Brandy Salmon named associate vice president for innovation and partnerships

Brandy Salmon, executive director of LINK – Virginia Tech’s Center for Industry Partnerships, was recently appointed Associate Vice President for Innovation and Partnerships.

In this new role, Salmon will continue in her leadership role at LINK while also guiding the university’s newest enterprise, LAUNCH, The Center for New Ventures. See more on LAUNCH here.

Salmon joined Virginia Tech in June 2017 after serving as director for RTI International where she led consulting engagements for federal and corporate clients and directed a global technology accelerator on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Previously, she served as associate director for the Office of Licensing and Ventures at Duke University, where she led a full spectrum of commercialization and technology transfer activities. Her earlier experience in industry includes Fortune 500, start-up, and venture experience.  Salmon has a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a Ph.D. from Cornell University, and an M.B.A. from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business.

Salmon will continue to report jointly to Virginia Tech Vice President for Research and Innovation Theresa Mayer and Vice President for Advancement Charlie Phlegar.

Since arriving at Virginia Tech, Salmon has led efforts at LINK to secure multimillion-dollar agreements with companies like aerospace giant Boeing and digital currency pioneer Block.one, adding momentum to the university's already strong reputation for forging comprehensive industry partnerships. Examples of such partnerships include Mahindra Group, a worldwide leader in farming equipment, that announced it would open offices in the university’s Corporate Research Center and sponsor research in agricultural robotics.