Terry Bray is the director of technology licensing and is responsible for directing the team that manages intellectual property created at Georgia Tech. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the creation, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies, and he has held research, faculty, managerial, and executive positions within academia and industry. He has a B.S. in chemistry from Mercer University, an M.S. in chemistry from Georgia Tech, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Meet the Office of Industry Engagement Team
The Office of Industry Engagement’s goal is to provide Georgia Tech’s research community and industry collaborators with the support and resources they need to continue to develop and transfer breakthrough innovations.
Every member of our team is dedicated to achieving this goal. Visit our Contact Us page to connect with them or call 404.894.6940.
Technology Licensing
Help industry license and continue to develop and commercialize Georgia Tech’s cutting-edge innovations, effectively managing our intellectual property Mark S. Coburn, MS > Senior Associate Director
Mark Coburn is the senior associate director, with expertise in licensing, research administration, startups, and business development. He manages a large portfolio of inventions and acts as a mentor for intellectual property evaluation, patenting, and licensing. He has a multitude of experiences in technology transfer at four public and private R1-level research institutions during his career before joining Georgia Tech in 2018. Mark has a degree in zoology from Miami University and an M.S. in technology management from Pepperdine University.
Jo Bryan > Patents Administrator
Jo Bryan is responsible for patent management and maintaining Georgia Tech Research Corp.'s patent database. Jo has worked in the intellectual property field since 2000, specializing in U.S. patent prosecution, U.S. trademark prosecution, and copyright law. Jo has a B.S. degree in criminal justice from the University of South Florida.
Kenneth S. Franklin, JD > Associate
Kenneth Franklin is a technology licensing associate with expertise in intellectual property evaluation, patenting, and licensing. He has a legal background and previously worked in the entertainment industry before joining Georgia Tech in 2017. Kenny has a degree in physics from Georgia Tech and a joint JD-MBA from Emory University.
Tarianna Stewart, PhD > Associate
Tarianna Stewart is a technology licensing associate with a strong academic and professional background in biomedical science. She received a master’s degree in biology from Georgia State University and a Ph.D. in biomedical science from Morehouse School of Medicine. Her work at Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University, in association with Kimberly-Clark, focused on using patterned nanostructured surfaces to increase the transport and delivery of therapeutic agents across tissue barriers. Prior to joining GTRC, Tarianna worked for a local intellectual property law firm, gaining experience in patent prosecution strategies and increasing her ability to identify and advance IP that arises from the Georgia Tech scientific community.
Tiffany Ross, MBA > Account Manager
Tiffany Ross is responsible for post-license maintenance and various accounting matters for the licensing group. Before joining the licensing group, she worked in post-award accounting for sponsored projects and has worked with the Georgia Tech Research Corp.'s accounting team for more than 15 years in a number of roles. Tiffany has a degree in computer science from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State University.
Deborah Reid > Administrative Coordinator
Deborah Reid is the administrative professional senior for both the Industry Contracting and the Technology Licensing teams. She provides extensive administrative support to the directors, senior associates, and their team members. Deborah has been an employee of Georgia Tech for 23 years and has had the opportunity to work in several areas, including the Office of Sponsored Programs, serving in a similar capacity. She received her diploma from the Adelphi School of Business.
Enterprise Agreements
Develop, negotiate, and manage major agreements with companies sponsoring research that spans across Georgia Tech departments and/or the company’s business units and subsidiaries Lauren MacLanahan, JD > Senior Director
Lauren MacLanahan is a senior director, leading the Enterprise Agreements team. Lauren is involved in negotiating and managing complex research agreements with companies forming strategic research relationships with Georgia Tech as well as managing large IP portfolios and negotiating licensing agreements in a wide range of fields. She holds a JD from the William and Mary School of Law, a master’s in chemistry from Georgia Tech, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Tennessee. She is a registered patent attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois. Before coming to Georgia Tech in 2005, she practiced law for two national law firms, one in Chicago and one in Atlanta, for several years.
