Donna and Richard Tadler University Professor of Entrepreneurship

The University of Virginia seeks an inspiring and ambitious bridge builder to lead ‘UVA Innovates’, a newly launched pan-University initiative to connect and amplify entrepreneurship and innovation efforts across UVA. The individual will be appointed the Donna and Richard Tadler University Professor of Entrepreneurship and report to President, Jim Ryan, and Executive Vice President and Provost, Ian Baucom, and serve as Special Advisor to the Provost on Entrepreneurship.

With primary responsibility for developing and implementing the entrepreneurship and innovation strategy for UVA, the Tadler Professor will collaborate closely with UVA’s 12 schools, UVA – Northern Virginia, and UVA College at Wise, to build a vision for the University’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem on Grounds, across the commonwealth, and the world.

While UVA has a range of entrepreneurial initiatives embedded in its schools and programs, the Donna and Richard Tadler University Professor of Entrepreneurship was established in late 2021 to elevate and guide this work. The Tadler gift strengthens the University’s commitment to interdisciplinary and interschool collaboration on some of the world’s most pressing problems and will serve as a catalyst for future innovations and increased student and alumni involvement.

In 2023, UVA launched a pan-University entrepreneurship initiative to connect and build the entrepreneurial ecosystem across Grounds and throughout the region. The University provides a broad portfolio of resources to support students, faculty, and alumni entrepreneurs, ranging from courses, competitions, makerspaces, programs, translational research funds, and infrastructure for clinical trials. This position will connect and amplify these, while also identifying strategic opportunities to expand.

The Great and Good, 2030 Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for the future of UVA as it enters its third century. The plan has identified strategic priorities that are University spanning: Democracy, Environmental Resilience and Sustainability, Precision Medicine/Health, the Brain and Neuroscience, and Digital Technology and Society. The Tadler Professor will be integral in contributing to and enhancing the entrepreneurial components of the plan.

As a research university, UVA is committed to fostering the development of discoveries and scholarship that will enrich and improve lives. Over the next several years, UVA seeks to further bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader community to identify new solutions to societal problems, accelerate the commercialization of innovative technologies, expand innovation pathways for students and alumni, and create and grow successful new ventures through entrepreneurship.

UVA’s Existing And Expanding Institutes And Programs Include

• The Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology was designed to propel UVA to the forefront of cutting-edge medicine, fast track the development of new treatments and cures and transform how healthcare is delivered across the state and beyond. In the School of Medicine, significant funds are invested each year to support life science translational research.
• The Licensing and Ventures Group partners with faculty, researchers, and investors to bring innovations discovered at UVA to the marketplace.
• The Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology serves as the key catalyst and hub for entrepreneurial activity at UVA’s Darden School of Business, supporting faculty members and students via research, experiential learning, co-curricular programs, scholarships, and thought leadership around innovation at Darden.
• The Galant Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship encourages, educates, and empowers students, past and present, to take on roles in the startup community that create positive impact and lasting value in the global marketplace.
• Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Virginia creates opportunities for students to learn about social entrepreneurship through experiential classes, workshops, speakers, hackathons, concept competitions, research positions, Global Field Experiences, and internships.
• The Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research funds biomedical technology translational research at the School of Engineering and Applied Science. In engineering, students can also integrate entrepreneurial and business studies in to their technical degree through the Entrepreneurship and Business programs.
• The mission of Social Entrepreneurship programs in the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy is aimed to address issues and create social value where profit-generative and social impact are not distinct.
• A host of academic programs and student organizations.
  
  

The Role and Responsibilities

The Tadler Professor will have the opportunity to envision and lead the institutional efforts for entrepreneurship and innovation. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to collaboration, team building, and innovation.

Key Priorities Are

• Executive Leadership and Vision: In partnership with the Provost and President, develop and implement a vision and strategy to advance entrepreneurship and innovation at UVA. Collaborate across schools and units to amplify existing strengths, develop innovative programs, and increase access to resources for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The ideal candidate will be able to communicate a compelling vision and inspire others.
• Innovative Strategy Development and Alignment: Develop and implement a comprehensive innovation strategy that aligns with UVA’s and the 12 schools’ core missions. The successful candidate will identify and seize key opportunities to embed innovative approaches into the University's academic and operational frameworks. Create a strategic roadmap that anticipates future trends and positions UVA at the forefront of entrepreneurial and innovative leadership.
• Cross-Disciplinary and External Collaboration: Promote and facilitate collaboration across different academic disciplines to drive innovation. This role involves building and nurturing cross-functional teams to address complex, multifaceted challenges. Engage with a diverse array of stakeholders to foster a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition to faculty, students, staff, such stakeholders include external partners from the philanthropic and business communities. Represent the University in the broader entrepreneurial community.
• Administrative Management: Lead and inspire faculty, staff and students to foster a culture of entrepreneurism. Foster a diverse and inclusive educational and work environment; promote a collaborative, collegial culture throughout the Initiative and across the University; and manage direct reports as well as lead through influence. Manage the financial resources through an annual operating budget and an effective long-term financial plan.
  
  

Ideal Experience And Characteristics

UVA seeks a broad pool of candidates from any discipline. They will have the skills to lead a pan-University initiative, and the strongest candidates will possess practical entrepreneurship experience and significant experience in higher education.

All candidates will possess the highest level of integrity and a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will have the ability to develop and implement a forward-thinking vision. They will encourage and foster collaboration across schools and units at UVA and beyond. Candidates must have administrative leadership experience.

Candidates must also have sufficient academic credentials to be eligible for a faculty appointment in at least one school of the University. Sufficient academic credentials may vary depending on the nature of the appointment as either a tenured professor or as a professor of practice.

In addition, candidates will bring many of the following professional qualifications, skills, experience, and personal characteristics:

• Experienced leader with the credibility to serve as an internal and external champion for entrepreneurship and innovation
• Proven ability to further a culture of innovation and entrepreneurism
• Excellent communication, presentation, listening, and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate with and inspire a broad array of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external partners
• Skilled at working with school and unit leadership to understand and pursue opportunities, and with a variety of administrative units to remove obstacles to student, faculty, and alumni engagement with entrepreneurship and innovation
• Extensive experience in leading complex, multi-stakeholder collaborations
• Enterprise perspective and ability to envision and identify opportunities, define goals, solve complex problems, and lead large-scale projects and programs
• Experience managing staff and budgets
• Ability to engage and build rapport with donors; participate in securing philanthropic support for entrepreneurship and innovation
• Skilled at adjusting priorities and programs to meet targets
• Team player with a collaborative style; connector that builds trust and delivers results
• At least 10 years of relevant experience that includes administrative leadership is required
• A terminal degree is required
  
  

To Apply or Nominate

UVA Executive Search Group (ESG), an internal search firm in the Office of the President, is assisting in the recruitment of the Donna and Richard Tadler Professor for Entrepreneurship.

Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to ESG Managing Director AJ Davidson at ajh2d@virginia.edu.

To apply, submit a letter of interest describing interest in UVA, entrepreneurship research, teaching, and public engagement, and a CV via Workday. The search will be carried out with full confidentiality.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.