Center for American Entrepreneurship Names Dr. Dedric Carter as Chair of the Board of Directors

The Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE), a nonpartisan research, policy, and advocacy organization in Washington, DC, that works with policymakers on behalf of American entrepreneurs and startups, announces that Dr. Dedric Carter of Chapel Hill, NC has been named chair of the board of directors, succeeding Ian Hathaway of Santa Barbara, CA.

Dr. Carter is an experienced practitioner in innovation ecosystem strategy, execution, research commercialization, and technology-based economic impact creation.   Dr. Carter is the Vice President for Commercialization and Translational Advancement for the UNC Health System, where he leads system-wide efforts to translate research discoveries into clinical and commercial solutions that improve patient care across North Carolina and beyond.  Dr. Carter advances partnerships among researchers, physicians, and industry and strengthens the commercialization pathways for the Academic Medical Center at UNC (UNC School of Medicine) and the Health System.

Dr. Carter previously served as the Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development and Chief Innovation Officer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  In that capacity, Dr. Carter had cabinet level responsibility for the entrepreneurship, innovation, economic development, and commercialization portfolios at the University through Innovate Carolina and the Innovate Carolina Junction, among other oversight and engagement roles.  Under his leadership, UNC Developed the BSEEN 10-Year Innovation Strategic Framework and rose to 54 in 2025 NAI Top 100 ranking from 94 in 2023, growing startup launches from 6 in 2023 to 12 startups launched in 2025.  He teaches courses in systems applications to technical, business, and policy issues with an emphasis on the entrepreneurial process, innovation, and new venture creation.  He is recognized as a leader in operations and innovation strategy development and execution.

Prior to his time in North Carolina, Dr. Carter served as Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Chief Commercialization Officer, and as Vice Chancellor for Operations and Technology Transfer, at Washington University in St. Louis with faculty appointments as professor of engineering practice at the McKelvey School of Engineering and professor of practice in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the John M. Olin School of Business.  He was the founding co-principal investigator of NSF Missouri Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM program ($5M) and principal investigator on one of 44 inaugural Type 1 NSF Engine awards ($1M, NEURO360).  During his time at Washington University, Dr. Carter launched the Needleman Program for Commercialization for advancing drug development and laid the foundation for the Catalyst Bioscience Hub redevelopment of the prior Goodwill complex.

In Washington, Dr. Carter served as the senior advisor for strategic initiatives in the Office of the Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in addition to serving as the executive secretary to the U.S. National Science Board executive committee.  At NSF, Dr. Carter launched and oversaw the NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program to accelerate the commercialization of basic research.

Dr. Carter became chairman of the Missouri Technology Corporation in early 2021 and served until October 2023.  He is a member of the MIT Office of Sponsored Research Visiting Committee, the MIT Corporation (Board of Trustees), and a Fellow of the Academy of Science-St. Louis.  In addition to CAE’s board, Dr. Carter is also a member of the Lemelson Foundation International Advisory Board, a member of the board of Venturewell and BioNexus KC.

He recently served as a member of the Small Business Administration’s Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Federal Advisory Committee, leading its commercialization subcommittee, in addition to serving as a member of the National Academies agency ad-hoc evaluation committee.  Dr. Carter has been a venture-backed entrepreneur and leader of industry advanced technology groups.

He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University.

“I’m honored to serve as CAE’s board chair at such a pivotal moment for our country,” said Dr. Carter.  “As we enter America’s 250^th year, the story of this nation has always been written by its entrepreneurs and innovators — those who turn bold ideas into economic reality.  CAE exists to make sure we never lose sight of that truth.  I look forward to amplifying that mission and ensuring the next chapter of American innovation is as remarkable as the last.”

“I am delighted that Dr. Carter has agreed to serve as CAE’s fifth board chair,” said John Dearie, founder and president of CAE.  “His extraordinary background includes every aspect of American innovation – science, academia, entrepreneurship, commercialization, and public policy.  He understands in a profound way the importance of entrepreneurship to innovation, economic growth, job creation, and opportunity expansion, as well as the needs, challenges, and priorities of entrepreneurs.  Dr. Carter has been a member of CAE’s board since 2022, will be an exceptional board chair – and a uniquely effective advocate for American entrepreneurship with policymakers in Washington, DC.”

“Sincere thanks to my friend Ian Hathaway for eight years of extraordinary service to CAE and its mission – as a co-founder of the organization, research director, board member, and board chair for the past two years,” Dearie continued.  “Under Ian’s leadership, CAE had its most impactful year to date in 2025.  He has made an indelible imprint on the organization, and I and the rest of the board are thrilled that he will continue to serve as a member of CAE’s advisory council.”

About the Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE)

The Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE) is a nonpartisan, Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) research, policy, and advocacy organization founded in July of 2017.  CAE’s mission is to engage policymakers in Washington and across the nation regarding the critical importance of entrepreneurs and startups to innovation, economic growth, job creation, and expanding opportunity – and to pursue a comprehensive policy agenda intended to achieve a stronger, more resilient, and inclusive U.S. economy through thriving entrepreneurship.

For more information, visit www.startupsUSA.org.

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