Interview with Public Purpose magazine

Chancellor Motley, my name is Cheryl Fields, a writer for Public Purpose magazine, published by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. I am getting the perspectives of presidents and chancellors involved in developing innovative partnerships with business. I have spoken with Richard Antonak, William Brah, and Christine DePalma, so I have background information on what is going on with the Venture Development Center.

Fields: One thing I'm interested in is whether you see the VDC as more of an outlet to extend and commercialize your faculty members' research--or whether the overall aim is more in terms of the institution's commitment to (or the expectation from the state) to aid economic development.

Motley: I see the Venture Development Center as adding a powerful new dimension to our long-standing commitment to make a difference in the communities the University of Massachusetts Boston serves – locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Top faculty and students want the results of their research put to use for both social and economic betterment.

Fields: Is a major goal to attract more basic research funding for traditional faculty research?

Motley: Attracting more basic research funding is an ongoing goal here at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and certainly the Venture Development Center will strengthen our reputation as a research university. Equally important is that the VDC will help us attract top faculty and students who are interested in research and development.

Fields: Do you see the VDC as helping to use the advantage of your urban location to assist in the developing ideas from faculty or entrepreneurs in other areas of the state, for example, UMass-Amherst?

Motley: The University of Massachusetts Boston collaborates closely with the four other campuses of the UMass system. For example, the campuses recently completed a joint strategy for life science research and development, and we will continue to look for ways to collaborate and share the unique strengths of our individual campuses. We have encouraged the other campuses to use the Venture Development Center, and we will continue to do so.

Fields: In developing the center, did you receive advice froom other presidents involved in incubators and the like about what NOT to do?

Motley: Whenever you take on a project like this, you get a lot of suggestions and opinions. I think the greatest encouragement has been around thinking of and planning for the Venture Development Center as an investment in the future of the University of Massachusetts Boston, realizing that the benefits to our research efforts, reputation, and recruitment will be great.

Fields: Five years from now, what would success look like? What benchmarks will you use to measure the VDC's success?

Motley: What we are trying to do at the University of Massachusetts Boston is to build a more collaborative, more innovative urban research university. We have identified the areas of strength where we think we can grow and partner with others, including industry. So I look for the Venture Development Center to help catalyze this growth and collaboration, and when we start to see the benefits of that growth and collaboration, that will be an initial benchmark for success.

Fields: Thanks very much for your help with this story.