By: Ashlynn Rutherford, Texas A&M Innovation
Texas A&M Innovation Senior Licensing Managers Stewart Davis and Shyamala Rajagopalan have received the 2025 AUTM Volunteer Service Award. AUTM is a leading non-profit that promotes and inspires professionals to support the development of academic research that drives the future of innovation.
The innovation team is proud to have active members who contribute to the success of others. This award is meaningful to both participants as it highlights their hard work throughout the year. They both hope that this award shows others that work with AUTM does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. “It is exciting that the AUTM Mentorship Committee’s activities and efforts are being recognized,” said Davis. “The AUTM volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization.”
Davis and Rajagopalan both work on the same team, volunteering on the AUTM Mentorship Committee. They assist with some of the action items the committee produces such as mentor-mentee matching, developing topics for the cohort, selecting speakers to invite, brainstorming other issues we encounter during the year.
“I have been with this committee since 2022 and before that I was a volunteer for the AUTM website committee. The amount of inner satisfaction I get from giving my time and energy to any good cause is enormous,” said Rajagopalan. “An add-on bonus is developing new relationships with other like-minded Technology Transfer professionals, which may not happen otherwise.”
Davis joined AUTM in the early 90s, when at the time the Director, Lynne Schaefer, encouraged him to volunteer with the Central Region Meeting Planning Committee. From there he has served on multiple committees as well as having served twice on the AUTM Board as Central Region Vice President and Vice President for Finance. He has been on the AUTM Mentorship Committee for about 8 years. “Being an AUTM volunteer has allowed me to work with colleagues from all over the world and to develop my leadership skills,” Davis said. “It is important to carry it forward and help guide those starting out in the profession. The same way my forebears welcomed me; I hope to offer my talents and wisdom just as they have.”
Picture caption: (l-r) Stewart Davis and Shyamala Rajagopalan
