University City Science Center names Tiffany Wilson as new president and CEO

University City Science Center announced Monday that it had found a new president and CEO after a five-month search following Stephen Zarrilli’s departure from the role.

Tiffany Wilson, the recent CEO of the Global Center for Medical Innovation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that supports the development and commercialization of medical products, will join the Science Center on Oct. 1. Wilson brings more than 18 years of leadership experience in the medical device field and has served on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

She’s also held leadership roles with Scientific Intake, where she was the VP of business development and strategy, and at ACell, Inc., where she was VP of corporate strategy and finance. Wilson also served as president of the Board of the Southeast Medical Device Association (SEMDA) and was the founding member of Medtech Women @ SEMDA.

“Tiffany brings to the Science Center and by extension, Greater Philadelphia an acute understanding of the opportunities and, now more than ever, the responsibility of an innovation and civic-focused economic development organization,” said Science Center Board Chairman Mike DiPiano in a statement. “We’re delighted to welcome an experienced and effective leader whose expertise and global network will be an asset to the Science Center and the region.”

Wilson told Technical.ly that the Science Center had been on her radar for many years, and first got involved with the institution while serving on the steering committee for its Digital Health Accelerator in 2014. She said the three key components of the Science Center — its focus on commercialization, cultivation and collaboration — are what she’s most looking forward to when she starts in October.

“One of the things that really excites me about Philadelphia is its incredible concentration of diverse stakeholders,” Wilson said. “I’ve been impressed with the collegiality and collaborative spirit with the innovation and entrepreneurship community here, and I feel it’s truly unique to Philadelphia in a way that’s different than other areas of the country.”

Wilson said she’s also looking forward to bringing her network with her to the region, hoping to be able to forge new relationships and partnerships. She anticipates spending the rest of the year listening to her team and the different groups at the Science Center in able to begin a strategic planning process going forward.

Big news! We're delighted to announce that @TheTifWilson will be joining the Science Center as President & CEO on October 1st. https://t.co/FeVAaveUei pic.twitter.com/6eq8j8xdxx

— Science Center (@UCScienceCenter) August 24, 2020