Stacy Strauss

Stacy Strauss joined the Innovation Center in 2014. Ms. Strauss manages the staff; advises and makes connections for clients; and oversees facility management, fundraising efforts, budget analysis, resource solicitations, and other operations. During her tenure, the Innovation Center was named the Rural-Based Entrepreneurial Center of the Year (2022), International Incubator of the Year (2019), and Rural Incubator of the Year twice (2016 and 2019), by InBIA, the industry's leading international professional association. The Innovation Center was also ranked by UBI, a global benchmarking institute, as the 3rd best university-based incubator in North America (2016). She has secured over $5 million in grant funding to support the work of the Innovation Center.

An entrepreneur in her own right, Ms. Strauss was the founder and executive director of a small business - the Bobcat Soccer Club - from 2010 to 2013. Ms. Strauss joined the Innovation Center from Hocking College, where she served in a dual role as a Student Affairs Coordinator and Career Services Director. Prior to that position, she was Ohio University’s NCAA Division I Head Soccer Coach for 13 years. Under her leadership, the Bobcats won two Mid-American Championships, maintained a 3.4 cumulative GPA, and boasted a 97 percent graduation rate. Before coaching at Ohio University, she worked as an assistant soccer coach at Dartmouth College and at the University of Rhode Island.

Ms. Strauss is also an active board member of the Athens County Port Authority and Ohio Life Sciences. Ms. Strauss holds a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University. She also holds an Entrepreneurship Center Management certificate from InBIA.