Meet the Team
Leadership
Valerie Landrio McDevitt, JD, MST, RTTP
Associate Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation
JD, Emory University
MST, Chemistry, University of Florida
BS, Chemistry, Siena College
Valerie joined FSU as the associate vice president of strategic partnerships and innovation to boost the commercial development of the university’s innovation, with a particular focus on the technology transfer process and business engagement. She previously served as executive director with the AdventHealth Research Institute in Orlando as well as Associate VP for new venture development at University of South Florida, where she spent over 18 years supporting research and technology commercialization including incubation, strategic planning, startup funding, technology transfer, economic development, external engagement, and related grants and contracts.
Valerie is a member of the Georgia and Florida bars and admitted to practice before the Federal Patent and Trademark Office.
Licensing Managers
Steve Medina, JD
Senior Licensing Manager
850-645-0048 | smedina2@fsu.edu
JD, University of Florida
BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Florida
Steve joined FSU as a senior licensing manager and is responsible in the management and commercialization of FSU technologies in engineering, including licensing of intellectual property (IP), internal IP education, IP strategy, NSF I-Corps, and startup development. Prior to joining FSU, he worked as a Technology Transfer Office professional at the Advent Health Research Institute and the University of South Florida for over ten years. Areas include advanced communications, computer science, artificial intelligence/software, materials, hardware, optics/photonics, control systems, power systems, educational software, healthcare AI, and medical devices. Steve is also a registered patent attorney with experience at the US Patent and Trademark Office as a Patent Examiner and is a member of the Florida and Patent Bars.
Raghuram Dhumpa, PhD
Licensing Manager
850-645-8016 | rdhumpa@fsu.edu
PhD, Biomedical Sciences, Technical University of Denmark
MS, Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology
BE, Electronics & Instrumentation, Anna University Chennai
Raghuram (Raghu) joined FSU as a licensing manager with a strong background in biomedical science and engineering. Before joining FSU, Raghu spent eight years managing a startup, where he led the design, development, and commercialization of various products. He successfully secured SBIR grant funding and collaborated with universities on product development. Raghu completed his postdoctoral research training at FSU.
Aditya Bhattacharya, PhD
Licensing Manager
850-644-9318 | a.bhattacharya@fsu.edu
PhD, Computer Science, Florida State University
MS, Computer Science, Florida State University
BTech, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Heritage Institute of Technology
Aditya Bhattacharya joined FSU as a licensing manager and is an artificial intelligence/machine learning expert. Before joining FSU, Aditya worked in developing machine learning products with different companies, such as M&C Saatchi World Services and Amazon.
Michael Tentnowski, MBA
Senior Licensing Manager
(850) 645-2143 | mtentnowski@fsu.edu
MBA, Accounting & Business Management, University of Montana
BA, Accounting & Entrepreneurship, University of Montana
Michael joined FSU as a senior licensing manager and manages intellectual property in several broad areas including general engineering. Prior to joining FSU, Michael directed several technology incubators and has experience commercializing defense technologies with federal agencies and national laboratories. His university work includes the Physical Science Institute at New Mexico State and with the Office of Intellectual Property Optimization at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michael has extensive experience with the Small Business Innovation Research and Small business Technology Transfer Research (SBIR/STTR) program and has assisted numerous small businesses with Phase I / Phase II grants submissions. He has also completed several Train the Trainer courses including: Helping Potential SBIR/STTR Applicants and Fraud, Waste and Abuse Prevention.
IP & Contract Compliance
Sarah Murphy, MBA
IP & Contract Compliance Program Director
(850) 675-4217 | smurphy6@fsu.edu
MBA, HR Management, Johnson & Wales University
BA, English Literature, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Sarah joined FSU as the Intellectual Property & Contract Compliance Program Director. She ensures reporting and agreement compliance, manages the IP docket, and oversees outside counsel in matters related to patent prosecution and filings. Sarah has demonstrated extensive IP and compliance experience throughout her career: she worked for Boston-based IP firms Clark & Ebing and Bainwood Huang as an IP paralegal for seven years, served as Senior Intellectual Property Specialist for the University of South Florida for almost five years, and was an HR/EHS manager for a private sector company for over five years. Sarah also holds a paralegal certificate from Boston University and is an AUTM certified Compliance Professional.