Marquette University has announced longtime Cree Inc. CEO and alumnus, Chuck Swoboda, as the college’s first “Innovator-in-Residence.”
Marquette University invited Swoboda to serve as its innovator-in-residence as part of the college’s Innovation Alley initiative, a key academic priority that focuses on engaging industry partners and creating new opportunities for students who might not otherwise have had access to innovation programs.
Swoboda spent nearly 25 years at Raleigh-Durham-based Cree Inc., where he is credited with growing the business from a $6 million company into a $1.6 billion corporation, according to a press release from the university. The company is best known for its innovations in smart LED lighting.
As innovator-in-residence, Swoboda will work with faculty and staff to “bring an innovative mindset into the classroom,” as well as advise students on design projects and startup ventures, said Kristina Ropella, dean of the Opus College of Engineering, from under which Swoboda’s new role is housed. He will also work with industry partners to bring organizations to the Innovation Alley initiative.
“Chuck embodies the innovative thinking that we want to instill in our faculty, staff and students,” Ropella adds. “Chuck truly believes that it is people, not processes, that are the critical spark for innovation, and that is why I knew he would be the perfect fit for this role. Marquette will greatly benefit by learning from someone who embraces risk, sees change as opportunity and starts by developing each person.”
With his new position underway, Swoboda has also launched a new podcast, called “Innovators on Tap,” which will highlight stories from innovators and thought leaders across a variety of industries, who have seen “first-hand what it takes to challenge the status quo,” according to Swoboda.
“I had the opportunity to witness innovation up close and personal every day, and I believe innovation is fundamentally about people and the mindset that makes innovation possible,” Swoboda said. “At Marquette, I get to develop and test these concepts in real-time with students, faculty and our industry partners. It’s an incredible environment to learn, grow and share new ideas.”
Swoboda is a Marquette trustee emeritus. In April, Swoboda and his wife Karen, also an alumna, committed $2.5 million to the university, including $1 million to the college’s Innovation Alley programming and development initiatives.
Swodboda said he looks forward to instilling the lessons from his own career for his students.
“These students will have to deal with complex challenges not just from technology, but from the ethical and social issues that will inevitably arise,” he said. “My goal is to help develop the next generation of leaders who are prepared to apply innovative thinking to whatever problem might come their way. And do it in a way that enables them to consider the broader impact of their decisions.”
