Sylvia Wilson Thomas, PhD
Dr. Sylvia Wilson Thomas, 2024 Florida Inventors Hall of Fame inductee and Vice President for Research & Innovation at the University of South Florida, has been named the new Advisory Board Chair of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.
Dr. Thomas steps into this role following over a decade of visionary leadership from Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, 2015 inductee and founder of the Hall of Fame, who also served as USF's former Vice President for Research & Innovation. His dedication helped build the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame into a nationally recognized platform for celebrating innovation, inspiring future inventors, and honoring the pioneers whose inventions have shaped our world.
“It is a true honor to serve as Advisory Board Chair of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame and to help carry forward the mission of recognizing pioneering inventors and empowering future problem-solvers and change-makers," Dr. Thomas said. "I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Paul Sanberg for his steadfast leadership and ongoing commitment to the Hall of Fame. I look forward to working together with him, the FIHF board and selection committee, as well as our extended innovation community, to continue celebrating the extraordinary inventors who move our society forward.”
Dr. Thomas’s appointment symbolizes the next chapter in the Hall of Fame’s ongoing journey, a continuation of excellence grounded in discovery, innovation, and impact. Her leadership is sure to inspire the next generation of inventors and expand the reach of Florida’s innovation ecosystem.