Peter Kelleher, PhD
Associate Vice Chancellor
E-mail: kelleher@lsu.edu

Pete is responsible for directing the Office of Intellectual Property, Commercialization and Development in the identification, evaluation, protection, and licensing of new technology developed through research at LSU.  He also serves as an industrial liaison, developing relationships with the Baton Rouge community and Louisiana companies and promoting LSU’s research and its role in economic development.  Pete has over 25 years of experience in developing and promoting intellectual property and evaluating the commercial potential of early-stage university discoveries and technologies.   His professional experience prior to joining LSU includes Senior Technology Manager at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Associate Director of Business Development at Zonagen, Inc. and Vice President of Research at Houston Biotechnology Inc.  Pete earned a PhD in Microbiology and a MBA.  

Dirk Benedict
Marketing Associate
E-mail: dbenedict@agcenter.lsu.edu

Dirk designs promotional materials, networks with local businesses, and finds national and international partners to license LSU technologies.  Dirk earned a BS in General Business with a French minor from LSU, where he graduated with honors in 2006. He also earned an MBA from LSU in 2011.  

Julie Cherry
Coordinator Office Operations
E-mail: oip@lsu.edu

Julie joined the office in 2005 as an Office Coordinator, handling royalty distribution, database management, website maintenance, human resource management, and general office administration.  Other responsibilities include reporting of federally funded inventions (Bayh-Dole Compliance).  Julie earned a BA and an MA in Psychology. 

C.C. Richardson, JD
Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor
E-mail: ccrichardson@agcenter.lsu.edu

As the Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, C.C. reviews and negotiates intellectual property-related agreements, handles export control compliance issues, and helps to develop a campus export control compliance program. C.C. earned a BS in Dietetics, an MS in Food Microbiology, and a JD.

Shanna Rutland
Technology Associate
E-mail: srutland@lsu.edu

Shanna is responsible for marketing LSU's technologies, training new staff and interns, assisting in license negotiations, and general marketing and outreach activities for the office.  Shanna earned a BA in General Business and joined the office in 2000. 

Britt Thomas, PhD
Intellectual Property Manager
E-mail: bthomas@lsu.edu

Britt is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and marketing technologies related to Physical Science.  Britt has conducted studies of the liquid metal surface/vacuum interface and into self-assembling "nano"-scale systems while at the Exxon Research & Engineering Company, the University of Colorado and as a faculty member at the University of Wyoming and LSU.  Prior to joining this office, Britt was an intellectual property consultant.