LUInnovate's Todd McCullough

ON MONDAY, Feb. 10, Todd McCullough MBA is to take-up his duties as Lipscomb University's newly hired chief innovation officer (CIO), with priority assigned to achieving meaningful impact through strategic goals anchored in the text of "Goal Seven" within the university's long-range plan.

Lipscomb President Candice McQueen yesterday announced McCullough's appointment as chief innovation officer of the university's new Office of Innovation, doing business as LUInnovate.

Lipscomb's press release said yesterday that McCullough's responsibilities are to include enabling the university to achieve "meaningful impact" by developing "innovative education models, identifying strategic business development opportunities and fostering collaboration across Lipscomb's academic departments and external partners. His role aligns a key goal of Lipscomb's Impact 360 Strategic Plan, which focuses on fostering an entrepreneurial spirit while advancing the university's distinctive mission."

Candice McQueen

McQueen was quoted saying in yesterday's release, in part, "LUInnovate represents another exciting step forward for Lipscomb University as we continue to cultivate a culture of creativity, entrepreneurship and forward-thinking education. With Todd McCullough's leadership and our talented Lipscomb team, we are poised to continue to build innovative, high-quality programs that broaden access to education and drive meaningful impact."

Lipscomb's new LUInnovate unit is being funded by the Lipscomb Innovation Fund.

The Innovation Fund has received financial gifts from donors including philanthropist and prominent former corporate executive Sue Nokes.

Nokes, who resides in Middle Tennessee, was the Innovation Fund's initial benefactor and is a member of the university's Board of Trustees.

Sue Nokes

Nokes's career has thus far included service very senior roles with Asurion Insurance Services, Ameritech, T-Mobile USA, Wal-Mart and others.

McCullough, a 63-year-old Ohio native, told VNC in 2023 that he has long been drawn to education, partly due to the influence of his father, who was a high-school teacher.

He told us that prior to returning to Nashville in 2017 he had spent most of the previous 22 years working in the Chicago area.

He emphasizes on his LinkedIn profile that he "helps companies craft, align around and execute growth strategies. Renewal and step-change growth are the goals." He adds that he has been of service to at more than 100 Fortune 500 companies and has been "consultant to the consultant' for five global consulting firms.

Lipscomb's release says McCullough "has helped shape the growth of companies such as The Coca-Cola Company, Ford Motor Company, Target and Anthem."

VNC has confirmed that McCullough remains a partner in Nashville's Kernel Equity investment firm.

Kernel Equity Founding Partner Peter Marcum, told VNC today that McCullough is a vital resource for Kernel and its portfolio companies and affiliates, in large part because of his emphasis on organizational and team transformation and strategies that bring market growth and sector influence.

McCullough also remains principal of his own consulting practice, Ampersand Partners, as well as an adjunct professor in the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.

He previously served as board member for O'More College of Design, which sold to Belmont University; and, he was adjunct faculty with the Institute of Design (Chicago)

McCullough's business experience includes executive roles with Nashville-based LBMC, as well as with Chicago-based Doblin Inc and VIA International.

The CIO holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management and a bachelor's in business administration from Harding University.

Lipscomb's "Impact 360" strategic plan was created and amended during 2023-24 is available here, as VNC first reported last July. References to innovation appear on five pages of the document, with Goal Seven outlined on pp. 52-53.

In the same release, McCullough said, "I am honored to join Lipscomb University in this new role. Higher education is considered one of the industries most in need of innovation. Lipscomb -- a healthy, growing university with Christ-centered core values in the hot city of Nashville -- is an ideal position to define and embody what the future of higher education can be."

McCullough added, "I'm excited to partner with President McQueen and the Lipscomb community to take on the important challenge -- to remain true to our principles while we adapt to flourish in an ever-changing environment."

Other Lipscomb University coverage here. VNC

. last edited 1615 8 February 2025