The Lemelson Foundation, an Oregon nonprofit dedicated to supporting inventors across the world, named Rob Schneider as its new executive director effective Oct. 16.
Schneider succeeds Carol Dahl, who has been in the role for the last decade. Dahl, who came to the Lemelson Foundation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said she remains passionate about the work started at Lemelson.
“In my next chapter I will continue to support the power of invention and innovation for solving big social and environmental challenges, while also spending more time with my growing family,” she said in a written statement.
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Under Dahl, the foundation developed its strategic approach and launched programs to catalyze invention as education, focus engineering on environmental sustainability and supporting inventors and entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries.
“The work that Carol has done truly reflects the vision my parents had when they established The Foundation nearly 30 years ago,” said Eric Lemelson, the foundation’s board chair. “She worked tirelessly to cultivate future generations of inventors who reflect the diversity of our local and global communities and are focused on creating breakthrough solutions that address issues such as global health, climate change, and food insecurity."
Schneider joined Lemelson Foundation in 2018. He was most recently senior director of strategy. His career includes stints as a diplomat, engineer and economic development professional, the group said. In his strategic role with the group he led the foundation’s five-year plan work and its commitment to increasing the group’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“It’s a great honor to move into the Executive Director role,” said Schneider. “I’m excited to build on the accomplishments of Carol and our team and expand the work on key initiatives such as K-12 Invention Education, Engineering for One Planet and fostering local invention ecosystems regionally here in Oregon and in low- and middle-income countries.”
The Lemelson Foundation provides funding for programs that support invention-based businesses and invention ecosystems. It was started in 1992 by Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson to nurture future generations of inventors, according to the group’s website. It has provided more than $290 million toward that mission.
Locally, the group has been a major funder of the Invent Oregon Collegiate Challenge, an annual competition between student teams from higher education institutions across the state.
