Stories
Arts and Humanities
McGuire Center alum Patrick Marcus, an inaugural fellow at the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy, in front of the Skyburst 2 solar sculpture he created with art partner Stephen Fairfield.
Photo by Pete Brown.
Learn more about:
McGuire Center Alumnus Selected for Arizona Leadership Academy
March 2011
By Pete Brown
UA College of Engineering
The Phoenix-based Arizona Center for Civic Leadership announced in March that Patrick Marcus is one of 25 fellows in the inaugural class of the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy, which is sponsored by the Flinn Foundation and the Thomas R. Brown Foundations.
Marcus, a McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship alumnus, graduated from the UA in 2006 with a doctorate in biomedical engineering, with a minor in neurosciences. He also has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
Marcus is vice president of engineering at Tucson-based MC Power Systems, which he recently spun off from parent company General Plasma, Inc., which also is based in Tucson. MC Power Systems designs plasma power supplies for the solar, architectural glass, and liquid crystal display industries.
“I grew up here, and Tucson and the UA are very dear to me,” Marcus said. “I’d love to contribute and make a difference to Arizona’s future.”
Marcus is well aware that his civic fellowship will make him visible on the statewide political radar. “Hopefully, this political exposure will enable me to provide the often-overlooked perspective from the trenches,” Marcus said. “In this way, I can keep scientists, engineers, and small technology business owners at the top of the Arizona agenda for jobs, start-ups, and life-enhancing R&D.”
He already has some experience in the public policy arena, having worked with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ office to promote solar energy. He also has participated in a solar round-table discussion with Giffords that included Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, Tucson Electric Power Company CEO Paul Bonavia, and Tucson Airport Authority President and CEO Bonnie Allin.
View full story in eller buzz.
Return to Our Stories, or for additional information, please contact us.
