Pollard named Cowboy Technologies president, OSU Research Foundation executive director
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | mack.burke_iv@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Pollard as the president of Cowboy Technologies and executive director of the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation (OSURF), effective today, March 1.
With over 25 years combined experience working collaboratively in the private and public sectors, Pollard brings a high level of expertise to the organization. Her background includes building highly specialized technologies from concept to market, securing significant venture capital investment, establishing transformative partnerships and scaling organizations.
“I am excited for the opportunity to provide leadership at the OSU Research Foundation. I look forward to establishing and building partnerships and expanding monetization programs for intellectual property developed at OSU,” she said.
Appointed secretary of science and innovation in 2020 by Gov. Kevin Stitt, Pollard has played a critical role in developing and leading Oklahoma’s innovation economy, collaborating with key stakeholders across government, industry, academia, research institutions and nonprofits to identify opportunities to invest in Oklahoma’s future.
“Elizabeth has done an amazing job serving on my cabinet as Oklahoma’s secretary of science and innovation,” Stitt said. “I am excited that she will continue to help make Oklahoma a top 10 state in her new role at the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation.”
While serving on the governor’s cabinet, Pollard established two councils: the Science and Innovation Council and the Aerospace, Autonomous Systems and Defense Council. Under her leadership, these councils published a five-year strategic plan for science and innovation for the state. Additionally, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) established three state-funded accelerator programs with national partners and established two programs with $82 million in Small Business Credit Initiative funding (SSBCI) — the Oklahoma Venture Capital Investment Program and the Oklahoma Business Lending Program — to provide funding resources to Oklahoma businesses.
A Silicon Valley C-suite veteran with 18 years’ experience as a CEO, Pollard also serves as a global board director of Young Presidents’ Organization, a leadership organization of over 33,000 chief executives. She is the first woman in the organization’s history to be appointed finance chair.
Senior Vice President of Operations and Oklahoma State University Research Foundation CEO Jerome Loughridge said Pollard’s unique background and experience make her a perfect candidate to join the leadership team at the OSURF, which focuses on establishing regional and private sector partnerships, technology incubation and acceleration, and major federal and private sector grant initiatives.
“Using research to drive innovation is a fundamental pillar of the land-grant mission, and I am excited to work with Elizabeth Pollard to help elevate the power and scope of OSU research for the public good,” Loughridge said. “Her professional background and deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities we face as a state will be immensely positive for OSU and for the state as a whole.”