MADISON—Dr. Carol Dahl was selected to join the Board of Trustees for WiSys—a nonprofit organization that promotes research, innovation and entrepreneurship at the 11 regional comprehensive University of Wisconsin System schools.

Dahl is former executive director of The Lemelson Foundation where she led the Foundation’s work to use the power of invention to improve lives. 

The Foundation inspires and enables the next generation of inventors and invention-based enterprises to promote economic growth and address critical challenges in the U.S., and to help solve social and economic problems for the poorest populations in low- and middle-income countries.

“At The Lemelson Foundation, Dr. Dahl has been a strong advocate for regional innovation and entrepreneurship and we’re excited to add her expertise and experience to the WiSys board,” said WiSys President Arjun Sanga.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Carol was founding Director of the Global Health Discovery Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and led development of the Grand Challenges in Global Health and Grand Challenges Explorations programs, innovation programs which have been replicated in countries around the world.

Dahl has previously worked with WiSys board member Erik Iverson, CEO of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which partners with WiSys.

“Carol is a premier advocate who understands that social and economic progress thrives at the intersection of education, resources and inspiration,” said Iverson. “During our mutual years at the Gates Foundation, Carol led Global Health Discovery efforts and we shared a vision of improving global health. I’m thrilled to be collaborating once again, to champion Wisconsin innovators.”

Dahl also worked at the U.S. National Institutes of Health at the National Cancer Institute and National Center for Human Genome Research, at a start-up diagnostics company, and on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh. She has advised and supported programs across government agencies including the Department of Commerce (Advanced Technology Program), DARPA, NASA, and Department of Energy. 

She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.

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