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The University of Colorado Law School and the are pleased to announce that Matt Schmit has been named the new Executive Director of Silicon Flatirons.

Schmit joined the Silicon Flatirons team on September 29 and began his work as Director on November 1.

"I've long followed the work of the Silicon Flatirons Center and appreciated its impact on tech policy creation, its support of start-ups and innovation, and its commitment to students and their careers,” Schmit said. “Wherever possible, I've tried to replicate this approach elsewhere. I'm beyond honored to join the dynamic Silicon Flatirons team and carry its impactful legacy forward."

For the past 20 years, Matt has enjoyed consulting, research, policymaking, and program administration primarily in the areas of technology and innovation, infrastructure, and economic competitiveness.��

He has worn various hats in pursuit of forward-thinking technology policy, applied research and innovation, and results-driven partnership: as a consultant engaging a wide variety of stakeholders, state legislatures, and policy issues; as academic researcher, published author, and active member of several national policy organizations; as a former state Senator, known for working with colleagues from diverse political and geographic backgrounds; and as a state official and higher education leader, focused on leveraging the full complement of higher education assets to promote technology expansion, foster strategic cross-sector collaboration, and inspire student and institutional interest and engagement.��
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Between 2013 and 2016 Matt represented his hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota, and surrounding areas in the Minnesota state Senate – where he championed creation of the country’s first dedicated office of broadband development and matching grant program. In this capacity, he served as chair of the Game & Fish Subcommittee; vice chair of the Jobs, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee; and active member on the Transportation Policy & Finance Conference Committee, Energy & Environment, Capital Investment, and Environment, Economic Development & Agriculture Finance committees.

More recently, Matt launched the Illinois Office of Broadband, chaired the Illinois Broadband Advisory Council, and oversaw creation of the Illinois Broadband Lab – a collaborative effort between the state and university system to build capacity, support local engagement, and meet critical federal funding deadlines.��
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Over his career, Matt has served on various boards and commissions, including but not limited to: the Cook County Council on Digital Equity (CODE), the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) board, the Blandin Broadband Strategies board, the St John's University Board of Regents, and the Minnesota Legislative Water Commission. He represented Minnesota on the National Conference of State Legislatures Nuclear Energy Work Group and Commerce Committee, and he was an active member of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and State Agriculture and Rural Leaders.

Integration of 21st century infrastructure and service delivery has been a primary focus of his work – and his research. For over a decade, Matt maintained active membership on a standing committee of the Transportation Research Board, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences.

Matt received a masters in public policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a bachelors in political science from Saint John’s University (Minnesota).��