Karen Deak

Karen Deak is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in academia and consulting, currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of the IDEA Center and Faculty-in-Residence at the University of Notre Dame. With a strong focus on strategic advancement, Karen has held various leadership roles, including Academic Advancement Director and Director of Network Engagement, where Karen has facilitated the commercialization of research and developed philanthropic proposals. Additionally, Karen has contributed to patent education through the Master of Science in Patent Law program and the Certificate in Patent Prosecution. Currently, Karen is also involved in consulting as the Principal of Deak Consulting, while maintaining roles as a fractional Director of IP Strategy for SpoRX and Co-Founder of IPlexa. With a PhD in Genetics from the University of Chicago and a background in patent law, Karen's diverse expertise spans innovative research commercialization, corporate development, and strategic consulting.