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[[File:Dominik Rowan headshot 2021 resized smallerUIF hosting.jpg|thumb|Rowan UIF Convention April 2017|link=Special:FilePath/Dominik_Rowan_headshot_2021_resized_smallerRowan_UIF_hosting.jpg|Dr. Michael Dominik]]Greetings! My name is [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdominikphd/ Mike Dominik], and I'm a Senior Lecturer faculty member an Associate Teaching Professor at [https://www.rowan.edu/ Rowan University] in Glassboro, NJ, USA. My diverse academic background includes BS Electrical Engineering (RutgersUniversity), MS Engineering Management of Technology (UPennUniversity of Pennsylvania), MBA (RowanUniversity), and PhD in Organizational Leadership (Eastern UnivUniversity). My professional experience career includes 15 16 years as an engineer with [https://ethw.org/RCA_(Radio_Corporation_of_America) RCA], General Electric and Lockheed Martin, 15 followed by 16 more years as a two-time technology entrepreneur (my the software startup I co-founded called [https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130910005181/en/PTC-Expands-Technology-Deployment-Options-with-Acquisition-of-Hosting-Provider-NetIDEAS NetIDEAS was acquired by Parametric Technology Corporation]), and the past 5 years . I have proudly served as a teacher an [https://business.rowan.edu/faculty-staff/dominik-faculty.html educator at RowanUniversity] since 2016.

Rowan University is [https://today.rowan.edu/news/2023/02/rowan-on-the-rise.html#:~:text=Recognized%20as%20the%20nation's%20third,doubled%20in%20the%20last%20decade. the USA's third-fastest-growing public research university], and has nearly doubled in size in the past decade, from around 10.000 students in 2010 to nearly 20some 24,000 nowas of 2025. With that growth comes challenges - and therefore more also OPPORTUNITY and a need to be innovative and entrepreneurial! Our (the entrepreneurial mindset). Rowan's first Leadership Circle of Fellows was formed in 2016, and two more leadership circles followed in 2018 and 2019. COVID in 2020 caused us to put a hold on a leadership circleUIF for one year, but we are came back in 2021 with another four students!

Here are Below we feature briefs about each of the [https://www.facebook.com/rowanuif/ Rowan University Leadership Circles] and what they have notably accomplished as University Innovation Fellows.[[File:Rowan Fellows at meetup 2019.jpg|thumb|Rowan Fellows at 2019 meetup|link=Special:FilePath/Rowan_Fellows_at_meetup_2019.jpg]]'''Rowan UIF Cohort 1: 2016-2017'''. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandongrahameng/ Brandon Graham] (co-founder and CEO of [https://www.arkelive.com/ Arke Aeronautics]), [https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonia-nuzzolo/ Antonia Nuzzolo], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-callaway-10756b11a/ Kayla Callaway], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-tashjian-6225a578/ Melody Tashjian]. Rowan's first cohort is most notable for establishing Rowan University's "maker space", known as [https://rcie.medium.com/explore-studio-231-rowans-experiential-learning-lab-and-makerspace-7130cda0508b Studio 231], which was acknowledged by the AACSB with a [https://www.aacsb.edu/about/advocacy-and-awareness/member-challenges/innovations-that-inspire/2019/rowan-university 2019 Innovations That Inspire] award. This cohort held the [https://www.alumni.rowan.edu/s/1653/02-alumni/index.aspx?sid=1653&gid=2&pgid=1397 first UIF E&I convention] at Rowan University, which attracted [https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1534611919890370&set=ms.c.eJxFj0ESBEEEBH80gULz~%3B49NDLvV1wwy0YCnallGHPF8dIDJ6WpBOEHPhPYPaNlMHILWBcKVXEf8QXyV7MOKbQWsxDqUDqudACuYOxAEBjMcAR34QLrx0pWWXMeALFZyVrLpkHXEvWOyIvf9ySqzspcGQft8C38BKphH1g~-~-.bps.a.1534611776557051 more than 100 participants in April 2017]. Their [https://www.facebook.com/rowanuif/videos/1751284451556448 Silicon Valley meetup in early 2017] was a [https://universityinnovationfellows.org/silicon-valley-meetup/uif-dyoe-worksheet-svm-march-2017/ rousing success]! Check out [https://soundcloud.com/profcasts/rowanuifinterview?fbclid=IwAR1cCxp8WxslNuE2KzA5hWVpMxQ7mX65Tx3VdNoIoMvF-jYmvKQj57WWpVQ this podcast interview] with these four Fellows.

