Dr. Maryon F. King, interim director of the Partnership for Innovation Center, says her primary goal is to create cooperative partnerships across SIU to facilitate interdisciplinary research and education, and to use this platform to provide assistance with development and commercialization of innovations in the Southern Illinois region. 

King also aims to improve opportunities for SIU students.  "When students across campus graduate from SIU, they will leave the relatively insulated structure of their individual disciplines and plunge into work environments which require them to interact with colleagues or team members from other fields," said King.  "One of the greatest challenges in the workplace today is to integrate the activities of team members whose knowledge base and approach to problem solving vary widely.  Project efficiency and the process of innovation could be greatly enhanced if team participants had a working knowledge of the concepts and 'language' of their teammates’ areas of expertise.  Providing interdisciplinary classroom experiences for students will help to bridge this knowledge gap.  This will afford SIU graduates greater preparation for leadership roles in the workplace as well as a clear advantage in the job market."

King grew up in Bangor, Maine, and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Maine.  She received her doctorate from Indiana University.