| Staff
Bruce A. Wright
Associate Vice President for University Research Parks
Bruce Wright is responsible for directing the University of Arizona’s research parks and business incubator, including the Office of University Research Parks. He serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park.
He is founder and president of the Arizona Center for Innovation, a high technology business incubator.
Wright is also an adjunct instructor in the department of Geography and Regional Development.
Wright’s research interests include regional economic development, international trade and business development, and technology development and commercialization.
Wright has served in several different capacities during his years at the University of Arizona, including Director of the Office of Community and Public Service, Assistant to the President, and Senior Officer for Community Affairs and Economic Development. Prior to joining the University, he served as chief of staff to U.S. Representative Morris K. Udall and staff consultant to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Previously, he was a management analyst with the City of Tucson and deputy director of the Commission on Improved Governmental Management.
Wright is active in many professional associations. He is a member of the International Economic Development Council, Association of University Research Parks, National Business Incubator Association, Arizona Association of Economic Development and America-Israel Friendship League. He serves on the board of directors of the Arizona-Mexico Commission and is a member of the Governor’s CANAMEX Task Force. He is a member of Southern Arizona Leadership Council and sits on the Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force.
Wright has been active in numerous community organizations. He is a past chair of the Southern Arizona Chapter (Tucson) of the American Red Cross. He also served on the board of Information and Referral Service. He is a member of the DM 50. Recently, he served on the Regional Transportation Authority’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee
Diane Cardiel
Executive Assistant to Bruce Wright
Department Administrator
Intern Coordinator
Diane Cardiel is the Executive Assistant to Bruce Wright, Associate Vice President for University Research Parks at The University of Arizona. As Department Administrator her tasks include managing the daily office responsibilities, payroll, and the accounts payable/receivable. As Intern Coordinator, she oversees the semester’s interns and projects to completion.
Prior to joining the Office of University Research Parks in August of 2005, she was with the Africana Studies Program at the UA, and held the position of Departmental Administrative Secretary.
Ms. Cardiel is seeking to finish a Bachelor Degree in Communication with a Spanish minor from The University of Arizona.
Molly Gilbert
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Molly Gilbert is responsible for the development of new programs and enterprises that promote the activities of technology commercialization. She also assists in the management of community engagement, public outreach and special events. Ms. Gilbert serves as the Deputy Director for the Associate Vice President for University Research Parks.
Her previous experience includes working as an educator, primarily at the middle school level and management of a retail store.
Ms. Gilbert earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts, with an emphasis in Production and a Masters in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, from the University of Arizona and a post-baccalaureate Teaching Certificate from the University of Phoenix. She is a member of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP). She has served on the Steering Committee for Citizen Schools in Tucson, Arizona and currently chairs a public outreach committee for Vail High School.
John D. Grabo, CEcD
Director of Business Development
Mr. Grabo directs an international outreach and strategic relationship program that connects partners and their cities’ universities, business incubators, research parks and businesses.
Prior to joining the Office of University Research Parks, Grabo served as Vice President of Corporate Relations for the Greater Tucson Economic Council, where he was Interim President and CEO during 2000-2001.
Mr. Grabo is a graduate of The University of Arizona, where he majored in Marketing and earned a B.A. in Business Administration. He is also a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Arizona Association for Economic Development, and the Greater Tucson Strategic Partnership for Economic Development, for which he co-chairs legislative and marketing committees.
Gary Pivo, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow
Dr. Pivo holds appointments at The University of Arizona as Professor of Urban Planning, Professor of Natural Resources and Senior Fellow in the Office of University Research Parks. His current research is on socially responsible property investing, and he currently teaches courses on the land development process and controlling private development near conservation areas.
Dr. Pivo has previously served as Chair of the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington. He also has served as Associate Dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, Dean of the Graduate College, and Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs at The University of Arizona.
Dr. Pivo is an alumnus of the U.S. Presidential Management Internship Program and holds a B.A. in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine, a M.A. in Regional Planning from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.
Jessa Turner
Media and Public Relations Coordinator
Jessa Turner manages communication strategies that promote and publicize the activities of the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park (Tech Park), Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) and the University of Arizona Office of University Research Parks (OURP). She also serves as the liaison between the media and the Tech Park, AzCI and OURP.
She joined the office in 2003 and has contributed to the success of many projects including: international strategic partnerships, marketing, data research, business development, and event planning.
Ms. Turner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Arizona. She is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
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