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By Phil Walzer

Three ������ϲ����� leaders – Sarah Jane Kirkland, Kevin Leslie and Gymama Slaughter – have been named to Virginia Business magazine’s 100 People to Meet list for 2024. 

The magazine described the people on the list as “fascinating newsmakers, professionals and go-getters worthy of your valuable networking time.” 

Kirkland and Leslie were designated as “rainmakers.” In the recently created position of associate vice president for corporate partnerships, Kirkland “is building bridges between academia and the corporate world, creating new opportunities for partnership and growth,” the magazine said.

Kirkland said, “It is my vision that by intentionally engaging business and industry, we will develop a strong educational ecosystem that will not only support the talent development of our students but will also attract businesses to the region, providing more economic opportunity for everyone in our community.” She was previously president and CEO of the Civic Leadership Institute.

Leslie was appointed the University’s first associate vice president for innovation and commercialization. He is the former executive director of the Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium.

“We work closely with faculty, staff, and small businesses to protect and develop their ideas, explore pathways for bringing those ideas to the marketplace, and connect them to resources and opportunities,” Leslie said. “Companies and organizations from the regional ecosystem are critical partners, and we’re grateful to have so many.”

Slaughter, executive director of the Research Center for Bioelectronics, was listed as an “innovator.” She focuses on “research to diagnose and treat cancer without invasive surgery,” Virginia Business said. “She’s also involved with community outreach to engage young people, especially from underrepresented minority groups, in STEM-related fields.”

Slaughter has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and received the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award, recognizing commitment to research and student learning.