Tulane University Innovation Institute welcomes three noteworthy hires for the new year
(From left to right) Matthew Hales, Ronni S. Johnson, Jeanne Exnicios
The Tulane University Innovation Institute (TUII) is proud to announce the appointment of three notable New Orleanians who will play pivotal roles in driving innovation and collaboration, within the Tulane community and the greater New Orleans region.
“I am thrilled to welcome Matthew Hales, Ronni S. Johnson, and Jeanne Exnicios to TUII. These individuals will contribute significantly to our continued growth and success in creating a thriving ecosystem and sharing the stories of creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Their experience and passion for Tulane and the mission of Tulane’s Innovation Institute continue the momentum of the innovation efforts, in our New Orleans community,” said Kimberly Gramm, David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer at the Tulane Innovation Institute.
Matthew Hales joins as the first Entrepreneur in Residence at TUII. Matthew Hales joins TUII and the John W. Deming Department of Medicine and Tulane Research Innovation for Arrhythmia Discovery. With 33 years of experience in digital 3D, immersive technology, machine learning, and AI, he brings a unique perspective to the deployment of emerging technologies across various industries. His extensive background includes pivotal roles in the inception and development of several New Orleans-based companies, such as Chimera Digital, Tubosquid, and Galen Immersive. Most recently, Matthew led a team of biomedical engineers at innovationOchsner, directed the Ochsner Neurosciences BioDesign Lab, and served on the Ochsner Neurosciences Strategy Committee. In his role at TUII, Matthew will foster connections between TUII and various schools, leveraging his expertise to nurture and support ideas originating from Tulane University.
Ronni S. Johnson will coordinate the second annual Tulane Research, Innovation, and Creativity Summit (TRICS). Ronni Johnson joins TUII and the Office of Research to orchestrate the second annual Tulane Research, Innovation, and Creativity Summit (TRICS). With a Master of Business Administration/Master of Health Administration from Tulane University, Ronni comes to us with over 15 years of experience in health systems management. More recently, Ronni served as Chief of Staff at Sankofa Community Development Corporation, where her primary focus was operational efficiencies and program management. Ronni is passionate about being a part of meaningful change in her city.
Jeanne Exnicios has been appointed to enhance TUII communications. Jeanne Exnicios, former publisher of Gambit, brings a wealth of marketing, communications, and media strategy to TUII. Jeanne will promote the transformative vision of the Tulane Innovation Institute and will share the impactful stories of entrepreneurs’ startups and extensive TUII programming initiatives that are aimed to accelerate innovation at Tulane University and across the region.
In just over one year, under Gramm’s leadership, TUII has grown from three to sixteen employees and launched multiple programs and initiatives, including the Greenwave Innovation Network (GWIN), The Tulane University Startup Clinic, the Robert Priddy Innovation Lab, Open Medical Innovation Challenge Night, and the Provost's Proof of Concept Fund. This growing “start-up for start-ups" aims to further industry and entrepreneurship across the Greater New Orleans region. TUII aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing support for early-stage ideas, technology development, and industry engagement within the Tulane community.
These three new strategic hires reflect Tulane University's continued commitment to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship across the New Orleans region.
