DETROIT—Wayne State University announced the appointment of Andrew M. Olson of Canton, Mich. as commercialization principal in Technology Commercialization.

Olson joins Wayne State from his most recent post as executive-in-residence at Ohio University in Athens. He has extensive experience in technology commercialization, business development and venture development. In addition, he has worked in Fortune 500 industries as well as startup ventures, and he has held a variety of positions, from front-line salesperson to CEO.

Olson comes from a family of entrepreneurs, including his father, who took a company from the basement of his childhood home to IPO; an uncle who owns and operates one of the largest bridge contractors in Minnesota; and his grandfather, who owned one of the largest sand and gravel companies in the state.

"With his background, Andrew has a keen understanding of how entrepreneurs think and the challenges startup companies face," said Judy Johncox, associate vice president for research and technology commercialization at WSU. "His expertise will be a great asset to Wayne State University."

Olson earned his M.B.A. with emphases in finance and corporate strategy from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and a bachelor of arts with high distinction in marketing and Japanese from the University of Minnesota.

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Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.