East Hartford, CT — The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering is pleased to announce the election of two Honorary Members: Jack Crane, strategic advisor at CONNSTEP; and Josh Geballe, senior associate provost for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Yale University and managing director of Yale Ventures.

Both will be recognized at the Academy’s 49th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at The Woodwinds in Branford, CT. The Academy’s Governing Council voted to name Crane and Geballe for their outstanding service to the Academy through participation and/or activities in support of the Academy’s mission to provide expert guidance on science and technology to the people and the state of Connecticut and to promote the application of science and technology to human welfare and economic well being.

Jack Crane is being honored for his lifelong commitment to K-12 education and his support of Connecticut’s manufacturing and small businesses. He has served the New Haven Public Schools Science Fair Program for 28 years. The Program engages the district’s K-12 students in hands-on science projects as a vehicle for fostering excitement in learning, promoting science literacy, and introducing the opportunities available through careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics).

Jack has served as Program Director and led the New Haven Science Fair Program Steering Committee. His leadership helped the district’s fair to thrive despite the pandemic. He continues to focus on the future and how the New Haven Science Fair Program can have a greater impact by reaching out to elementary school students and their parents; making them aware of opportunities for STEM jobs in the area.

As a senior advisor for CONNSTEP, a consulting group that helps manufacturers and other smaller businesses, Jack is particularly sensitive to the need for a highly skilled workforce to meet current and future business demands. He works closely with ReadyCT, a leader in K-12 career pathway programming, to ensure that students and employers have what they need to set them up for future success. Both CONNSTEP and ReadyCT are affiliates of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA).

In 2001, he and the rest of the NHSF Program team received the sixth Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring to recognize their efforts on behalf of traditionally underrepresented students in STEM. In 2002, he was recognized by the New Haven Public Education Fund for his contribution to students, staff, and parents. He received the 1998 Elm-Ivy Award for his outstanding contributions to building bonds between New Haven and Yale University. In 2023, Jack was named Volunteer of the Year by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Jack earned a BS at Purdue University and a master’s degree at Yale University, both in metallurgical engineering. He was Director of New Products R&D for Olin Corporation’s Metals Division, has authored or co-authored more than 50 papers on new products, synthesis, and fabrication of materials, and is also the holder or co-holder of more than 30 patents related to alloys, processes, and products. He is a fellow of the American Society of Materials, a recipient of the UCONN Engineering Services Award, and the first-ever recipient of the National Institute of Science & Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Lifetime Achievement Award. Jack also received the Manufacturing Hall of Fame’s 2017 Leadership Award.

Josh Geballe is being recognized for his leadership in the state as a key advisor to Governor Ned Lamont, specifically his guidance to the people and the state of Connecticut during the COVID-19 pandemic as Chief Operating Officer for the Governor and Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, and for his work at Yale University and Yale Ventures.

During his time at the state, he was responsible for all executive branch agencies (a total of 30,000 employees) and led successful initiatives to modernize state operations and expand the use of technology to improve services and reduce costs.

In his role as senior associate provost for entrepreneurship and innovation at Yale University and managing director at Yale Ventures, Josh is responsible for a wide range of services and programs for students, faculty, and the broader New Haven community to launch new startups based on Yale research, provide training in entrepreneurship and innovation, expand external research partnerships, and foster the growth of the local innovation and entrepreneurship community.

Before his state service, Josh’s professional background included serving as CEO of Core Informatics, a venture-backed scientific software company that was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he served as vice president and general manager of digital science. Previously, he spent 11 years at IBM in a variety of international executive roles.

Josh serves on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations, including ClimateHaven where he is the founding board chair, Connecticut Innovations, AdvanceCT, BioCT, and the Mory’s Association.

Josh holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University.