SPEAKER

Meet our speakers:

Erik Iverson, Managing Director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Erik Iverson, a nationally recognized leader in advancing global health initiatives, life science discoveries and intellectual property management, has been the managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation since 2016.

Iverson’s background includes:

• Leading organizations committed to scientific research and global health initiatives;
• Legal knowledge and experience in intellectual property management, technology transfer, collaborative research and tax;
• Experience as an entrepreneurial leader starting new ventures, including raising capital.

Prior to joining the Infectious Disease Research Institute in 2011, Iverson was the first attorney dedicated to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s global health and agricultural programs, and played a lead role in building the Global Health Program for seven years as Associate General Counsel. The Global Health Program provides $4 billion in annual funding for the discovery and development of vaccines, drugs, diagnostics and related technologies.

In addition to his grant-making roles, Iverson helped establish the Gates Foundation’s Program Related Investment team, which makes equity and debt investments in startup biotechnology companies to complement its multi-billion-dollar grant activities. The PRIs stimulate private-sector innovation, encourage market-driven efficiencies and attract external capital to priority initiatives.

Previously, Iverson was an attorney at Perkins Coie LLP; an adjunct professor in biotechnology law at the University of Washington; a founding member of the HIV Cure Initiative; and a founder and board member of Afrigen Biologics Limited, an IDRI spinout firm in Cape Town, South Africa.

Iverson received his law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law and his Master of Laws (LL.M) in Taxation from New York University School of Law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Political Science from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn.

Phyllis King, Associate Vice Chancellor at UW-Milwaukee

Phyllis King touches on a variety of programs at UW-Milwaukee, including those focused on building a stronger workforce in the Milwaukee region and beyond.

As Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, King provides campus leadership in strategic, academic and budgetary planning and decision-making activities.

Specific duties include leadership at the campus level for programs related to student recruitment, enrollment and retention; Access to Success initiatives; articulation agreements and transfer policies; administrative and academic policies; academic support services, including direct supervision of the Panther Academic Support Services, TRIO/Pre-College Programs, Accessibility Resource Center and the Academic Opportunity Center; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math initiatives.

King was instrumental in the acquisition and coordination of a multi-million-dollar STEM grant from the National Science Foundation.

King is a UW-Milwaukee liaison to the University of Wisconsin System, the city of Milwaukee and state government for initiatives related to educational reform, STEM, health, and food and beverage industry entrepreneurship and innovations.

She is a professor in Occupational Therapy, and previously served as program director and department chairwoman for Occupational Therapy before assuming the Associate Dean position for the College of Health Sciences in 2008. As Associate Dean, King had administrative oversight responsibilities for instructional budget, program development, professional accreditations and community partnerships.

King’s research focuses on the science and practice of ergonomics. She is the Director of Campus Ergonomics Services and the Associate Director of the UW-Milwaukee Center for Ergonomics.

Previously she served as the corporate ergonomist for Kohler Company and advised the Ministry of Health of Singapore on occupational health and safety policy. She is a recipient of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award.