Steve Corkery began his University career nearly 20 years ago at the Carlson School of Management. Through subsequent roles in the College of Science and Engineering and University of Minnesota Foundation he’s continued to lead and evolve the University’s approach to private sector engagement – including the creation and launch of the Corporate Engagement Center in 2022. In his current role, Steve supports the VP for Research in launching new initiatives and building private sector partnerships, advancing top University priorities, and helping to generate new revenue streams for the University. Steve has an undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas and a graduate degree from St. Mary's University.

When Steve is not at work he enjoys spending time with his family, being on the lake, traveling, and crossing his fingers he will witness a major Minnesota sports team win a championship.

As Senior Director for Corporate and Foundation Engagement, Meaghan VanderSanden is responsible for managing University-wide corporate partnerships and aligning unique business needs with University expertise. She leads partnerships that cross colleges and campuses to advance collaboration with the private sector around research, talent, and outreach. Meaghan partners with University leadership to engage with business executives and foundation leaders. She has been with the University for nearly 20 years. Prior to working on the central corporate engagement team, Meaghan spent time working in the College of Science and Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts. Meaghan enjoys distance running and cheering on her kids at their baseball and soccer games.

Leza Besemann connects faculty and researchers with companies to create win-win research partnerships. She is a matchmaker, navigator, and innovator with intellectual property, licensing, business development, and marketing expertise.

Leza has more than 15 years of experience in technology transfer, including developing intellectual property (IP) protection strategies and negotiating IP terms in research agreements. Through her experiences at university tech transfer offices in Australia and England, Leza brings an international perspective and new ideas to her work.

Before joining the University, Leza was a global product manager (marketing) for process analytical technologies at Thermo Electron Corporation. She worked with customers in many industries, including pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and chemical.

Leza practices yoga and meditation and enjoys farm-to-table cooking.

Jason Stockman joined the Technology Commercialization team in April 2022. He is responsible for advancing corporate partnerships and promoting the Minnesota Innovation Partnerships Program (MN-IP).

Jason has more than two decades of experience in the medical industry in sales, training, management, marketing, and business development. Holding a variety of leadership roles throughout his career, he has been a key player in numerous product launches. Jason greatly enjoys working with companies that are seeking research opportunities and technologies that could lead to new commercialized products and innovations. He understands the unique challenges that go along with the commercialization of new medical technologies.

Jason is also an avid sports fan and coaches his sons in youth hockey and baseball in Elk River, MN.

With nearly nine years at the University, Katy Christianson has cultivated a diverse background in corporate relations across various specialty areas, including the foundation, business, agriculture, and now the engineering school. Her experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of how to foster unique partnerships across the University enterprise that drive innovation and support academic initiatives.

In her current role, she is the primary contact for the College of Science and Engineering to ensure a smooth, efficient experience for your company. As your strategic partner, Katy will help you navigate across the college to align your unique needs – such as research, talent, innovation, and philanthropy – with our expertise, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.

Outside of work, Katy enjoys cooking delicious meals, fostering dogs in need of a home, enjoying the great outdoors, and chasing after her energetic kiddo.

Prior to joining the University of Minnesota in 2023, Gabrielle Bunten-Spoth (Gaby) spent more than 8 years in both sales and coaching at Endurance Sports. She also gained experience in account management as a business development representative for a local SAS company. Her background in athletics and sales has helped her in her efforts to build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships at the University.

In her current position, Gaby partners with the College of Science and Engineering and across MedHealth. She focuses on cultivating comprehensive partnerships that align your organization’s specific business needs (e.g. research, visibility, philanthropy, talent) with the University’s areas of expertise and capabilities.

Gaby has a passion for traveling and seeing new parts of the world. She believes that life is truly about the adventures you take and the memories you make.

Pam Johnson is an alumna of the University of Minnesota. Before joining the Corporate Engagement Center, Pam spent more than 20 years in the risk management industry overseeing a broad multi-industry portfolio across the US. Now that her career has come full circle, she enjoys being back at the University and tapping into her industry experience to connect corporate partners and facilitate opportunities that align with their respective business priorities and needs. Pam's work as a Partnerships Manager is focused on the health sciences and advancing mutually beneficial partnerships with companies in the healthcare and medical device industries.

Prior to joining the University of Minnesota Foundation, Kevin was a senior business development manager at Medix, where he led client engagement and growth strategies across healthcare markets. His expertise spans sales processes, relationship management, and strategic collaboration.

Before joining Medix, Kevin worked at the University of Utah’s Student Center for Philanthropy and Engagement, where he advanced donor relations as a virtual gift officer and senior student manager. In these roles, he helped strengthen the university’s culture of philanthropy by cultivating alumni and donor relationships, managing student teams, and supporting annual giving initiatives.

In his free time, Kevin enjoys attending concerts and sporting events, reading, and lifting weights. He grew up playing basketball and is a passionate Celtics fan.

Prior to joining the University of Minnesota, Sneha was a part of the Hormel Foods Global Impact team where she advanced the company's private and public sector partnerships, engaged in community development, and created stories that captured the company's mission around food security and education. She now supports the mission of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences through corporate and foundation engagement. She earned her bachelor of science in agricultural communication from Purdue University, and is working toward earning her MPS in civic engagement at the University of Minnesota. Aside from making the world a better place, she is passionate about her nieces, reading, her dog (Benny), and gaining cultural experiences.

Stela Osmančević Center engages with individuals, corporations, and foundations to advance the work and mission of the Carlson School of Management. She has more than 17 years of advancement experience working for organizationations of various sizes. Stela's experience includes all components of advancement – from marketing and grant writing to building transformative partnerships that strengthen our Minnesota and global communities. Stela is passionate about increasing access to higher education through engagement, scholarship support, and innovative initiatives.

Prior to joining the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) in 2019, Kristi Schmidt spent 15 years as the VP-Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Essentia Health. She has more than 25 years of industry experience.

In her role at UMD, Kristi is responsible for forging strategic partnerships and developing initiatives that align corporate interests in talent, visibility, research, engagement, and philanthropy with UMD’s priorities and strengths.

Kristi is passionate about northern Minnesota and has served as a city councilor in Hermantown and on the boards for Visit Duluth, the Duluth Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Duluth. She currently serves as the chairperson of the board for Grandma’s Marathon Duluth, Inc, as a gubernatorial appointed board member of the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) Authority, and on the board of the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX).

Caitrin Mullan works with relationship managers to advance corporate partnerships through special projects, events, and other activities that showcase the win-win impacts of private sector engagement with the University. Her background includes more than 15 years of philanthropy, nonprofit, and higher education experience, which she enjoys leveraging in support of strategic initiatives that bring diverse partners together.

A University alumna, Caitrin spent 10 years overseas at a community-based foundation in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates prior to joining the Corporate Engagement Center team. She enjoys getting outside on weekends and traveling with her family.