Kelly Sexton As Associate Vice President for Research – Innovation Partnerships and Economic Impact, Kelly works closely with the Vice President for Research and Innovation as well as other leaders across the university to provide visionary and strategic leadership of U-M’s innovation, corporate research and technology commercialization activities, including overseeing Innovation Partnerships. In this role, she supports and encourages university-wide programs for intellectual property development, innovation and engagement with business and venture communities in the region, across the nation and around the globe.  She will speak on how The University nurtures innovation breakthroughs through partnerships between University of Michigan researchers and the private sector.