If you could invite anyone to dinner, famous or otherwise, who would it be and why?
Tom Hanks and his wife. They seem like great people, and if he can make being deserted on an island for years entertaining just imagine him as a dinner guest! I'd love to ask him to do impressions.
Tell us about your horses.
I have four horses. I tell people a horse is like having a dog, times 10. I guess that means I have the equivalent of 40 dogs. The amount they teach you about social justice is incredible and I'm so thankful to each of them. My beautiful pony is dependable, fun, and has better flowing blond hair than even Fabio or Leef Smith-Barnes (if you can even imagine!) My competition Thoroughbred has a difficult-to-understand horse personality and has taught me so much. He can go zero to almost 40mph in six steps, so I need to really channel my inner zen and focus when I’m around him. My new Arabian colt will be my fanciest and my last horse as he might outlive me. We are just getting to know one another and there’s so much to know. He's smarter than me so I need to step up my game. He’s sassy, or ‘spicy,’ as they say, so it will take me a long time to train him. Smart horses, like smart people, have incredible perseverance and try to get things to go their way.
My foster horse who is reaching the end of his life has given me incredible confidence as a rider because he is such a solid citizen, so dependable, well-trained, trustworthy — and is so forgiving. He fixes all my mistakes and makes his rider look amazing. He's a horse all of my riding students love to love as he’s sweet, gentle, and makes them look and feel good too.
If you could give one book to everyone in the world, what would it be and why?
To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite novel, as it is for so many. It encourages young readers and shows the power of stories and our own voices and abilities to make an impact. And it challenges us to think about our biases and ways of thinking. It is a book you can read over and over again, discuss with others, and apply to your life. I love that about books in general and this one inspires me to be a better human being.
If someone is visiting Wisconsin for the first time, what would you tell them about your home state, the must-sees, and why?
Wisconsin is the most beautiful state. It has gorgeous coastlines, incredibly affordable and diverse State Parks, warm people, and is a year-round destination with true 4 season things to do and see. My favorites are winter snowmobiling in northern Wisconsin, springtime walks on the Ice Age Trail, which runs the length of the state and is the most gorgeous hiking you can imagine, summertime along Lake Michigan and the more than 10,000 inland lake with sailing and tons of boating and fishing opportunities and fall festivals with our German heritage showing with wonderful beer and food festivals.
Cheese curds: Bar food or refrigerator staple?
Yes -- and yes! The iterations of cheese curds are only limited by the imagination, from bar food to fancy. Some of my personal favorites are fried cheese curds, cheese curds and mustard, cheese curd pizza*, cheese curds with grits, cheese curd platters (there are as many types as varieties of cheese), cheese curd kabobs, and cheese curd with fig spread or jam.
*Quick cheese curd pizza recipe:
- Pizza dough
- Creamed spinach as the sauce
- Dot with your favorite cheese curd
- Enjoy!
What was the path you took to get to where you are today?
I trained as a research scientist, then cofounded a viral diagnostics company which made the first molecular diagnostics for flu, SARS, and other emerging pathogens. This led me back to school for business training at UW Madison after feeling like I had a lot to learn. I worked as a general research administrator managing a growing research institute. I had a special fondness for our innovations and how they made an impact, which is why tech transfer was so rewarding and my duties shifted to doing just that.
What is one highlight from your career in tech transfer, and why?
My experiences at the viral diagnostics company transformed my career path and my ability to think on my feet. Now, my internship program with up-and-coming students of tech transfer keeps things fresh and relevant for me. It's illuminating to see how others with fresh eyesight see deals, technology, and possibilities. Those new to the field share some very important and novel viewpoints.
Where do you see tech transfer this time next year?
I think we will be called upon by the government and the public to share stories of innovation more and more. People want to be lifted up and inspired.
What motivated you to run for AUTM Chair?
I'm a science geek and dream of making scientific innovation accessible and exciting for everyone. We in Tech Transfer get to do that. We do a very complicated set of tasks that are critical for the health and wellbeing of humanity. I am really excited to be a champion of what we do every day.
What do you see for AUTM in the year ahead?
I see finding a better way to engage our communities as critically important for all of us. Increasingly, we will be working together with new partners around the globe, in multi-disciplinary areas of study, and on bigger and more complex problems. Finding new ways of working and solving problems together will help us be successful.
How does tech transfer make a better world?
You have to ask a past Better World Project Chair? Just check out the Better World Project
HERE. It is filled with all of our field’s successes. What a beautiful thing!