Ned Staebler, formerly of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is joining Wayne State University as vice president for economic development.

Ned Staebler

Staebler, who begins work on June 6, 2011, will coordinate the University's activities related to TechTown, Wayne State's research park and business incubator; commercialization of University-based research discoveries; and participation in Midtown and other area economic development.

"The role of universities has changed in recent years," said Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour. "More and more we are being seen as essential to economic growth and revitalization in our communities. Ned is a strong leader who can help move us forward."

Staebler comes to the university with more than 15 years of business development and financial management experience in both the private and non-profit sectors.

Prior to his appointment, Staebler was vice president of MEDC, the state's economic development authority, where he helped to create jobs and diversify Michigan's economy. In particular, he has overseen the investment of the 21st Century Jobs Fund, a $2 billion, 10-year initiative to transform Michigan's economy.

"Wayne State is a major contributor to the culture, economy and vibrancy of Detroit," Staebler said. "I look forward to the opportunity to help the university leverage more of its assets to be a catalyst for growth in Midtown and the state as a whole."

Staebler earned a B.A. from Harvard University with a concentration in government and an M.S. in comparative politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. While in London, he was an associate director at Bear Stearns International Limited, managing the firm's electronic market making group.

Staebler, who grew up in Detroit and graduated from the University of Detroit High School, lives in Ann Arbor, where he is chairperson of the city's Housing and Human Services Advisory Board. He also is a member of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation's distribution committee and a founding member of the Ann Arbor Social Capital Fund.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.