U of A Center Receives Third Year of Innovative Managing Director Grant

University Relations

GRAPES Managing Director, Mr. T.A. Walton

The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of Arkansas Center of Excellence in GRid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems (GRAPES) an Innovative Managing Director Grant for the third year. This $200,000 competitive grant was created to support the development and implementation of innovative models for Managing Director positions within the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center program.

GRAPES' Managing Director, T. A. Walton, has worked with the center for six years and plays a key role in the center's success. As managing director he leads the administrative operations of the center and works with other directors and research faculty on recruitment and retention of industrial members, strategic planning and intellectual property issues. He has also presented during annual NSF I/UCRC Director's Meetings and has coached other I/UCRC's in the operations area.

GRAPES is a two-university center. The UA is the lead site and the University of South Carolina is the partner site. Alan Mantooth is the Executive Director of GRAPES, and  Juan Balda is the U of A Site Director. For more information about the center, please visit our website at http://grapes.uark.edu.