Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development

• 42,000 USM graduates annually
• 38,000+ USM employees
• 5,950 jobs at USM Research Parks
• Over 1,000 startups and small businesses supported since 2012
• Annual Snapshot
  • $1B research activity
  • 85 patents issued
  • 65 technology licenses and options
  • 20 spinouts based on USM technology
  • 40 companies joining USM incubators/research parks
• Learn More

Michele Masucci
Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
University System of Maryland
mmasucci@usmd.edu
410.576.5742

Dr. Michele Masucci is the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at the University System of Maryland. She also holds the position of Professor of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and an appointment as Research Faculty at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. She previously served as the Vice President for Research at Temple University, Director of the Information Technology and Society Research Group and Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography and Urban Studies. In her current position, she is responsible for advancing research and economic development strategy, workforce development, technology commercialization, and innovation across the institutions of the University System of Maryland and the system's Board of Regents. At Temple University, she led research for 10 years, overseeing its rise as the 4th fastest growing research enterprise in the U.S. based on research expenditures. She also leads the Federal Demonstration Partnership as the Faculty Co-Chair and President of the Federal Demonstration Partnership Foundation.

Dr. Masucci's research examines how barriers to accessing information resources using geographic information technologies are interrelated with community development and environmental quality problems, including accessing health, education and social services. She led the Building Information Technology Skills (BITS) program for the past 20 years funded by the National Science Foundation, Knight Foundation, Economic Development Agency, Philadelphia Youth Network, and many other sponsors since its inception. Her work on identifying criteria for assessing appropriate use of information technology in marginalized community settings is the focus of numerous peer reviewed publications and books. She has also worked to develop university-community partnerships with organizations that address human rights issues, and with a number of national and international community and environmental planning organizations.

Lindsay Ryan
Executive Director of Economic Development
lryan@usmd.edu
410.576.5730
410.409.2236 (cell)

Lindsay Ryan is Executive Director of Economic Development for the University System of Maryland and coordinates among 12 public institutions throughout Maryland to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development throughout the System and State. She is the Board President of the Maryland Business Innovation Association. Previously, she was the Founding Manager of the business incubator Harbor Launch at IMET and the Chair of the Capital Region Chapter of Women In Bio. Lindsay began her career in the National Science Foundation’s innovation programs. She received a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Maryland - College Park and an M.S. from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill studying Marine Microbiology.

Julia Chadwick
Director of Research Development
jchadwick@usmd.edu
301.445.8050

Julia Chadwick serves as Director of Research Development for the University System of Maryland. In this role, Julia is responsible for designing and implementing procedures and policies for USMO researchers that support both pre- and post-award research activities. Her work ensures that USMO researchers receive comprehensive, compliant, and investigator-focused support throughout the lifecycle of sponsored research. Julia also supports strategic initiatives to enhance research administration across the system's 12 institutions and 3 regional higher education centers.

Prior to joining USM, she served in progressively senior roles at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, culminating in her position as Associate Director. There she managed a portfolio of over 35 awards totaling $19 million and led proposal development efforts that secured more than $2.6 million in new funding. Julia brings expertise in stakeholder engagement, operational improvement, and grants compliance to her role, advancing USM's mission to support research excellence. Her career reflects a passion for supporting public research institutions and a dedication to fostering innovation, compliance, and service-focused research administration.

Mike Ravenscroft
Managing Director, Momentum Fund
mravenscroft@usmd.edu
410.706.3361

Mike has devoted his career to entrepreneurship and venture investment. He joins MMF from Dreamit Ventures where he worked with emerging digital health and medical device startups and managed a national network of enterprise healthcare partners and venture funds. Prior to joining Dreamit, Mike founded and led re:Founded, a venture advisory firm that specialized in strategic advisory services for venture capital firms, high-growth technology startups, and innovation programs. He also served as a Venture Associate for the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland, College Park where he sourced seed stage venture deals for angel investors and developed relationships with regional angel networks and venture funds. He previously held investment roles at C5 Capital and CIT GAP Funds, where he led investments in seed stage technology startups across industries. Mike serves on the Advisory Board for Alpine Consolidated, a Washington D.C.-based venture investment company that specializes in early-stage entrepreneurial companies at the intersection of cyber-security, communications, and civilian-government applications unique to the Capitol marketplace. In this capacity, he works with C-Suite executives and angel investors from around the DMV to source and invest in innovative pre-seed and seed stage product companies. Mike earned a Masters of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, a Masters of Arts from American University, and a Bachelor of Arts from University of Michigan.

Matthew Jenkins
Administrative Assistant II
mjenkins@usmd.edu

Matthew Walston Jenkins is the administrative assistant that support both the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Communications and Marketing. Among his responsibilities is scheduling, event planning, and general office logistics. He also is the staff support for the Board of Regents Committee on Research and Economic Development and the USM Communications Council. He previously worked for East Tennessee State University as a Gift Processor for the Office of Advancement and as a secretary for the Office of Admissions. He received a B.A. in History from Goucher College in 2021.