Moderator: Sara Gosman, Associate Professor of Law, University of Arkansas School
of Law
10:55-11:00 a.m.
Break (5 minutes)
11:00-12:00 p.m.
Panel III: Diversity Gaps in Patenting. Challenges to Patenting for Women and Minorities.
The Role of Universities in Addressing the Gaps in Patenting and Innovation
Marie-Rachelle Narcisse, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences
Dr. Christal Sheppard, Adjunct Professor, University of Nebraska School of Law; former
EVP of Strategy and Business Development, IPwe; First Director of the first United
States Patent and Trademark Office, regional office
Jeanne C. Curtis, Patent Attorney; Inaugural Director of the Cardozo/Google Patent
Diversity Project; former Partner Ropes & Gray LLP
Ingrid Fritsch, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of
Arkansas
Heather Nachtmann, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering, University
of Arkansas
Sarah Goforth, MA, Executive Director, Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation;
Adjunct Professor, Sam M. Walton College of Business
Moderator: Professor Cynthia Nance, Dean Emeritus and Nathan G. Gordon Professor of
Law
12:00-12:30 p.m.
Break for Lunch
12:30-1:20 p.m.
Address: Closing Diversity Gaps in Patenting: What is the United States Patent and
Trademark Office Up To?
Hope Shimabuku, Director of the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark
Office
Introduced by Stacy Leeds, Vice Chancellor, Office of Economic Development, University
of Arkansas
Angela Grayson, Founder of Precipice IP, PLLC, Bentonville, AR
Dr. Debby Winters, Partner, Eldridge Brooks Partners, Rogers, AR
Kathryn Wade, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Atlanta, GA
Christal Sheppard, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, University of Nebraska School of Law;
former EVP of Strategy and Business Development, IPwe; First Director of the first
United States Patent and Trademark Office regional office
David Pieper, Keisling & Pieper PLC, Fayetteville, AR
Moderator: Tammy VanHeyningen, Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison, WI
2:35-3:35 p.m.
Panel V: Patents, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
April Seggebruch, VP & Co-Founder, Movista LLC, Bentonville, AR
Ellen Brune, Senior Manager II, Walmart; Founder & CEO, Boston Mountain Biotech LLC,
Fayetteville, AR
Martha Londagin, Executive Consultant, Startup Junkie, Fayetteville, AR
Min Zou, Twenty-First Century Professorship, College of Engineering, University of
Arkansas
Mary Beth Brooks, Director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development
Center, University of Arkansas
Meredith K. Lowry, Of Counsel, Wright Lindsey & Jennings LLP, Rogers, AR
Moderator: Angela Grayson, Founder of Precipice IP, PLLC, Bentonville, AR
3:35-3:40 p.m.
Break (5 Minutes)
3:40-4:20 p.m.
Keynote Address: “Diversifying Innovation: From A Seat at the Table to Inventing a
New Table”
Shontavia Johnson, Associate Vice President for Academic Partnerships and Innovation,
Clemson University
Introduced by Sharri Bell, Vice-President, Black Law Student Association, University
of Arkansas School of Law
4:20-4:40 p.m.
Address: “State of Innovation and Patenting in Arkansas 2019”
Stacy Leeds, Vice Chancellor, Office of Economic Development, University of Arkansas
Introduced by Sarah Kueter, J.D. Candidate; Member of the Student Bar Association,
Business Law Society, and Women Law Students Association
