Rodney Priestley, vice dean for innovation, has been honored with a 2021 GradFUTURES Clio Award in recognition of his efforts to strengthen entrepreneurship awareness and training for graduate students as well as for his role in the development of inclusive leadership training. Priestley is one of 12 recipients of this new award that recognizes “partners and champions for graduate student professional development.” Spencer Reynolds, senior associate director of Corporate Engagement and Foundation Relations, also received a 2021 Clio Award. The awards were presented at the 2021 GradFUTURES Forum.

Priestley collaborated with the Graduate School in Fall 2020 to help launch the Inclusive Leadership Learning Cohort, which focused on how inclusion enhances the creativity and efficiency of teams by combining new ideas, people and technology. His team also partnered with GradFUTURES to launch the Princeton Startup Bootcamp, Powered by Techstars.  In January 2021, the program provided 33 graduate students and postdocs with mentoring from startup founders and investors, teaching them how to turn their ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that can benefit society.

CEFR’s Reynolds was recognized for his leadership in connecting industry and external organizations with graduate student professional development at Princeton. He stepped up to lead the GradFUTURES external relations project team, with the goal of expanding the range of professional opportunities for graduate students. He spearheaded efforts to curate a comprehensive list of industry partners who could potentially join with GradFUTURES to provide opportunities for professional development. Reynolds also helped GradFUTURES partner with nonprofit organizations in anticipation of the new GradFUTURES Fellowship program, which provides graduate students with opportunities to engage in social impact projects.

GradFUTURES and the Office of Corporate Engagement and Foundation Relations are Princeton Innovation campus partners.