Marty Katz Named New Executive Director of Project X-ITE

The University of Denver has named Professor Marty Katz, who serves on the chancellor’s senior staff as senior advisor for academic innovation and design, as the new executive director for Project X-ITE — DU’s innovation, technology and entrepreneurship program that connects students, faculty and Colorado’s innovation community.

“Marty’s singular vision for entrepreneurship’s role in teaching and research, his ability to facilitate collaboration and his connections in Denver will expand X-ITE’s reach,” says DU Chancellor Rebecca Chopp.

Launched in 2015, Project X-ITE is a direct result of the DU IMPACT 2025 strategic plan. X-ITE has initiated startup accelerators, hosted global summits and partnered with groups such as Denver Startup Week, the United Nations and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

In the coming months, X-ITE will launch Basix, a foundational entrepreneurial workshop to help students and faculty bring their ideas to life. Members of the DU community — from the schools of social work and business to computer science — will also come together to develop cross-discipline solutions for youth homelessness.

“We’re building X-ITE 2.0,” says Katz, who has held several leading roles at DU, including seven years as dean of the University’s Sturm College of Law. Katz was also directly involved in X-ITE’s founding. He will continue to serve in his role as senior advisor, the academic equivalent of a chief innovation officer, which is closely aligned with X-ITE. “I’m looking forward to helping X-ITE energize innovation and entrepreneurship across all academic units of the University.”

Nina Sharma, managing director, will continue to oversee X-ITE’s programs and partnerships. Additional support is provided by X-ITES’s faculty director, Dr. Matthew Rutherford, associate professor of computer science, as well as Erin Szulman, X-ITE’s new associate director who came to DU from President Obama’s Office of Science and Tech Policy.

Read More About Project X-ITE:

Global Innovators Brought Together By Project X-ITE

Entrepreneurs and Innovators From Around the World Come to DU

First-Ever Winner of Denver Startup Week Challenge