Gage Ramos, JD > Senior Associate
Gage Ramos is a senior contracting officer and has been working in the field of technology transfer and research administration for eight years. Gage supports the Enterprise Agreement team through negotiating and managing complex research agreements with companies forming strategic research relationships with Georgia Tech. She also manages an intellectual property portfolio and negotiates licensing agreements in a wide range of fields. She holds a B.S. in biological sciences from Clemson University and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Amanda Lankford, MPH > Associate
Amanda Lankford is an associate on the Enterprise Agreements team with expertise in the evaluation and processing of contract proposals and awards. She is responsible for the preparation and negotiation of research collaboration, nondisclosure (NDAs), and material transfer agreements (MTAs) with industry partners. Amanda has an undergraduate degree in biology from Georgia Tech and a master’s degree in public health from Emory University.
Carin Hoppe > Assistant to the Executive Director
Carin Hoppe serves the assistant to the executive director and general counsel of the Office of Industry Engagement. Before joining Georgia Tech Research Corp., Carin provided administrative support to several top commercial real estate brokers in Atlanta.
Exchange Agreements
Establish agreements that protect Georgia Tech intellectual property while researchers work with collaborators, including Nondisclosure Agreements (NDAs), Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), and Data Usage Agreements (DUAs) Kendall Thompson, JD > Associate Director
Kendall Thompson is associate director for the Exchange Agreements team. Kendall has a JD from the University of Georgia School of Law and an undergraduate degree in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Romel Cadet, JD > Associate
Romel Cadet is an associate with the Exchange Agreements team. Romel has a JD from Emory University School of Law and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Florida.
Alison Peffer, JD > Associate
Alison Peffer is an associate on the Exchange Agreements team. Alison studied political science and government at the University of Louisville. She earned a Juris Doctor and a masters in health administration from the University of Kentucky.
Shuntá Willis-Johnson > Associate
Shuntá Willis-Johnson is an associate with the Exchange Agreements team. She has a strong background in process management, improvement, and development, contracts administration, and professional writing. Shuntá has a B.A. degree in English as well as an M.Ed. in education management.
Sheri Klumb > Contracting Specialist
Sheri Klumb is a contracting specialist for the Exchange Agreements team, managing incoming requests for Non-Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements and Data Usage Agreements. Before joining Georgia Tech Research Corp., Sheri was an executive assistant supporting transaction teams and processes in construction and commercial real estate.
Industry and International Contracting
Work with U.S. companies and organizations based in foreign countries—as well as Georgia Tech researchers—to develop sponsored research agreements along the Contract Continuum Sophia L. Herbert-Peterson, JD > Director
Sophia Herbert-Peterson is the director of industry contracting and is responsible for managing and training the industry contracting team, leading and facilitating complex transactions with sponsors, and developing and implementing policies and procedures in support of the research collaboration process. Prior to joining Georgia Tech in 2006, Sophia served as a law clerk for the Honorable Earl B. Gilliam in the southern district of California. She also practiced at a law firm in Atlanta prior to serving as in-house counsel for two Fortune 500 corporations. Sophia holds a BA in international studies and Spanish literature from Manhattan College and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Jarrett R. Ellis, MEd, JD > Senior Associate
Jarrett Ellis is responsible for negotiating industry-sponsored research agreements, managing strategic relationships with collaborating organizations, supervising industry contracts administration, and team training. Before joining Georgia Tech Research Corp., Jarrett practiced law at Alston & Bird, LLP, where he represented and advised corporate clients in strategic matters including governance, securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, technology sales and licensing, and data privacy and security. He has a degree in English literature from Oral Roberts University and a master’s degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgia State University.
