Dawn Mason is the Assistant Vice Chancellor in the Office of Partnerships at NC State University, where she leads the unit’s core partnership development efforts. This team works with more than 130 corporate, government and nonprofits, >70 of whom are on-site. Additionally, she is spearheading a university-wide initiative to optimize and expand these partnerships.

A familiar face on Centennial Campus, she previously served as the Director of Innovation Excellence at Eastman Chemical Company. In that role, she identified strategic opportunities for collaboration between university researchers and Eastman to drive business goals and advance innovation. She also managed Library Information Services and led the Centers of Excellence for Project Leadership & Innovation Process Management.

Throughout her career at Eastman and E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., she held several technical and managerial roles including leading R&D teams focused on catalysis, polymer modification, technical service, and process improvement. Her experience also includes a rotation in Human Resources as an HR Manager.

A Fellow of the American Chemical Society, she has advised numerous higher education institutions. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Texas A&M University.

Outside of work, you can find her gardening, reading, cooking, and supporting the Power Sound of the South.