IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2022 - 39

technogenesis process, Stevens's tech
transfer model that begins with research
breakthroughs and ends with a commercially
viable product, all through an
emphasis on interdisciplinary research
across the school as well as through
university-industry-government collaboration.
Under her leadership, increasing
research revenues contributed to a
10-position increase in the U.S. News &
World Report rankings to 71.
A number of the start-ups Wisniewski
oversaw originated from undergraduate
students with impressive senior design
projects. One group worked with a physician
in New York City who could determine
which muscle was causing back
pain using his hands. Back pain is tricky
to diagnose: some muscles are overlooked
and some surgeries are unnecessary.
The physician asked the students to
develop a technology that could perform
that same function. They created the
device, named SPOC, as proof of concept,
and Wisniewski suggested they start a
company. She helped them form a limited
liability company and obtain funding.
The students raised millions from
venture capital firm Connecticut Innovations.
They hired fellow students and
received national recognition when they
were asked to appear on the morning
show Good Morning America. Wisniewski's
main advice one week before their
appearance? She suggested that they file
a provisional patent before the nationwide
broadcast.
While at Stevens, Wisniewski was
interviewed by a local newspaper that
mentioned how she discovered that biometrics
could be used to create dolls
that would " recognize " their owners.
She had achieved her goals at Stevens
and so, inspired by her young daughter,
she founded Equinox Toys in 2009
to incorporate this type of interactivity
into toys, games, and dolls. She raised
funding, prototyped the doll, and gained
interest from toy manufacturers.
Soon thereafter, in 2011, a colleague
at the University of Alaska (UAA) suggested
she apply for the position of vice
provost for research and graduate studies
and dean of the graduate school at UAA.
After visiting, she knew she could have
an impact there. " I saw a lot of potential
at the university, but no one was marketing
and getting the word out about
their capabilities, " she says. She set out
to " build a culture to embrace research,
creative works, and innovation. "
Wisniewski set up a robust extramural
grant and contracts program
that significantly increased
external grant-funded
research expenditures
over 37% from fiscal
year 2011 to
2018, and put a
commercialization
structure in place
that helped to dramatically
increase
patents and patent
filings at the university,
and together with faculty, she
formed UAA's first start-ups and
identified and negotiated investments.
One such venture, Rhizoform, a biodegradable
insulation that is a potential
replacement for Styrofoam, won a
national award for best university startup.
Another, CFT Solutions, later Arctic
Heat, used carbon fiber tapes to heat
surfaces, helping make them snow and
ice free. This product was installed with
great reviews and Wisniewski acquired
funding from the Alyeska Accelerator
fund for the company.
She started a Patent Wall of Fame
to recognize achievement and inspire
more innovation. She also established
the Innovate Awards to inspire and support
research, scholarship, creative
works, and innovation. These awards
provided funding to launch critical
endeavors-and interdisciplinary collaborations-across
disciplines, resulting in
a six-to-one financial return on research
investment through external grants
acquired by award recipients and were
also the basis for start-ups. Faculty have
gained international recognition for their
work supported by the Innovate Awards.
Most significantly, she created
the Arctic Domain Awareness Center
(ADAC) to " develop and transition technology
solutions, innovative products,
and educational programs to improve
situational awareness and crisis-response
DECEMBER 2022
While at
Lockheed she
was able to develop
the business acumen
that would soon
contribute to making
her a successful
entrepreneur.
capabilities related to maritime challenges
posed by the dynamic Arctic
environment. " She gathered a large
team for multiple departments at UAA
and partners across the United States
and Canada in industry, universities,
research institutions, and the Alaskan
native community, and she
led the effort that won a
nationally competitive
multiyear award for
US$16 million from
the U.S. Department
of Homeland
Security (DHS) for
ADAC, making UAA
the first and only
institution in Alaska
to lead one of the DHS
Centers of Excellence. " It
proved there was a lot of talent
and gained national recognition
for the university, " Wisniewski says.
She is currently a tenured professor
of entrepreneurship and chair of the
Management, Marketing, Logistics, and
Business Analytics department. " Understanding
the importance of AI and data
science to enrich students' university
experience and prepare them for careers
as future leaders and decision makers, "
Wisniewski created the first College of
Business and Public Policy (CBPP) AI
course, " AI with Business Applications, "
and instituted the AI webinar series
across multiple disciplines with nationally
renowned speakers. She established
UAA Membership in the Digital Twins
Consortium and established the Alaska
Data Science and AI Lab (ADSAIL) in
collaboration with the College of Engineering
and McKinley Management.
ADSAIL provides a collaborative, multidisciplinary
environment for students
and faculty to solve AI challenges with
industry partners while training future
data scientists and AI researchers. She
is also the editor of AI Education, a new
technology and innovation journal of
the NAI. She currently has a contract
to write her second book, " Global Supply
Chain Management With Emerging
Technologies, " from World Scientific.
She strongly believes " that entrepreneurs
are important to the global
IEEE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING MAGAZINE
39
IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2022

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