University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Molly Wasko is Professor and Chair for the Management, Information Systems and Quantitative Methods Department in the Collat School of Business. She holds a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Maryland, College Park, an MBA from Averett University, and a BBA from James Madison University. She has a combined Business/Academic background with 15+ years of leadership experience in the areas of high-technology start-ups, and production/operations management.

Her personal vision is to “create opportunities by making connections”, which encompasses her belief that innovation and new knowledge creation comes from collaborating across organizational boundaries. Her primary focus as Department Chair is on building collaborative academic, research and commercialization relationships across campus in support of the University’s mission. Dr. Wasko maintains an active researcher agenda investigating the intersection of digital and social networks, open innovation and social network analysis. Her additional roles at UAB include: PI for Invention to Innovation program, Executive Committee member for the CCTS, Strategic Planning Support for Academic Units and Research Centers, Active involvement in the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Steering Committee member for the Center for Healthy Aging, Steering Committee member for the Center on Sustainability, and co-director for the MS in Computer Forensics and Security Management program.

She is also an active entrepreneur and currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer for inDegree, winner of the 2012 Alabama Launchpad Business Plan Award and second place winner in the 2012 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Disabled Veterans and Families Business Plan Competition