Robert Kerr of Springfield will lead the development of the new University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Center in downtown Springfield as executive director of innovation and opportunity. His appointment is effective Aug. 1. Kerr has more than 20 years of experience in economic development, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The UIS Innovation Center, which will be located in a three-story, 24,600-square-foot UIS-owned building located at 401 E. Washington St., is scheduled to open in 2025. The Center will serve central Illinois as part of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) to drive innovation, economic growth and workforce development across the state.
“Rob is the ideal candidate for this position based on his past leadership experience in areas that will be crucial to the opening of the new UIS Innovation Center,” said UIS Chancellor Janet L. Gooch. “The UIS Innovation Center will serve as a catalyst for transformative ideas, empowering students, faculty and entrepreneurs to pioneer solutions that shape the future.”
“I am excited to accept this role and grateful to the chancellor for the opportunity to help launch the downtown Innovation Center,” Kerr said. “This critical hub will drive economic growth, foster collaboration and empower creative ideas. I look forward to working with leaders from the university, business, government and nonprofit sectors to shape the future of innovation in central Illinois.”
Since 2020, Kerr has served as the director of Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE) at UIS where he has applied his understanding of the regional economic landscape to create relationships with local businesses, agencies, the Illinois Innovation Network and the Discovery Partners Institute.
Kerr previously served as deputy director of entrepreneurship, innovation and technology at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) from 2017 to 2019. In that role, he administered business development activities for the state, including the Small Business Development Network, procurement assistance centers and the statewide Business Information Center.
Before his time at DCEO, he held senior academic and administrative roles at Richland Community College, the Illinois Community College Board and Lincoln Land Community College. He was also an adjunct social science instructor at Benedictine University for 15 years.
Kerr is currently finishing his doctorate in public administration at UIS with an emphasis on public policy. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s degree in business administration from Benedictine University.
The new Innovation Center will include: