Nicholas M Donofrio

Bio

Nicholas M. Donofrio is a senior fellow at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Donofrio uses his vast experience as an innovator and entrepreneur in technology and science to explore programming opportunities for the Kauffman Foundation’s new initiative, Kauffman Labs for Enterprise Creation, which is aimed at creating high-growth companies. Donofrio, a 44-year IBM veteran, serves as an IBM fellow, the company’s highest technical honor.Throughout his career, Donofrio has received numerous awards, including two IBM Invention Achievement Awards, two IBM Outstanding Innovation Awards, CNBC’s Overall Technology Leadership Award in 2005, and the Excellence in Leadership Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2008. From 1997 until his retirement in October 2008, he served as executive vice president of Innovation and Technology. In addition to his most recent role, he served in a variety of capacities, including vice chairman of the IBM International Foundation and chairman of the Board of Governors for the IBM Academy of Technology.Donofrio holds seven technology patents, is a member of numerous technical and science honor societies, and holds several board positions. He is a fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a fellow of the UK-based Royal Academy of Engineering, a member of the U.S.-based National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the board of directors for the Bank of New York/Mellon, a member of the Republic of China’s Advisory Board of Science and Technology, a member of the board of trustees at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a member of the board of directors of Liberty Mutual, a member of the board of directors of AMD, and a member of the board of managers of Delphi Corporation. Previously, he served on the board of directors for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering and was board chair from 1997 to 2002. He also served for several years on the board of directors for INROADS, a non-profit organization focused on the training and development of talented minority youth for professional careers in business and industry. In 2005, he was appointed by the U.S. Department of Education to serve on the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, a 20-member delegation of business and university leaders charged with developing a new national strategy for post-secondary education that meets the needs of a diverse population. With a strong focus on advancing education, employment, and career opportunities for underrepresented minorities and women, Donofrio currently is co-chair of the New York Hall of Science. Donofrio earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1967 and a Master of Science in the same discipline from Syracuse University in 1971. He holds numerous honorary doctorate degrees from universities in the United States, England, and Scotland.