John M. Kington, II, JD, MBA > Senior Associate
John Kington is responsible for the contractual and legal negotiation of industry-sponsored agreements with aerospace and international partners. Prior to joining Georgia Tech Research Corp., John was in private practice, where he focused his attention on intellectual property and transactional law. Along with his J.D., John has an LL.M. in intellectual property from Washington University in St. Louis, an M.B.A from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business, and degrees in biology/chemistry from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Yatri Amin, JD > Associate
Yatri Amin is a contracting officer and is responsible for all proposals that come in from Georgia Tech Research Institute and international proposals for mechanical engineering as well as for electrical and computer engineering. Her previous experience working at a law firm, in industry, and in the public sector has shaped her unique approach to contractual negotiations. Yatri has a degree in international affairs from the University of Georgia and a joint JD/MA from The American University in Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Lyle Chatham, JD > Associate
Jennifer Lyle Chatham is responsible for negotiating research agreements with private foundation sponsors and also manages the Ford Alliance on behalf of Geogia Tech Research Corp. She has a legal background specializing in corporate law and previously worked on mergers and acquisitions at a large Atlanta law firm. Jennifer has a bachelor of business administration degree from Emory University as well as a J.D., with honors, from the Emory University School of Law.
Yathurshi (Yadu) Haase, JD > Associate
Yathurshi (Yadu) Haase is an associate on the Industry and International Contracting team. She has a legal background and previously worked in real estate for a telecommunications firm before joining Georgia Tech in 2018. Yadu earned her JD in 2016 from Georgia State University College of Law, and she holds a bachelor of science in psychology with a minor in religion from the University of Georgia.
Amelia Parr, JD > Associate
Amelia Parr is a contracting officer and currently supports Industry Membership Centers in addition to multiple campus departments. She has a legal background and previously worked in private practice mass tort litigation before joining Georgia Tech Research Corp. in 2016. Amelia has a BFA degree from Winthrop University and a JD from Emory University, with a certificate in transactional law.
Trey Wakefield, JD > Associate
Trey Wakefield is responsible for the negotiation and administration of sponsored research agreements. He previously worked as an attorney practicing corporate and entertainment law. Trey has a degree in political science from Valdosta State University and a JD from Georgia State University.
Michelle Sercye > Associate
Michelle Sercye is responsible for negotiating industry-sponsored research agreements. Before joining Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Michelle worked at a boutique, life science law firm. Her duties included negotiating contracts and providing counsel on federal and state regulations and guidelines related to clinical research and development. Prior to that, she also worked with the Office of Sponsored Programs and Office of Technology Transfer at Emory University as an Associate, where she drafted, revised, and negotiated industry and non-industry agreements. Michelle received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and her law degree from Georgia State University College of Law.
Courtney Washington > Contracting Specialist
Courtney Washington is a contracting specialist on the Industry and International Agreements team. She holds a B.S. in marketing from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama.
Deborah Reid > Administrative Coordinator
Deborah Reid is the administrative professional senior for both the Industry Contracting and the Technology Licensing teams. She provides extensive administrative support to the directors, senior associates, and their team members. Deborah has been an employee of Georgia Tech for 23 years and has had the opportunity to work in several areas, including the Office of Sponsored Programs, serving in a similar capacity. She received her diploma from the Adelphi School of Business.
Marketing and Communications
Promote utilization of Georgia Tech’s intellectual property, increase interactions with industry, and expand research opportunities for faculty and students Ashton Harrison > Marketing Specialist
Ashton Harrison serves as the marketing specialist and is responsible for the marketing and promotion of Georgia Tech research and intellectual property. Her background involved marketing roles as well as business development, and she previously worked in the health care industry before joining Georgia Tech in 2017. Ashton has a degree in communications from Florida State University.
Executive Director, Industry Engagement
Kevin Wozniak, MBA, RTTP > Executive Director
As head of the Office of Industry Engagement, Kevin Wozniak is responsible for establishing meaningful collaborations with industry through the negotiation of sponsored research agreements, technology licenses, and other various agreements with companies throughout the world. He has worked in the university technology transfer field since 1999, helping to turn promising scientific ideas into useful products and companies. Prior to entering a career in academia, he worked as a manufacturing engineer in the automotive industry, designing assembly systems for new vehicles. He is a member of and has served in board positions for the Association of University Technology Managers as well as the Council of Government Relations.
Carin Hoppe > Assistant to the Executive Director
Carin Hoppe serves the assistant to the executive director and general counsel of the Office of Industry Engagement. Before joining Georgia Tech Research Corp., Carin provided administrative support to several top commercial real estate brokers in Atlanta.
