Dr. Scott Shrake serves as the Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Strategic Partnerships in the Office of the President at Colorado State University. In this role, he leads efforts to strengthen CSU’s role as a driver of innovation and economic prosperity across Colorado and beyond.

Shrake oversees the University Partnership Program, a centralized front door for industry engagement designed to expand revenue opportunities and streamline collaboration with corporate, government, and community partners. He also leads the development of CSU’s Advanced Industry Strategy, aligning university assets, research strengths, and workforce programs to advance Colorado’s competitiveness in key technology sectors.

A longtime champion of innovation and entrepreneurship at CSU, Shrake has previously served as Assistant Vice President for Strategy and Executive Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship in the College of Business. He has been instrumental in building CSU’s Venture Development Platform, securing more than $7.5 million in external funding, and creating cross-sector initiatives that connect education, research, and industry to solve real-world challenges.

Prior to joining Colorado State University, Shrake served as an engineering faculty member and Executive Director of Entrepreneurial Advancement at Arizona State University, where he led advancement and partnership initiatives in support of the university’s entrepreneurship and innovation portfolio. He also co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer of Vicinity Health Inc., a technology venture recognized among the 100 Hottest Global Tech Startups and a TiE50 finalist at TiECon 2014.

Shrake earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability and Green Design Group. His work reflects a deep commitment to translating the university’s mission of access and impact into tangible economic and societal outcomes through innovation, partnerships, and inclusive growth.