turning $270,000 of UA licensing revenue in 2001 into $6.3 million in 2007. The center became a single point of contact to
merge industry and university, offering
opportunities for research and
development, entrepreneurship
and economic development as
well as help for navigating
patenting and licensing processes. The result? A unique partnership between UA and the
entire Akron region that
proves beneficial for everyone
involved. Just ask Lorain
County — the joint venture between UA
and Lorain County Community College
that Proenza and LCCC President Roy
Church created increased education
opportunities in the area and is changing lives and, in turn, the regional economy for the better.
HOW TO REACH: University of Akron, (330) 972-7111 or
www.uakron.edu
