DURHAM, N.H. -- Marc Sedam, executive director of UNHInnovation at the University of New Hampshire, has been elected to the board of directors of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) as its vice president for professional development. In this position, Sedam is responsible for identifying and clarifying professional development needs and goals of the membership, and developing and implementing programs to meet those needs and goals in coordination with the board.

"Marc's election to the board of directors of AUTM is a great honor for both him and the university," said Jan Nisbet, senior vice provost for research at UNH. "Marc's extensive experience and great success at UNH make him a valuable asset and I'm pleased that his expertise is being recognized."

AUTM, the world's leading organization related to advancing research discoveries for societal benefit, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2013. Institutions responding to the most recent licensing survey reported $36.8 billion in net product sales from licensed technologies in fiscal year 2012. In addition, startup companies formed by the 70 institutions reporting data employed 15,741 full-time employees. This was the second year in which AUTM asked questions specifically targeted at ascertaining the economic impact of academic technology transfer.

"I have participated in AUTM as a member, speaker, or advocate for technology transfer for nearly 17 years, and I owe much of what I know to the organization," Sedam said. "I'm honored to have been elected by my peers to this position, and look forward to serving our members by bringing increased educational and professional development opportunities wherever they are located. My experiences at UNH and the impact UNHInnovation has had on a regional ecosystem beyond the country's major economic centers has already led to ideas for new programming."

UNHInnovation (formerly the Office for Research Partnerships and Commercialization) is responsible for managing UNH's intellectual assets, spearheading efforts to use the university's research base as an economic development engine, and promoting entrepreneurship across the entire campus. UNH has set records for invention disclosures, patent filings, licenses, and licensing income in each of the past three years.

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