Princeton appoints first vice dean for innovation

By Catherine Zandonella

Rodney Priestley
Rodney Priestley, Princeton’s inaugural vice dean for innovation. Photo by David Kelly Crow

Rodney Priestley, professor of chemical and biological engineering and a leading researcher in the area of complex materials and processing, has been named Princeton University’s inaugural vice dean for innovation, effective Feb. 3, 2020. The newly created position provides academic leadership for innovation and entrepreneurship activities across campus. Priestley will oversee efforts to grow Princeton’s culture of innovation by expanding collaborations with industry, entrepreneurs, alumni, and other potential partners. He has published nearly 100 articles, is coinventor on four patent-pending technologies in drug-delivery and polymer colloids, and is co-founder of two companies working to translate research into technologies or products.