Former U.S. Patent and Trademark Commissioner Joins University of Cincinnati

Anne H. Chasser, formerly commissioner for trademarks for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C., has been appointed associate vice president for technology transfer and commercialization at the University of Cincinnati (UC).

In this position Chasser will oversee all activities of UC’s Intellectual Property Office, which is responsible for patenting, licensing and technology transfer of discoveries made by UC scientists.

“We’re excited to have Anne Chasser join our university community,” says Jane E. Henney, MD, senior vice president and provost for health affairs. “With her vast experience in the intellectual property field, and the energy and ideas she brings, she will be a driving force in improving research excellence at UC.”

Chasser, whose office will be on UC’s Academic Health Center Campus, reports to Sandra Degen, PhD, acting vice president for research.

Chasser’s appointment, says Dr. Degen, illustrates the university’s commitment to UC|21, its plan for academic development in the 21st century. Growth of research excellence is one of UC|21's six overall goals. The others are to place students at the center, achieve academic excellence, forge key relationships and partnerships, establish a sense of “place,” and create opportunity.

“It’s important to remember that we don’t do research for its own sake,” says Dr. Degen. “We translate that knowledge into benefits to our community and society as a whole, and that will be Anne’s focus.”

Through UC|21, Chasser says, the University of Cincinnati is redefining the concept of the urban research university, and her department has a key role to play in this strategy.

Intellectual property, in terms of knowledge, ideas, discovery and invention, she says, is now the number one “capital resource” in postindustrial America, and research-oriented universities like UC have become leading economic drivers in their local and regional economies.

“I sense the energy in UC|21 and an enthusiasm for collaboration across all departments, on both the East and West campuses,” she says. “But what really excites me, is the opportunity we have to lead.”

An Ohio native who served two different administrations in Washington, D.C., Chasser says she always intended to return to be close to her family.

“And when I started looking at universities in Ohio,” she says, “I found all eyes focused on Cincinnati. I realized that this is where things are happening.”

While in Washington, Chasser oversaw an annual budget of $67 million and a staff of over 600 attorneys and technical support professionals.

Prior to joining the U.S. Patent Office and Trademark Office in 1999, she was director of Trademark and Licensing Services at Ohio State University. Described by Managing Intellectual Property magazine as one of the 50 most influential people in the intellectual property world, Chasser has also served as president of the 135-nation International Trademark Association.

For complete information on UC|21, log on to

www.uc.edu/uc21

.