OIEx Core Team

Timothy J. Cain, Associate Professor at Ohio University, serves as principal investigator of The Ohio Innovation Exchange, an initiative of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. An experienced innovator with over 30 years of progressively increasing leadership experience in higher education, Dr. Cain brings twelve years of direct experience with OIEx working with research, technology, and academic leaders at the 10 OIEx partner universities to guide data modeling, provide strategic oversight and leadership.

Shahwar Ali  serves as the Partnership Engagement Manager with The Ohio Innovation Exchange, where she builds on prior promotional successes to deliver sector-specific messaging, highlight success stories, and pilot new engagement strategies that reinforce the platform’s value to business and R&D stakeholders. By exploring new engagement tools and driving content that reflects emerging trends and opportunities, Shahwar plays a central role in fostering sustained industry participation and platform relevance.

Jessica L. Valsi, of the Battelle Center for Science, Engineering and Public Policy at The Ohio State University supports engagement with OIEx among its partner universities. An experienced program coordinator with a background spanning higher education and state government, she focuses on cultivating and strengthening collaborative relationships across the OIEx network.  Jessica brings training in government and public administration, holding a B.A. in Political Science from Youngstown State University and an M.A. in Public Policy and Management from OSU. She is based in her hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

Daniel Kelley is a senior research, innovation, and higher education leader whose career has been dedicated to advancing public higher education in Ohio and strengthening partnerships between universities, industry, and the public sector. As Director of the Battelle Center for Science, Engineering & Public Policy at Ohio State, Dr. Kelley leads initiatives that integrate research, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration to drive public impact and is a co-investigator on the most recent round of OIEx funding.

Jeffrey T. Agnoli, serves as a senior consultant for strategic partnerships for the Ohio Innovation Exchange. A more than ten-year veteran of the OIEx initiative, he brings deep experience in building, managing, and sustaining cross-sector collaborations that advance the platform’s mission. In his consulting role following retirement from The Ohio State University, Jeff focuses on relationship development and stewardship with key stakeholders, including university partners, State of Ohio agencies, corporate and industry partners, trade organizations, and economic development entities.

Jeff Smith is Director of the Shared Infrastructure division of the Ohio Technology Consortium, where he oversees database, development, system administration, project management, desktop support and Service Now teams. The SI group provides a wide range of technical services to all OH-TECH member organizations (OSC, OARnet, OhioLINK, eStudent Services) as well as the Department of Higher Education and affiliated units. Mr. Smith provides technical oversight of the OIEx implementation.

Charles See is the Deputy Chief of Staff and Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships and Education Technology at the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Previously, Vice Chancellor See served as the chief of board and trustee relations at ODHE following a role as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Ohio Department of Education.  Vice Chancellor See serves as the executive sponsor of OIEx having shepherded the initiative from feasibility analysis, initial launch to the present 10+ university collaborative.