Ahhh, the connection between Dvorak, Mississippi Technological Alliance (of which Dvorak was CEO), Thames, Polymer Science, the Mississippi University Research Act, venture capitalists, and Southern Diversified Products.

Angie was CEO of MTA, she gets hired by Thames, who is looking for a way to push his poly products, and Poly Science sits on the front burner, the back burner, the side burners, while liberal arts and other colleges get thrown in the waste can.  If this article doesn't make what is going on at USM transparently clear, I don't know what will.

"Dr. Angeline Dvorak is charged with implementing much of the economic development agenda in place at USM. As vice president of research as well as economic development, Dvorak says she holds the dragon at both ends. "Sometimes your fingers get burned, and sometimes you can't quite hold on, but it emphasizes our commitment to a research-to-market model," she says. "We participate at each point of the R&D continuum – from basic conception all the way to the marketplace."
       

Making economic development as high a priority as it is at USM is "quite unique," says Dvorak, "and within academia it's very radical. To be involved in economic development at this level is to be engaged in creating wealth and jobs and improving quality of life. That is a core part of why we exist."

This article was written in January.  Read more at:

http://www.siteselection.com/features/2004/jan/ms/