'''Rowan UIF LC 1Cohort 2: 20162018-20172019'''. : [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandongrahamengjeffrey-stransky/ Brandon GrahamJeffrey Stransky] (co-founder and CEO of [https://wwwwho in 2023 completed his PhD in experiential engineering education, congrats Dr.arkelive.com/ Arke Aeronautics]Stransky who is now doing his post doc at NJIT in Newark NJ), [https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniasarandeep-nuzzolokaur/ Antonia NuzzoloSarandeep Kaur], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-callaway-10756b11abrandonabaker/ Kayla CallawayBrandon Baker], [https://wwwuniversityinnovation.linkedin.comorg/inwiki/melody-tashjian-6225a578/ Melody TashjianFellow:Edward_Estremera Edward Estremera]. Rowan's first LC second cohort is most notable for establishing Rowan University's "maker space", known as having delivered some [https://rciebusiness.mediumrowan.comedu/centers_of_excellence1/cie/explorecalendar-studioof-231-rowans-experiential-learning-lab-and-makerspace-7130cda0508b Studio 231events.html 50 Design Thinking workshop events], which was acknowledged by then significantly influenced the AACSB with a delivery model of Rowan's "[https://wwwbusiness.aacsbrowan.edu/aboutcenters_of_excellence1/advocacy-cie/tlae.html Think Like an Entrepreneur]" summer academy for underprivileged andunderserved high school students, a now-awareness/member-challenges/innovations-recurring summer program thatuses Design Thinking approaches to develop big-inspire/2019/rowan-university 2019 Innovations That Inspire] award. This LC held world solutions for the [https://wwwsdgs.alumniun.rowan.eduorg/s/1653/02-alumni/indexgoals United Nations Sustainable Development Goals].aspx?sid=1653&gid=2&pgid=1397 first UIF E&I convention] at Thanks to the groundbreaking work by this cohort, programs like TLAE helped Rowan University, which attracted 's [https://wwwbusiness.facebookrowan.comedu/centers_of_excellence1/cie/photo?fbid=1534611919890370&set=msindex.c.eJxFj0ESBEEEBH80gULz~%3B49NDLvV1wwy0YCnallGHPF8dIDJ6WpBOEHPhPYPaNlMHILWBcKVXEf8QXyV7MOKbQWsxDqUDqudACuYOxAEBjMcAR34QLrx0pWWXMeALFZyVrLpkHXEvWOyIvf9ySqzspcGQft8C38BKphH1g~-~-.bps.a.1534611776557051 more than 100 participants in April 2017html Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship]. Their [https://wwwtoday.facebookrowan.comedu/rowanuifnews/videos2021/1751284451556448 Silicon Valley meetup in early 2017] was a [https:09//universityinnovationfellows.org/siliconrowan-center-for-valleyinnovation-meetup/uif-dyoeentrepreneurship-worksheetwins-svmglobal-marchimpact-2017/ rousing success]! Check out [https://soundcloudaward.com/profcasts/rowanuifinterview?fbclid=IwAR1cCxp8WxslNuE2KzA5hWVpMxQ7mX65Tx3VdNoIoMvF-jYmvKQj57WWpVQ this podcast interviewhtml win a 2021 global impact award]from the International Council for Small Business.

