Jim Woodell

Dr. James K. Woodell - Professional Biography

Dr. James K. (Jim) Woodell, founder and principal of Venn Collaborative, helps higher education institutions enhance their value to economic and societal growth. His expertise spans over 30 years, focusing on building and evaluating partnerships across private, civic, and government sectors in economic, community, and workforce development.

From 2011 to 2018, Jim served as vice president for economic development and community engagement at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). He led the Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) Universities program, significantly transforming institutions nationwide. He developed the CICEP Economic Engagement Framework and organized national meetings for university leaders, promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.

Before APLU, Jim was the assistant director at Transformative Regional Engagement (TRE) Networks, fostering collaboration among business, government, universities, and non-profits for regional development.

Jim holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Penn State University, an M.Ed. from Harvard University, and a B.S. in Communications from Syracuse University. His academic career includes roles in distance learning and academic technology at Southern New Hampshire University and North Shore Community College.

Jim has advised several national organizations, including the Ecosystem Building Leadership Project, funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. He has spoken at major forums like the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

His election to the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (ACES) highlights his dedication to improving regional quality of life through higher education engagement. At Venn Collaborative, Jim continues to empower institutions to play pivotal roles in regional transformation and societal advancement.
Jim’s career consistently focuses on translating academic research into practical community benefits. His work supports higher education leaders in creating strategic partnerships that drive innovation and enhance regional development.