King heads Partnership for Innovation Center

Maryon F. King, associate professor of marketing, is the interim director of the Partnership for Innovation Center in SIUC's College of Business and Administration.

Maryon F. King

"I am very pleased to have Dr. King at the helm of the Partnership for Innovation," said college Dean J. Dennis Cradit.  "The innovative spirit is alive and well at the College of Business and I am confident Dr. King will successfully harness that energy to stimulate the center's growth."

The Partnership for Innovation Center promotes interdisciplinary research, teaching and service to the region through cooperation among different SIUC colleges.

"I was thrilled and honored to be selected to guide the development of this progressive initiative at the College of Business," King said.  "I will use this platform to provide assistance with development and commercialization of innovations in the Southern Illinois region."

King believes the interdisciplinary academic partnerships, combined with interaction and support from industry sponsors, alumni and members of the regional business community, should lead to the creation of an attractive, stimulating and progressive educational environment for students and faculty, and help to enhance regional economic growth.

King comes from a long line of innovators.  She belongs to "the third generation of 'business women' in my family," she said.  "Both my parents and grandparents were entrepreneurs, and my great grandfather created and patented a number of commercial agricultural inventions that are still in use today."

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

U.S. News & World Report ranks SIUC's College of Business and Administration among the top 100 public business colleges nationwide.  The school offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees — one of only three public institutions in Illinois to do so.

- Sun Min