The new cabinet-level officer position at Kennesaw State was added to bring leadership to the University’s economic development and community engagement efforts, and will bring coordination and synergy to several other related areas of operation within the University as well. The position will report directly to President Papp.

“Charles will be a valuable asset to the cabinet, and he will provide indispensable expertise in working with business and industry,” said Papp. “His keen grasp of community engagement, and the opportunities that such engagement presents, will help the University leverage our relationships, create more job opportunities for our students, and significantly enhance our public service mission.” 

Ross brings a wealth of academic and industry experience to Kennesaw State. He joined Georgia Tech in 2005 as a venture catalyst in the Advanced Technology Development Center, and became general manager and director of Entrepreneurship Services at the Center in 2008, before assuming his position as director of Startup Networks in the Enterprise Innovation Institute in 2009. He also worked in strategic investments, consulting and business development for more than 20 years in Chicago and Washington, D.C., for companies such as Ameritech Development and General Electric Medical Systems.

At Kennesaw State, Ross will serve as the University’s chief officer focused on deploying resources to aid economic development and expand relationships with off-campus communities. Ross will work closely with the senior vice provost to generate new opportunities for the University’s research centers and institutes.

Ross also will oversee and manage Kennesaw State’s Office of Community Engagement and the Office of Government Relations. He will chair the KSU Economic Development Task Force and serve as the University’s chief liaison to the Cobb County Chamber’s Competitive EDGE Project.

Ross was selected among a pool of more than 100 candidates who vied for the position in a national search chaired by Ken Harmon, Kennesaw State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.