'''Rowan UIF LC 2Cohort 3: 20182019-20192020''': [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreymichael-stranskyweinberg-rowan/ Jeffrey StranskyMichael Weinberg] (now an engineering PhD student), [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarandeepalison-kaurprice-a3a05b195/ Sarandeep KaurAlison Price], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonabakergillian-castaldo-aa277617a/ Brandon BakerGillian Castaldo], Edward Estremera[https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-debiasse-5a8649163/ Erin DeBiasse]. Rowan's second LC is notable for having delivered more than third cohort worked hard to successfully design an impactful program based on [https://businesssites.rowan.edu/centers_of_excellence1publicsafety/cieclery/calendar-of-eventscsa/index.html 50 Design Thinking workshop eventscampus public safety], some of which then significantly influenced but COVID-19 arrived in early 2020, and the delivery model of team had to back off from its ambitious plans. Before graduating from Rowan's "in 2022, Erin studied abroad at the [https://businesswww.rowanupf.edu/centers_of_excellence1en/ Univeritat Pompeu Fabara] in Barcelona, Spain, and began her career as a planner for the iconic Macy's retail business in New York City. Alison has launched her biomedical engineering career in the New York City area at [https:/cie/tlaecelularity.html Think Like an Entrepreneurcom/ Celularity]" summer academy for underprivileged , and underserved high school studentsGillian has started her career at [https://www.stonefieldeng.com/ Stonefield Engineering] in Princeton NJ. Michael graduated in Spring 2022, which uses and [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-weinberg-rowan/ brings his Design Thinking approaches skills] to develop bighis work in the construction industry and as a freelance 3D printing entrepreneur. [[File:Dominik Rowan headshot 2021 resized smaller.jpg|thumb|link=Special:FilePath/Dominik_Rowan_headshot_2021_resized_smaller.jpg|Dr. Michael Dominik|218x218px]]'''Rowan UIF Cohort 4: 2021-world solutions for the 2022''': [https://sdgswww.unlinkedin.orgcom/goals United Nations Sustainable Development Goalsin/kenyon-burgess-a33144200/ Kenyon Burgess]. Thanks to programs like TLAE, Rowan's [https://businesswww.rowanlinkedin.educom/centers_of_excellence1in/cieaatish-gupta-8b830419a/index.html Center for Innovation and EntrepreneurshipAatish Gupta] , [https://todaywww.rowanlinkedin.educom/in/shruti-dalwadi/ Shruti Dalwadi], [https:/news/2021www.linkedin.com/09in/rowanisabella-centermarshall-for20bb41194/ Isabella Marshall]. Ambitious and motivated, our fourth Rowan cohort may have have realized the most of their grand vision from among all of our Fellows. Overachievers all, their UIF project featured hosting a three-innovationday on-campus [https://sites.google.com/students.rowan.edu/rowan-entrepreneurshipinnovation-winsweekend/who-globalwe-impact-awardare?authuser=0 Innovation Weekend] event in April 2022 for students to engage in a Design Thinking event to develop ideas and solutions to address Rowan campus mental health and resources challenges.html won But beyond just completing their campus improvement project, in 2023, two of these Fellows (Aatish and Kenyon) conceived of a 2021 global impact awardCollege of Engineering clinic project on Design Thinking, to bring pedagogical resources on Design Thinking to all Rowan colleges (there are 13) across the entire University. The most evident examples of their achievement are the creation of the [https://sites.google.com/students.rowan.edu/dt-rowan/learning-modules?authuser=0 Rowan Design Thinking website] from and the International Council for Small BusinessRowan [https://www.youtube.com/@rowandttv Design Thinking TV channel] on YouTube.Check it out!

'''Rowan UIF LC 3Cohort 5: 20192023-20202024''': It's a joy and privilege to be the Faculty Champion for Rowan's University Innovation Fellows, and this cohort of 2023-24 Fellows - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-weinberg-rowanetran822/ Michael WeinbergErica Tran], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonresty-pricem-a3a05b195b5428a23a/ Alison PriceResty Mercado], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-castaldomarissa-aa277617apestritto1/ Gillian CastaldoMarissa Pestritto], and [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-debiasse-5a8649163joshdgz/ Erin DeBiasseJoshua DeGuzman]. Rowan's third LC worked hard to successfully design - organized an impactful program based on [https://sites.rowan.edu/publicsafety/clery/csa/index.html campus public safety]Multi-Cultural Day of Innovation, but COVID-19 arrived held in early 2020, and the team had to back off from its ambitious plansMarch 2024. Erin is now studying at This work influenced the [https://www.upf.edu/en/ Univeritat Pompeu Fabara] in Barcelona, Spain, while Alison has launched her biomedical engineering career in path taken by the New York City area at [https://celularitynext Cohort.com/ Celularity], and Gillian has started her career at [https://www.stonefieldeng.com/ Stonefield Engineering] in Princeton NJ.

'''Rowan UIF LC 4 (candidates)Cohort 6: 20212024-20222025:'''This cohort really elevated the game and delivered one of the most impactful projects from the Rowan UIF program - they brought the TEDx program to Rowan University for the very first time! Held on April 25, 2025, this event featured eight speakers - six Rowan alumni and two active Rowan students - who each gave compelling 15-minute talks about innovation and entrepreneurship. Bravo to this high-achieving team: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenyonelizabeth-burgesspennington-a331442006a68b9256/ Kenyon BurgessElizabeth Pennington], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aatishaiden-gupta-8b830419atahmazian/ Aatish GuptaAiden Tahmazian], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutivictoria-van-dalwadiru/ Shruti DalwadiVictoria Van], and [https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-marshall-20bb41194sapjahzapotitla/ Isabella MarshallSapjah Zapotitla]. Ambitious and motivated, our fourth Rowan LC may have the most upside of all of our Fellows. Overachievers all, their UIF program is taking shape and looks to be extraordinary!  It's a joy and privilege to be the Faculty Champion for Rowan's University Innovation Fellows, and I am excited to see what our 2021 Fellows will accomplish! [[File:2021 Rowan Fellows at meetup 2019UIF Stakeholder Meeting.jpg|thumb|Rowan Fellows at 2019 meetup|link=Special:FilePath/Rowan_Fellows_at_meetup_20192021_Rowan_UIF_Stakeholder_Meeting.jpg]]