Navigating Careers in Intellectual Property: A Conversation with Molly Kocialski and Christal Sheppard
Please join us for a dynamic conversation in which we'll explore navigating careers in intellectual property. We'll hear from Molly Kocialski and Christal Sheppard who have had diverse and exciting careers, including science, academia, public service, and entrepreneurship.
Additionally, we'll hear about some resources available for diverse innovators and how the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is actively working to broaden participation in inventing and entrepreneurship.
This discussion will be moderated by Cheryl Horst, IP Counsel and Associate Director of NUtech Ventures, the nonprofit technology commercialization affiliate serving the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Kearney.
This event is open to all faculty, staff, postdocs, students, and community partners who are interested in being part of this inclusive innovation series. This event will be available both in person, and online through Zoom. (Please note - Zoom link will be sent the morning of 8th.)
Find out more about our speakers and their organizations:
Molly Kocialski, Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office
As the Regional Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), since January 2016, Mollybeth (Molly) Kocialski carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO and is responsible for leading the Rocky Mountain regional office. Focusing on the nine states within this region and actively engaging with the community, Ms. Kocialski ensures the USPTO's initiatives and programs are tailored to the region's unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders. Ms. Kocialski brings more than 20 years of intellectual property experience to the USPTO. Ms. Kocialski is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law and received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Ms. Kocialski is a registered patent attorney and is admitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the New York and Colorado state bars as well as to the United States Courts in those jurisdictions.
Christal Sheppard, Lecturer, Nebraska College of Law
Dr. Christal Sheppard was the first Director of the first United States Patent and Trademark Office located outside of the nation's capital in 227 years. Prior to joining the Agency, she was assistant professor of law at the University of Nebraska where she co-founded a program of Concentrated Study in Intellectual Property law. In 2018, she joined IPwe, a patent based, startup company headquartered in Paris, France, as Executive Vice President for Strategy and Business Development. Dr. Sheppard's educational background includes an M.S. and Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from Cornell University Law School, completion of Harvard's Executive Education – Senior Managers in Government, the Federal Executive Institute's - Leadership for a Democratic Society and George Mason University Law and Economic Center's Economic Institute for Law Professors programs. Dr. Sheppard has over two decades of Science and Intellectual Property Law and Policy work experience. For a complete bio, please visit https://law.unl.edu/christal-sheppard/#about
Date - Wednesday, November 8th, 2023
Time - 11:30am-12:30pm
Location - Nebraska Union, Regency Room Suite (UNL City Campus)
Lunch - Assorted sandwiches; vegetarian option included (please list any other dietary needs when registering below)
More details at: https://www.nutechventures.org/event_nuramp.php?EMSEventUUID=5c37e419-7360-4084-a0f8-34df138d8f91