Cindy Claycomb, director of WSU Ventures at Wichita State University, has announced plans for a phased retirement beginning Jan. 4.

Claycomb, who has served in numerous critical roles at the university since her arrival in 1994, will continue to serve as assistant to President John Bardo for strategic planning.

“Dr. Claycomb’s leadership of the strategic planning process has played an important role in equipping the campus to become an innovation-driven university,” said Bardo. “I’m pleased that she has agreed to continue working with us to further develop and implement the strategic plan.”

Mark Torline, director of WSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship, will take on a dual role as director of WSU Ventures, which was created in 2014 to encourage the development of intellectual property for economic growth. The two organizations are already housed together in Devlin Hall.

John Tomblin, vice president for research and technology transfer said Dr. Claycomb has played a critical role as the architect and founding director of WSU Ventures. “She was early in recognizing the importance of developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus and in Wichita,” he said. “She and Mark Torline have built a great partnership between WSU Ventures and the Center for Entrepreneurship. With the beginning of her phased retirement, it makes sense to bring these two enterprising organizations together.”

Tony Vizzini, provost and senior vice president, echoed Tomblin’s sentiments. “I’m happy to see the Center for Entrepreneurship and WSU Ventures coming together under Mark Torline’s leadership. Mark’s financial management and entrepreneurial expertise are of great value to the university and community,” he said.

Claycomb joined WSU as an assistant professor of marketing and entrepreneurship in the W. Frank Barton School of Business in 1994, earning full professor status in 2006. In 2012, she was selected by Bardo to co-chair the strategic planning initiative. After completing the initial stages of the strategic plan, she served as interim dean of the Barton School of Business for 15 months. In September 2014, Claycomb was appointed as the first director of WSU Ventures and assistant to the president for strategic planning.

Torline joined WSU in 2014 following a 25-year career in Southern California, as an investment management firm executive with demonstrated success in both start-up and large corporate settings. He was founder and CEO of Allegiance Capital from 1993-2008. After selling that firm, he served as an officer of the successor company, Macquarie Allegiance Capital, and of Trilinc Global. While in California he maintained ties to Wichita State through his participation on the National Advisory Council of the WSU Foundation and membership on its investment committee.

Claycomb and Torline grew up in Wichita and graduated from Wichita State.

About WSU Ventures

WSU Ventures assists Wichita State faculty, staff and students in applying and commercializing ideas, intellectual property, know-how, talents, capabilities, ambitions and energy in ways that benefit the university, community, industry and the public. WSU Ventures protects and licenses university inventions and innovations and connects entrepreneurs and industry partners with WSU researchers and technology resources. www.wsuventures.org