Collaborative to award institutions $25,000 grant and support for new IP curriculum to boost student opportunity
LOS ANGELES —The Michelson Intellectual Property Institute (MIPI) is proud to introduce the newest cohort of educators joining the HBCU IP Futures Collaborative. This initiative, designed to empower underrepresented innovators through education in intellectual property (IP), helps equip students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the tools needed to safeguard their innovations and build generational wealth.
Representing diverse disciplines and HBCUs, this year’s cohort of educators is dedicated to equipping their students with critical knowledge of IP. Through the HBCU IP Futures Collaborative, they will integrate IP frameworks into their curricula, foster a culture of innovation, and address the specific needs of their students. Scaling the program’s impact through this cohort, MIPI helps to ensure that HBCUs remain at the forefront of innovation and economic empowerment.
Join us in welcoming this year’s cohort:
- Jason Moore, Associate Professor of Business, Paul Quinn College
- Akissi Brooks, Department Chair, Shorter College
- Marcya Burden, Honors College Director, Oakwood University
- Horace “Justin” Ballenger, Assistant Professor, Morehouse College
- Monica Tompkins, Business and CIS Instructor, Coahoma Community College
The HBCU IP Futures Collaborative connects leading educators from participating institutions to cultivate best practices for teaching IP across diverse disciplines, including business, STEM, creative arts, and entrepreneurship. This year’s cohort will receive a total of $25,000, access to MIPI’s digital resources, and support in developing curricula and programming to enhance IP education for their students.
Despite systemic barriers to innovation, HBCUs are at the forefront of fostering creativity and ingenuity in their communities. Research shows that these institutions face unique challenges in accessing resources and developing strong IP ecosystems. The HBCU IP Futures Collaborative seeks to address these gaps by providing faculty and students with the knowledge and infrastructure to fully leverage their intellectual assets.
“The work we’re doing today will ensure that the next generation not only dreams of the future but owns it,” said Dr. Gary Michelson, Founder and Co-Chair of MIPI.
Since its launch in 2021, the HBCU IP Futures Collaborative has reached over 1500 students and supported the creation of innovative courses and programs tailored to the needs of HBCU communities. This new cohort will build on the program’s successes, ensuring that IP education continues to serve as a catalyst for equity and opportunity.
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The Michelson Intellectual Property Institute empowers students, educators, budding inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, and creators with a working knowledge of intellectual property (IP) topics. Working alongside a network of IP subject matter experts and mission-aligned institutions, Michelson IP provides high-quality resources that can serve all learners, especially those from historically marginalized communities, for whom IP can provide a means for social justice and the creation of multi-generational wealth.