ASU's chief research and innovation officer named to Arizona Secretary of State advisory council

Arizona State University Chief Research and Innovation Officer and Executive Vice President Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan has been named to a newly formed advisory council that will provide strategic insight to the Arizona Secretary of State Office. 

Responsible for advancing research, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development at ASU, Panchanathan joins other well-respected and diverse business leaders from across the state to provide feedback and strategic support for the secretary’s policy programs. 

Secretary of State Michele Reagan announced the formation of the Secretary’s Technology, Transparency and Commerce Council last month to assist her in better understanding the statewide business community throughout her term of service. 

“I’m delighted and honored to have such an amazing group of industry leaders, including Sethuraman Panchanathan, to help me identify and implement an agenda that will make government more efficient and accountable,” Reagan said. “With their expertise and commitment toward improving the state, I’m confident we’ll take great strides to upgrade our technologies, promote greater transparency and make it even easier to start and run a business in Arizona.”  

Drawing from a highly accomplished background, Panchathan said he is looking forward to contributing to the council based on ASU’s success as the New American University. 

“It is an honor to be part of Secretary Reagan’s prestigious Technology, Transparency and Commerce Council,” said Panchanathan. “ASU continues to advance its knowledge enterprise as well as foster the economic and social well-being of the communities around it. Therefore, the opportunity to be at the table with other statewide business and community leaders is key to helping us contribute further to the economic success of Arizona.”

Panchanathan serves on the National Science Board as President Barack Obama’s appointee. He has also been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  

In addition to his executive leadership role at ASU, Panchanathan is a Foundation Chair in computing and informatics and is the director of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (CUbiC) at ASU. He is also the founding director of the School of Computing and Informatics and was instrumental in founding ASU’s Biomedical Informatics Department. CUbiC’s flagship project iCARE, for individuals who are blind and visually impaired, won the Arizona Governor’s Innovator of the Year-Academia Award. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Society of Optical Engineering and a member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

With their shared commitment to transparent, accountable and business-friendly government, the secretary’s Technology, Transparency and Commerce Council will meet quarterly at the Arizona State Capitol. Meetings with be open to the public.