Andy Morriss Asked to Lead Creation of I-School
MICHAEL K. YOUNGPresident
June 21, 2017
Over the last 18 months, the Council of Deans, as well as various faculty, staff and students have been discussing a concept to further enhance the transformative learning, discovery and impacts of our efforts in creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation across our University. To these ends, Texas A&M University plans to launch a new initiative this fall: the School of Innovation, or “I-School.” We anticipate presenting the I-School concept to the Board of Regents for endorsement later this summer, with a fuller announcement at that time.
The I-School will be a virtual school, designed to transcend traditional college boundaries. While the I-School will not issue degrees or courses itself, the I-School will work to coordinate and communicate the many existing course offerings, experiential programs, offices and services that enhance students’ skills, further faculty scholarship and ensure our university’s efforts to advance aptitude in innovation, entrepreneurship or creativity. Opportunities for faculty affiliation with the I-School will be initiated in fall 2017 and include leadership and program development opportunities.
To fully initiate this effort, we have sought a leader who understands our unique Texas A&M culture, the intent of this concept and who can work collaboratively with all colleges and schools, branch campuses, the University Libraries, Office of Research and various service units working in these arenas to develop a final design and programmatic agenda. Because these ideas extend beyond academic offerings, we also intend to utilize this momentum to restructure our university services in support of economic development, technology transfer, commercialization, and corporate ventures so they operate more fully in unison with our faculty research enterprise and enhance our efforts in innovation.
Based on feedback and numerous recommendations, we are fortunate to announce that Dean Andrew Morriss of the Texas A&M School of Law has agreed to serve as the founding Dean of the School of Innovation and Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.
Dean Morriss has a long record of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. His success as the initial Dean of the Texas A&M School of Law has been extraordinary, helping to realign faculty, staff and student efforts to achieve tier-one excellence and creating unique leadership in fields of strength such as Intellectual Property Law, a program that is currently ranked #7 nationally. These efforts have helped to move Texas A&M School of Law from unranked in 2014 to Top 100 by US News & World Report in 2017.
Dean Morriss will begin this new role on Aug. 1, 2017. A search for a new Dean of the School of Law will commence in the fall with additional details to be shared in the coming weeks.
We look forward to working across the university to design this exciting School of Innovation initiative for Texas A&M, one we hope will positively impact multidisciplinary teaching, research and service across our campus.