Mary Lou Bourne

Mary Lou Bourne established the Office of Technology Innovation and Economic Development (TI&ED) at James Madison University, in January 2005, and incorporated the intellectual property non-profit corporation, James Madison Innovations (JMI), in 2008. She has been a liaison and key player in economic development for JMU at the local, regional, and state levels since 2013.

In her dual roles of Director of Technology Innovation and Economic Development and Executive Director of James Madison Innovations, she provides leadership over all aspects of moving university initiated innovations into the marketplace, including developing strategies for marketing, licensing and commercialization of intellectual property created by faculty, staff, and students, fostering economic development collaborations, and assisting in the establishment of start-up companies based on intellectual property developed at JMU. She facilitates economic development collaborations across the region and the state by making connections for innovators and entrepreneurs. Mary Lou worked with local business investors to create the Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors in 2015, a network of private investors that help fund technology startup companies in the Valley.

A Certified Public Accountant, Bourne is actively involved in a wide variety of programs that promote the economic development of the region.

• Shenandoah Valley Innovation Coalition (SVIC), Chair
• Virginia’s University-Based Economic Development (UBED), Chair
• Virginia Innovation Alliance (VIA), Chair
• James Madison Innovations (JMI), Board of Directors
• Virginia is for Entrepreneurs (VA4E) Board of Directors
• Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors (SVAI)
• GO Virginia state-wide advisory workgroup
• Shenandoah Valley Technology Council
• Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
• Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA)
• JMU Graduate Council
• University Economic Development Association (UEDA)
• Harrisonburg City Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee on Economic Development

Bourne received an MS in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University in 2004 where her graduate research in identity theft culminated in a system dynamics model entitled “The Dynamics of Identity Theft: A Comparison of Symptomatic and Systemic Solutions”. Bourne’s previous work experience includes project management and information systems implementation as Controller at Bridgewater College, Associate Director of Administrative Information Systems at Virginia Tech, and The Mountain Institute, an international non-profit organization.

M.S. James Madison University, Integrated Science & Technology

Ma.Ed. Virginia Tech, Higher Education Administration

B.A. Bridgewater College, Business Administration