Executive Director, Innovation Campus

Western Kentucky University (WKU) - a public, student centered, applied research university poised to achieve R2 status - seeks a visionary leader, risk taker, and relationship builder to serve as Executive Director of the Innovation Campus. Based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a fast-growing city just an hour north of Nashville, WKU plays a central role in workforce development efforts, applied research activity, and regional economic development.

The WKU Innovation Campus is a 280,000-square-foot intellectual hub for collaboration among students, faculty, industry, and entrepreneurs that supports the translation of ideas into practical outcomes that drive economic growth. Through initiatives such as the Collaborative Smart Space, Small Business Accelerator, specialized research centers, and industry partnerships, the campus supports cross disciplinary, cross-sector activity and fosters innovation and economic development in the region.

The Executive Director will provide short- and long-term strategic leadership for the Innovation Campus, shaping a vision that can engage the community, potential partners, and funders. In addition, they will drive measurable outcomes that strengthen the university, industry, and the regional economy. This individual will work closely with university leadership, faculty, and external partners to attract industry collaboration, expand research commercialization, and foster entrepreneurial activity.

As the chief administrative officer and face of the campus, the Executive Director will cultivate partnerships, guide programmatic development, and ensure effective operations and financial stewardship. This position offers a singular opportunity to join a university community that is marked by its bold approach and ambition, partner with regional leaders who are aligned around a shared vision for economic growth, and position the Innovation Campus as a leading driver of innovation, entrepreneurial activity, workforce development, and economic diversification in a growing region.

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a public institution that operates a main campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as well as regional campuses and online programs that extend its reach throughout the state and beyond. WKU emphasizes both teaching and applied research, and its more than 900 faculty and 1,600 staff support more than 15,000 students across a broad portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

The university is home to five academic colleges: the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the Gordon Ford College of Business, the Ogden College of Science and Engineering, and the Potter College of Arts and Letters. WKU is guided in its growth by a strategic plan:
Climbing to Greater Heights. This plan focuses on enhancing student access and success
-including through advising, student support services, and a range of experiential learning opportunities such as internships, cooperative education, and applied research
-and ensuring that WKU continues to attract the highest quality faculty and staff. Further, the plan advances the university's commitment to being fully engaged in the broader region while also providing a global context to the WKU Experience. For instance, it prioritizes aligning academic programs with workforce and regional economic needs, expanding applied learning opportunities, and strengthening partnerships with employers and community stakeholders.

Bowling Green, Kentucky is a mid-sized city with a thriving downtown and a growing regional economy. Located approximately 60 miles north of Nashville, the city provides access to a larger metropolitan market while maintaining a lower cost of living. Poised to boom, Bowling Green has experienced steady population and economic growth in recent years, supported by a diverse base that includes automotive and advanced manufacturing, healthcare, education, and logistics.

WKU is the city's largest employer and a central presence in the community, contributing to local development, workforce pipelines, and cultural activity. The timing for this search dovetails nicely with the announcement of a new CEO of the local Chamber of Commerce, who will be an important partner for the Executive Director.

THE INNOVATION CAMPUS

The WKU Innovation Campus is an intellectual hub that spurs innovative collaboration, promotes problem solving, and nurtures talent to elevate the economy and the region. Its goal is to create an environment where students, staff, and faculty can connect with industry partners, entrepreneurs, and businesses to drive innovation, create jobs, and foster economic development in the region. In alignment with this goal, the campus is structured to support applied projects that connect meaningfully to broader regional economic strengths and opportunities, such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and technology, with a focus on translating…