Huntington Times

Marshall University has announced the addition of four new individuals to its Innovation Catalysts program. The announcement was made during a reception on December 3 at the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation. The new members are Jason Gibbs, STEAM Coordinator at the June Harless Center; Dr. April Fugett, professor and executive director for the Center for Teaching and Learning; Wes Spradlin, director of Marshall’s off-campus centers; and Toney Stroud, chief legal officer and vice president for strategic initiatives and corporate relations.

The Innovation Catalysts program is part of Marshall University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter). It aims to train members of the higher education community in design thinking, a method used to solve complex problems with a human-centered approach. This initiative is modeled after a similar program at Intuit, a financial technology firm.

Participants in the program undergo intensive training over a semester on design thinking tools and techniques under the guidance of iCenter Interim Assistant Director Maddy Branham. They also work on projects addressing challenges within their academic disciplines or departments.

This year's cohort focused on four distinct projects: integrating design thinking into first-year seminar courses, providing professional learning opportunities for K-12 teachers, improving food accessibility on Marshall’s South Charleston campus, and addressing housing demands for students. These projects are expected to be completed soon with implementation planned for spring.

Tricia Ball, executive director of the iCenter, emphasized the importance of embedding design thinking across various disciplines at the university. "Our goal is to have at least one Innovation Catalyst in every academic discipline and department," she said. "With their support, we can teach future teachers, doctors, engineers, and more to apply design thinking in their fields."

The newly appointed group was honored at an event held on December 3.

For more information about the Innovation Catalyst program or design thinking at Marshall University, Tricia Ball can be contacted via email at ballt@marshall.edu.