Article by Ananya Huria and Sangeetha Shivaji
Mr. Bryan Toney has been named UNCG’s new Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic Development. In this role, Toney will work to connect those within the university with one another and with the community at large, with particular emphasis on cross-disciplinary relationships and engagement, from the local to international level.
The new Associate VC sees Greensboro as ideal ground for expanding economic activity. “We have a good transportation and logistics infrastructure, a top-notch school system, a dynamic downtown, a thriving arts community, great quality of life and a strong history of global engagement… we have all of the ingredients.” Even better, according to Toney, is the potential inherent in Guilford County’s collaborative web of eight higher educational institutions and over 50,000 students.
Mr. Toney joined the UNCG community in 2011 as director of the North Carolina Entrepreneurship Center. As the NCEC director, he provided leadership for several exceptional entrepreneurship and economic development programs. In addition to building many new relationships across the region, Toney helped create the Growing Entrepreneurs by Mentoring Students Program (GEMS), the 2 Minutes to Win It idea competition, the Entrepreneurial Journeys monthly speaker series, a new Experience Business Abroad program, and Startup Weekend Triad. He has also co-chairs the Southern Entrepreneurship in the Arts (SEA) Conference, which helps emerging and mid-career artists become more successful and which attracts speakers and attendees from multiple states and more than 20 colleges and universities.
Check back soon to read an in-depth profile on Toney and his plans in his new position.
