Engineering names interim senior director of corporate and industry engagement

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In an ongoing effort to strengthen and expand connections with industry partners, the Penn State College of Engineering has named Priya Baboo — director of industry, innovation and development in the College of Engineering — interim senior director of corporate and industry engagement in the college. 

In this newly established role, Baboo will lead collaborative efforts across the college to streamline and enhance industry engagement in areas related to advisory boards, research, philanthropy and activities directly connected to students. These activities include projects within the curriculum, student-led professional organizations and career preparation and planning.

“Industry engagement is critical in the College of Engineering,” said Justin Schwartz, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering. “The relationships we develop with our industry partners spark learning and career opportunities for our students and help create research possibilities and connections for our faculty. These partnerships lead to funding that supports our strategic priorities. With this new role, I am confident that Priya will continue to build upon the framework she has already established with our industry partners.”

As the current director of industry, innovation and development, Baboo has spent the last four years strengthening and expanding the college’s industry relationships. She has helped launch five industry outreach initiatives at Penn State and obtained 50 new industry partnerships for the college. Some of her major accomplishments include creating and organizing industryXchange — an annual workshop that brings together industry, government agencies and Penn State faculty and students — and launching a seed grant program that aims to increase applied technology development in artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

“As director of industry, innovation and development, I have laid the groundwork for collaboration across several College of Engineering teams — including development, research, career services and industry relations coordinators in departments — and peers in other colleges, campuses and institutes,” Baboo said. “This new role will build on these activities to expand industry engagement strategically in a more holistic manner for the college.”

Before joining the college in 2016, Baboo spent more than 15 years in industry. She held numerous leadership positions at VideoMining Corporation, an in-store behavior analytics provider for consumer-packaged goods manufacturers and retailers. During her time at VideoMining Corporation, Baboo helped build partnerships with many government agencies as well as private entities. She helped secure millions of dollars in federal funding from numerous partners, including the National Science Foundation and The Technology Collaborative. 

Baboo obtained her bachelor’s degree in zoology and master of business administration in marketing from the University of Madras in Chennai, India. She obtained her master’s degree in supply chain management from Penn State.