Marketing Course Instructors
Sara Dagen handles marketing and communications for all of the entities under UF Innovate. On any given day, she might mine news about our startups or innovators to share on social media, edit website content or find a fix for one more glitch, create flyers or documents for events, plan events, or write articles about the exciting happenings at UF Innovate. After joining the UF Innovate team in 2014, Sara worked her way up from a technical editor to the communications manager. In these capacities, Sara is forced to use both sides of her brain, interpreting science speak to communicate to a business audience. Previously, she used both sides of her brain teaching Algebra and English to middle and high school students. She also worked at The Gainesville Sun as a writer and editor. Sara holds a B.S. in journalism and a M.Ed. in educational technology from the University of Florida.
Steven M. Ferguson currently serves as the Deputy Director, Licensing and Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining NIH Office of Technology Transfer in 1990, Mr. Ferguson served in marketing and management positions in biomedical firms subsequent to being a scientist at the National Cancer Institute. His healthcare experience has also included work as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for a rural 70-bed hospital. Registered to practice before the USPTO and a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP), Mr. Ferguson also holds Master's Degrees in Business Administration (George Washington University) and Chemistry (University of Cincinnati) as well as Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (Case Western Reserve University). Mr. Ferguson has been an economic reviewer for Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) as well as the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant programs and is an instructor for both the USDA Graduate School and the NIH FAES Graduate School where he is also the department chair for the new Certificate in Technology Transfer Program. Mr. Ferguson was also the Susan T. and Charles E. Harris Visiting Lecturer at the Watson School of Biological Sciences at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and has published articles on licensing and technology transfer issues.
Charlotte Davis joined CSU STRATA in the role of Marketing Coordinator for Technology Transfer in January 2023. Her background includes being a Fundraising Coordinator for two nonprofits in the Coastal Bend area. She is a former student-athlete at the University of Incarnate Word and a member of the women’s golf team. Charlotte is an initiated Delta Mu Delta Honor Society member and completed her degree in Professional Golf Management with a minor in marketing in December 2020. Charlotte is currently pursuing an MBA in business. As Marketing Coordinator for CSU STRATA, Charlotte promotes Technology Transfer services with the CSU System, supports team efforts, and develops/implements engagement opportunities for strategic partnerships with corporate and investment partners.
Jacqueline (Jacqui) J. Greene is the Director of Marketing and Communications for UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky (UK). Her focus is to increase brand and service awareness, cultivate critical relationships, market technology, and manage data and metrics. Greene completed her American Marketing Association Professional Certified Marketer (PCM®) certification in August 2020, the Essential Leader Academy in November 2021, and the Essential Leader Program and SUPERvision certifications in 2020 through UK. She is an instructor for the AUTM Marketing Course and a member of the website committee for AUTM. Jacqui is currently the chair of the UK Women's Forum (UKWF) Board and chairs its Awards and Recognition Committee. She is also a member of AUTM and the American Marketing Association.
Previously, she worked for her undergraduate alma mater, Berea College, for over ten years, first as an event coordinator and then as associate director of communications and marketing for the Alumni Relations office. At Berea College, she managed the website, email and print media, social media, marketing, and alumni and senior events. Jacqui has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Berea College and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in management from Sullivan University.
Dr. Liz Peek is the New Ventures Senior Associate at Washington University in St. Louis in the Office of Technology Management. She is responsible for supporting WashU startups, particularly in the medtech space. Liz previously served as the Program Manager for WashU's National Security Academic Accelerator (NSA2). Before that, Liz was the Program Director of MedTech Innovator, the largest accelerator of medtech startups in the world. She also served as the Technology Transfer Associate for Marketing at UCLA's Technology Development Group, the university's tech transfer office. Liz received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from UCLA in June 2016. Her doctoral research focused on tumor immunology in the lab of Arnold Chin, with co-mentorship from Genhong Cheng. Liz also received a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Archaeology from the University of Virginia in 2011. While at UVA, she performed research as an undergraduate on antibody therapeutics in the lab of Ron Taylor.
Chad Riggs began marketing for the Office of Technology Licensing at St. Jude in March 2013. He received his MBA from the University of Tennessee (2006), and founded Mill Creek Holdings, a technology transfer and new technologies consulting firm with clients that include Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Voices Heard Media, Elixir Media Group, 360ip; and VC firms (Innovation Valley Partners, Battelle Ventures, SoHoVista, Aldis, & Academy Funds). He obtained his degree in Engineering Design from East Tennessee State University and was previously employed in 3D design.
Paul Tumarkin, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), and his team develop and execute TLA’s marketing strategies, managing the organization’s web and social media presences, marketing the inventions of the University of Arizona, and extending TLA’s reach across the university community, as well as out to the greater business community. Prior to joining TLA, he spent three years with institutional marketing at the UA.
He made the jump from academia to business in the mid-1990s, gaining experience developing communications and branding solutions for corporations, nonprofits, and agencies alike. He also spent several years freelancing, primarily for clients in the education technology sector. Paul received his BA from Colorado College and his MA in Spanish Literature from the University of California, Irvine.