There will be someone new in the office at the FedEx Institute of Technology July 31.
Recently, a search committee, including The University of Memphis counsel and the director of information technology, helped select Shaye Mandle as the executive director of the FIT.
Mandle spent the last 15 years in law and executive positions for two Illinois-based organizations.
Mandle won't be leaving Illinois until this weekend and could not be reached for comment, but University officials said they believe their newly appointed executive will fulfill research plans for the FIT.
"He is really a key to the future of the FedEx Institute," said Doug Hurley, director of information technology and FIT chairman. "He brings some practical experience and vision - especially for research."
FIT has been a fixture at The University for four years and has played a role in technology supported economic research. With state appropriations falling in recent years and tuition hikes, FIT's presence has allowed for more corporate support at The University.
The result has been additional sources of revenue with a significant amount going towards research staff salaries, according to several U of M business professors.
Hurley said Mandle's presence could help form new partnerships with local and regional corporations.
"We're always looking for new research opportunities and working with our existing partners in the institute," he said.
Mandle's presence at FIT is ideal because of his experience, said Sheryl Lipman, University counsel.
Lipman said he could help in fulfilling The University's increased demands to forge more partnerships with corporations.
"It's a tough position because it involves so many different aspects of work," she said. "One thing we all agreed on is that it required someone with lots of experience."
Before joining The University, Mandle was the executive chief of the Illinois Coalition and the East-West Corporate Corridor Association.
As part of the Illinois Coalition, he helped the organization give the state a $2 billion investment, its largest science and technology infrastructure gift to date.
Mandle also helped the EWCCA's membership grow by 35 percent, according to statistics provided by The U of M.
