Contact Us

Multi-Disciplinary Office (Knoxville)

UT Conference Center, Suite 211
600 S. Henley Street
Knoxville, TN 37996-4122
Phone: 865-974-1882
E-mail: utrf@tennessee.edu

Staff

Ann J. Roberson

Interim Vice President

 

 

Joy Fisher

Director Of Marketing & Business Development 
joy.fisher@tennessee.edu

Joy is responsible for marketing the capabilities of UTRF, developing new business relationships and managing the UTRF Technology Business Center on the Knoxville campus. She came to the university after starting and growing her own business consulting company. Joy's industry background includes experience at Accenture, where she was involved with several start-up businesses and alliances, including Accenture's alliance with Microsoft. She also worked at Motorola in several capacities, including the New Ventures Group, where she had responsibility for developing new market opportunities, market entry strategies and business plans. Joy holds an M.B.A. in Marketing from Northern Illinois University and a B.S. in both Finance and Marketing from Florida State University. She also is an inventor on one patent.

Kimberly Hood

Incubator Coordinator
khood3@tennessee.edu

Kimberly oversees day-to-day operations of the UTRF Technology Business Center and also assists with the marketing efforts and graphic design needs of UTRF. She is a 2008 graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Journalism and Electronic Media. Prior to joining UTRF, Kimberly completed a graphic design apprenticeship with DoubleJay Creative in Knoxville and worked as a sports writer for a small local paper.

Maha Krishnamurthy, Ph.D

Licensing Associate
mkrishn1@tennessee.edu

Maha Krishnamurthy is a Licensing Associate for University of Tennessee Research Foundation - multidisciplinary office. She is responsible for intellectual property portfolio management and commercialization of a broad range of UT's technologies. Maha's expertise includes bridging the gap between research and business via technology transfer strategies such as market place mapping, intellectual property management, and identifying value, market opportunity, technology landscape, and potential licensees.

Prior to joining UTRF, for the past three years, Maha was an intellectual property commercialization, licensing and maturation consultant with clients such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, she provided essential support to ensure successful technology commercialization, from presenting technology values and benefits to the identification of technology milestones.

Maha has a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics and a MBA.

Samantha Jeffers

Business Manager
sjeffer6@tennessee.edu

Samantha manages the accounting needs for both of UTRF's locations (Knoxville and Memphis). Prior to joining UT, Samantha worked in public accounting for 10 years. She has acquired a broad working knowledge of different industries and has extensive experience in financial statement preparation, payroll and taxation. Samantha has a B.A. in accounting from University of North Florida and is currently pursuing her CPA license.

Mary Ann Warwick Russell, J.D.

Senior Staff Attorney
marussell@tennessee.edu

Mary Ann is responsible for advising the research offices, faculty and staff at all of the UT campuses and institutes on intellectual property and related issues. This includes review and negotiation of intellectual property related provisions of University agreements, as well as research, material transfer and confidentiality agreements. Prior to joining UTRF, Mary Ann was in private practice in Knoxville. She received both her undergraduate and J.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee. She is very involved in the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and is a member of their Central Region Planning Committee.

Jeanie Snider

Office Manager
jlsnider@tennessee.edu

Jeanie is responsible for processing all of the invention disclosures that flow through the MDO office and is responsible for the managing the administrative needs of the Knoxville office. She also helps maintain the disclosure database and handles the reporting requirements for the federal government. She has an Associate's degree in Business Administration from Freed-Hardeman University and is also a Certified Professional Secretary.

Susan Stewart

Director of Communications
susans@utk.edu

Susan oversees internal and external communications for UTRF. This includes the coordination of website development, publications, special-event planning and serving as media spokesperson. In addition, she coordinates educational programs for the West Tennessee Solar Farm. Prior to joining UTRF, Susan was associate director of public relations for the University of Florida (University Relations), and worked some 20 years in corporate communications. She also has experience as a middle-school teacher of English and reading. Susan has a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and a master's degree from the Ohio State University.

Health Science Center Office (Memphis)

910 Madison Avenue, Suite 827
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901-448-7827 
E-mail: utrf@tennessee.edu

Staff

Richard Magid, Ph.D.

Vice President
rmagid1@uthsc.edu | 901.448.1562

Richard is Vice President of UTRF at the UT Health Science Center and manages the operations of the Memphis office. This office is responsible for all aspects of the commercialization of technologies developed at the UTHSC. The Memphis UTRF office also assists the UTHSC by negotiating confidentiality and material transfer agreements, offering educational programs on technology transfer and entrepreneurship, and connecting researchers with local economic development resources. Prior to joining UTRF in 2006, Richard worked as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where he entered the field of technology transfer via an internship at the Penn Center for Technology Transfer. Richard holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech and is also a registered patent agent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Lakita Cavin, J.D., Ph.D.

Staff Attorney and Licensing Associate
Lcavin@uthsc.edu | 901.448.7825

Lakita is part of the UT Health Science Center (UTHSC) team. She is responsible for licensing university technology as well as preparing and reviewing research-related contracts, such as material transfer, research and confidentiality agreements. Prior to joining UTRF, Lakita was an assistant professor at UTHSC where she studied the role of Nuclear Factor kappa B in liver cancer. She also was an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Alcorn State University, where she also received her B. S. in Chemistry. She also holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Auburn University and a J.D. from the University of Memphis.

Janet Ralbovsky

Licensing Associate
jralbovs@uthsc.edu | 901.448.1146

Janet is part of the UT Health Science Center (UTHSC) team and is responsible for licensing University technology. Prior to joining UTRF, Janet worked in drug discovery as a medicinal chemist and project leader at Cara Therapeutics and Johnson and Johnson. Janet holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University and is a registered patent agent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She is an inventor on eight published patent applications and one issued patent.

Tinieka Triplett

Senior Administrative Services Assistant
ttriple2@uthsc.edu | 901.448.7827

Tinieka manages the administrative needs of the Memphis office. She helps maintain the disclosure database for Memphis work, prepares basic agreements and assists, as needed, with other agreements and licenses. Prior to joining UTRF, Tinieka worked at the UTHSC campus in Research Compliance where she assisted with the Office of Human Subjects Protection and Institutional Animal Care and Use department. Tinieka has an associate degree in paralegal studies and holds a bachelor's degree in nonprofit development and administration from the University of Memphis.

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