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The Tampa Bay Business Journal named USF Research Foundation Board Directors Alison Barlow and Lakshmi Shenoy to itsin 2024. The list recognizes Tampa Bay business leaders who will be newsmakers in the coming year.

Barlow is the Executive Director of the . The District is a public-private partnership formed in 2016 and located in the area south of downtown. The mission of the District is to develop St. Petersburg into an environment that fosters job growth, economic development, and learning and inspiration by bringing innovative people and organizations together. Barlow works with District partners to forge new career opportunities, grow businesses and entrepreneurs, and increase investment particularly in the fields of healthcare, marine science, data analytics and education. 

Shenoy is the CEO of , Florida’s fastest-growing startup hub, located in downtown Tampa. Before moving to Tampa Bay, Lakshmi was in Chicago and served as the Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at 1871, the #1 university-affiliated business incubator in the world. Prior to 1871, Lakshmi worked for several top global media and advertising brands. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Lakshmi currently serves on the board for The Florida Aquarium and Junior Achievement Tampa Bay.

The USF Research Foundation, Inc., supports this mission and enhances the research activities of USF faculty, staff, and students. Through its programs, the USF Research Foundation, Inc., brings together the strengths of USF and the region to provide a critical interface that stimulates high-tech and biotech industries and creates jobs. The USF Research Foundation, a not-for-profit, direct-support organization (DSO), owns and operates the USF Research Park, a community of science and technology researchers and entrepreneurs. The Research Foundation also supports USF CONNECT and the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator (TBTI) on behalf of the university.