Translational & Commercialization Specialist Chris Moss uses his knowledge of business and education to make Wei LAB visions a reality.
In the Wei LAB, the director and research associates are the mad scientists who design research projects, educational equity programs, and related initiatives. They rely on Chris Moss to translate this work to scale for the real world. As the Translational & Commercialization Specialist, Moss assesses our research efforts with real-world markets, applications and related trends in order to translate our research projects and deliverables into commercialized products that can be implemented within colleges, workplace environments and other organizations around the globe.
“I am always asking, ‘Is this marketable? Can we expand it?'” Moss said. “I look at the groups of people involved in the endeavors, like students, professors, businesses and others, and think about what they need and want.”
In order to ensure Wei LAB products and programs are utilized and succeed beyond the UW-Madison landscape, where several pilot programs are implemented, Moss must speak the languages of a diverse network of individuals to narrowly tailor strategies aligned with their needs and interests. Programs that Moss has helped translate to various markets include Beyond the Game and the marketing and planning of the annual International Colloquium on Black Males in Education.
“I am always asking, ‘Is this marketable? Can we expand it?'”
“Planning everything top to bottom” is his role in the Colloquium, Moss said. This includes visiting potential host sites, forming relationships with local partners, being on the ground at the event, and assisting with Colloquium logistics in real time. His role also shapes the future of the Colloquium with regards to its convening, scale, and international partnerships.
As the 5th annual Colloquium is nearly six months away, Moss remains heavily engaged in event activation. This year’s Colloquium, with the theme, “Educational Transitions and Life Trajectories: Bridging Pathways to Success for Black Males,” is anticipated to be the largest convening yet. With registration preparing to launch in the coming weeks, Moss predicts attendance to exceed last year’s meeting of more than 300 global experts, scholars, and industry leaders. For more updates, please follow the Colloquium Twitter on social media.
Part II of this interview will discuss why Bermuda is an ideal site to impact the overall life outcomes of males of color in education.