Allen Kunkel
Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Director of the Jordan Valley Innovation Center Missouri State University
Allen is responsible for helping guide the Innovation Center in its mission of supporting businesses concentrating on advanced technology, biotechnology, life sciences, and nanotechnology research and development. He assists in coordinating the resources of the federal, state, and local governments with the resources of Missouri State University to promote business and industrial growth by blending entrepreneurship with research, innovation, and commercialization. Allen is responsible for engaging the University in economic development activities, including the development of IDEA Commons and development of the University’s business incubator, The eFactory. Allen also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Springfield Innovation, Inc., which is a non-profit organization affiliated with Missouri State University that operates the Missouri innovation center and serves an advisory role with The eFactory. He also manages the intellectual property portfolio at Missouri State University.