It is a pleasure to welcome Karen Deak to the University Relations team as the Academic Advancement Director for Research Innovation & IDEA Center. She will begin her new role on Monday, March 18, 2019.

Karen is currently the Director of Network Engagement at IDEA Center, where she actively develops a nationwide, multi-industry network of external experts willing to help commercialize Notre Dame-generated innovations. She holds an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a PhD in genetics from the University of Chicago. Karen joined the University in 2011 in the College of Science where she created a program to teach STEM graduates the skills of a patent agent. She later served as the Commercialization Specialist in the Office of Research before moving to IDEA Center. Her husband John is an associate professor in the Department of History at Notre Dame, and since 2016 Karen and John have lived among the residents of Dunne Hall as one of only two faculty couples on campus who live in residence.

As an active marathoner, Karen’s ambitions extend beyond the professional. As a co-host for Notre Dame Alumni Association travel experiences, her interests go well beyond campus.

You can expect to see Karen soon. In the meantime you can contact her at kdeak@nd.edu to welcome her to University Relations.

Thank you,

Michael Loungo