UCSD - University of California - San Diego

09/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/25/2026 13:31

UC San Diego Establishes Don and Stacy Rosenberg Professorship in Innovation

Published Date

September 25, 2026

Article Content

The Don and Stacy Rosenberg Professorship in Innovation has been established at the University of California San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS). Liz Lyons, whose research examines the forces that shape entrepreneurship, organizational performance and innovation, has been named the inaugural holder of the endowed faculty chair.

"UC San Diego has a tradition of bringing together bold ideas, outstanding people and an entrepreneurial spirit to create meaningful impact," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "Endowed chairs play an essential role in sustaining this excellence, providing our faculty with the resources and flexibility to pursue ambitious ideas, advance new discoveries and create transformative opportunities for our students. We are grateful to Don and Stacy Rosenberg for their visionary support of this endowed chair and proud of Liz Lyons' innovative scholarship which connects academic research with the rapidly changing world around us."

Rosenberg brings decades of experience at the intersection of technology, business and global policy. He retired as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Qualcomm Inc., where he oversaw the company's worldwide legal matters, Global Government Affairs organization and Corporate Compliance function. During his 14 years at Qualcomm, he played a key role in shaping the company's strategic direction and policy initiatives, and regularly engaged with governments around the world.

Before joining Qualcomm, Rosenberg served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Apple Inc. and, before that, as senior vice president and general counsel of IBM Corporation.

Rosenberg is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. His recent policy work has included the Reagan Institute's Task Force on 21st Century National Security Technology and Workforce, the 21st Century China Center's working group on science and technology in U.S.-China relations, and a joint Asia Society-Hoover Institution working group focused on semiconductors and the security of the United States and Taiwan.

"As a longtime supporter of GPS and a champion of innovation in my professional life, it was with great pleasure that we created this chair," said Don Rosenberg. "The bonus is in seeing the university's recognition of Professor Lyons' extraordinary talents both in research and pedagogy, by awarding her the first seat."

The new endowed chair was established by Stacy and Don Rosenberg. Photo courtesy of the the Rosenberg family.

Lending his expertise, advice and mentorship to UC San Diego, Rosenberg serves on the International Advisory Board of the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the 21st Century China Center's leadership board. He also has shared his professional experience directly with students - including as a guest lecturer and co-instructor in Lyons' classes and by serving as chair of the mentorship council of the Wavemaker Lab, which is housed within the Cowhey Center on Global Transformation and is directed by Lyons.

"Don is incredibly generous with his expertise and genuinely curious about what our students are doing and the questions they are asking," said Lyons. "His support goes far beyond funding. As a mentor, he has encouraged me to take risks and given me confidence to believe that I can make contributions that push me outside of my comfort zone. UC San Diego is incredibly fortunate to have Don and Stacy as supporters and partners."

For Lyons, the professorship will provide additional resources and flexibility to pursue innovative research and educational opportunities that might not otherwise be possible. Endowed chairs remain in perpetuity, providing a consistent stream of funding to support critical research.

Lyons' research focuses on how innovation happens: how new technologies are commercialized and adopted, how digitization and AI are changing work and learning, and how incentives, coordination barriers, and inequality determine who innovates and who benefits.

"I am deeply honored to hold the Don and Stacy Rosenberg Professorship in Innovation," Lyons said. "It is both an opportunity and a motivation to continue pushing my research and teaching in new directions. Representing Don and Stacy through this professorship carries special meaning because I have seen firsthand how deeply invested they are in our students, our faculty and the impact UC San Diego is having worldwide."

At GPS, Lyons teaches courses in international business, innovation policy and management, and start-ups. She has received the Kauffman Junior Faculty Fellowship in Entrepreneurship Research and the UC San Diego Graduate and Professional Student Association Faculty Teaching Award.

During her graduate studies, Lyons was the inaugural associate director of the Creative Destruction Lab, a venture lab at the University of Toronto. Today, she directs the Wavemaker Lab and co-directs the Poseidon Fellows program at UC San Diego, where she continues to support emerging entrepreneurs and explore questions surrounding entrepreneurship and innovation.

"We are grateful to Don and Stacy Rosenberg for their generous and visionary support," said School of Global Policy and Strategy Dean Caroline Freund. "Endowed chairs play a critical role in supporting innovative scholarship and teaching that spark impactful discoveries and deepen our knowledge of the world around us. Professor Lyons is an exceptional scholar and educator whose work at the intersection of innovation, business and policy is helping us build a better understanding of our ever-changing global economy."

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