Jennifer Sherer, vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, has been appointed director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Institute (ENI) at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

During her tenure at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Sherer led numerous initiatives to drive collaboration in the innovation community, support entrepreneurs and elevate Atlanta’s status as a globally recognized innovation hub.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Sherer was executive director of Southeast Bio, a regional organization that fosters the growth of life science industries in the Southeast. She began her career in Emory University’s Office of Technology Transfer managing licensing for inventions spanning pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, consumer products, research tools and computer software.

“Jennifer is excited to cultivate an inclusive entrepreneurial culture across the university, and she possesses the leadership acumen to do so,” said Robinson College Dean Richard Phillips. “This skill, combined with her network of relationships across Atlanta and the Southeastern United States, will accelerate our ability to integrate ENI into the region’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem and will greatly enhance opportunities for our students and our impact as a major urban research university.”

Sherer holds a Ph.D. in molecular physiology and biological physics from the University of Virginia. She succeeds Richard Welke, ENI’s inaugural director, who retired earlier this summer. She will start Aug. 15.