
Megan Aanstoos
Kentucky Commercialization Ventures
Megan is a Licensing and New Ventures Manager for Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV). In this role, her primary responsibilities include outreach and education on matters related to assessing, managing, and licensing intellectual property developed at KCV partner institutions. She is driven to help get innovations to market that can help people live the lives they want. Before joining the KCV program team, Megan obtained her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, a Master’s in Bioengineering from the University of Utah, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Colorado State University.
Megan is a strong advocate for equity, accessibility, and bringing awareness of different needs to light, so people can form closer, stronger connections and improve communication and social engagement. She currently serves as the Chair for AUTM’s EDI Committee and as a member of the USPTO NCEAI working group to increase representation of innovators on AUTM’s behalf. Harvard Business Review published an article in 2013 on new research wherein it was found that “companies with [employees exhibiting] 2-D diversity (different skills or backgrounds plus diversity in gender, race or age) out-innovate and out-perform others” by creating an environment on innovation where “outside of the box” ideas can be heard and deployed. Improving inclusion of diverse groups of people makes businesses better, people more aware, employees happier and enhances outcomes for everyone.