The University of New Mexico's Office of Academic Affairs has appointed Robert DelCampo, professor in the Anderson School of Management, as director of Innovation Academy. The appointment is effective immediately.

Innovate Academy is UNM's new academic program to provide entrepreneurial training to students campus wide who are interested in starting companies. The academy will be a component of the Innovate ABQ project to development an innovation district in Albuquerque.

“After a rigorous search process, I am extraordinarily pleased that Dr. DelCampo emerged as our top candidate," Senior Vice Provost Carol Parker said. "His interest and dedication to the Innovation Academy initiative as well as his demonstrated experience in the interdisciplinary and entrepreneurship realm, makes him the right choice for this position.”

DelCampo joins the Office of Academic Affairs after a successful term as associate dean of the Anderson School of Management. His duties will include the development of the Innovation Academy curriculum, coordination of experiential learning activities within InnovateABQ, and recruitment of students to the interdisciplinary program across undergraduate and graduate programs. Additional duties include the development of co-curricular activities for Innovation Academy students and the creation of an infrastructure for the long-term success of the Academy.

“I am incredibly excited to take on this new challenge,” DelCampo says. “It is rare in academia that we start with a blank slate and I can’t wait to paint this canvas. As an alumnus of UNM and a long-time faculty member, I am honored to collaborate with my colleagues all across campus to develop a cutting-edge set of courses to further develop the entrepreneurial flair of our students.”

DelCampo holds the Rutledge Endowed Professorship at the Anderson School of Management and was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2014. He has extensive experience in curriculum development having overhauled the MBA program and developed several professional development programs over his 11-year tenure at UNM. DelCampo has a unique view on the UNM experience having served as a faculty member, administrator, student, staff member since first arriving on campus in 1995. He brings to the position an extensive community, business and faculty network as well as a stellar academic reputation.

DelCampo has authored over 80 scholarly articles, seven books and has been recognized for his outstanding teaching and scholarly exploits. Additionally, he has been named one of Albuquerque Business First’s 40 under 40 Top Young Professionals and Albuquerque The Magazine’s “People Who Will Change Albuquerque.” He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in addition to his undergraduate and MBA degrees from UNM and is a graduate of Las Cruces High School.