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Paul Valdez

Commercialization Network Coordinator
Paul Valdez
paulv@tla.arizona.edu
Pronouns:
he, him, his

As a key contributor to the Commercialization Network, Paul plays a central role in advancing growth and engagement through thoughtful planning, execution, and relationship development.

With a strong foundation in collaboration and systems thinking, Paul leads end-to-end event planning and logistics, ensuring seamless coordination across cross-functional teams—most notably for Roundtable meetings that bring together diverse stakeholders. His ability to align people, processes, and priorities helps create meaningful experiences that foster dialogue and progress.

Paul is also deeply committed to supporting entrepreneurs and emerging ventures. By facilitating connections between founders, mentors, and industry partners, he helps cultivate an ecosystem where ideas can grow into successful, real-world solutions.

In addition, Paul manages operations, data, and internal systems to enhance reporting, streamline workflows, and improve overall program effectiveness. His data-driven approach ensures that decisions are informed, processes are optimized, and outcomes are measurable.

Paul brings a wealth of experience in higher education, with a background spanning campus programming, faculty development, residential life, Honors programs, civic engagement, and community-based learning. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, he served as Associate Director of the Bowling Green State University Center for Public Impact (2014–2021), where he led faculty development initiatives, built the nationally recognized BGSU Votes program, and strengthened campus partnerships.

Raised in a military family, Paul lived across Arizona, Wyoming, Florida, and Colorado before earning his undergraduate degree in Paleontology from Bowling Green State University. He later completed a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University. Outside of work, Paul is an active member of the Tucson community, serving on the advisory board for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona’s LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund and enjoying kickball and hiking.