SDSU faculty selected for prestigious innovation fellowship

San Diego State University assistant professors Carlos Paternina and Yin Yu have been selected for the 2025 Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) Faculty Innovation Fellowship, joining a national network of faculty innovators advancing student success through business-higher education collaborations.

BHEF’s 28 fellows from across the country — nominated by their presidents, provosts and academic leadership — will implement capstone projects while growing their leadership skills through innovation, change management, and mentorship from experts in business and academia.

Paternina, an assistant professor of management information systems at SDSU’s Fowler College of Business, develops AI-driven computer programs that help businesses manage supplies and deliveries more efficiently. He has also helped organize international conferences on business and logistics.

"Being selected for the prestigious BHEF Faculty Innovation Fellowship not only recognizes my commitment to advancing innovative educational practices but also provides a unique platform to collaborate with leaders across academia and industry to drive transformative change in higher education,” said Paternina. “It aligns perfectly with my translational research approach, as it bridges the gap between academia and industry, enabling me to apply research-driven insights to real-world challenges and foster impactful collaborations that drive innovation and industry readiness."

Yu, a tenure-track assistant professor in the School of Art and Design, leads SDSU’s Interior Architecture program and founded the Center of Multisensory Architectural Design (CMAR). Her research explores human interactions with built environments through interactive multimedia. At CMAR, she aims to transform academic research into viable business ventures, developing a large-scale facility for interdisciplinary innovation in multisensory digital products.

“I feel extremely honored to be nominated by the SDSU President's Office as a fellow for BHEF 2025,” Yin said. “I am also very grateful for all the support I have received from my colleagues, which makes all the projects possible. I look forward to being part of the program to bridge the gap between business-higher education and turn innovative ideas from design and architectural education into real-world applications in the architecture and building industry.”

Paternina and Yu join faculty members Alvin Henry and Byron Purse, who served as 2024 Fellows representing the university. Purse led a capstone to develop doctorate-level biotech programs at the upcoming SDSU Mission Valley campus, while Henry focused on expanding career-aligned internships for liberal arts students.

About the BHEF Fellowship

The BHEF Faculty Innovation Fellowship, funded by the ECMC Foundation and BHEF member institutions, empowers faculty to enhance employer engagement and student success. BHEF, leveraging 40 years of expertise, leads the program in collaboration with business and higher education partners.

All 28 of the 2025 fellows will begin their journey at SDSU hosted by President Adela de la Torre, refining their innovation skills and calibrating how they communicate about their innovation. While in San Diego, the fellows will explore SDSU’s industry partnerships and award-winning entrepreneurial training at SDSU Mission Valley.

This year’s cohort includes faculty from 10 states representing “five Minority Serving Institutions (HBCUs, HSIs, and AANAPISIs), eight public universities, six R1 institutions, two community colleges, and four independent colleges, providing fellows with a diverse and well-rounded network of executive peers,” said Frank Avery, managing director for BHEF and the director for the Faculty Innovation Fellowship. 

The 2025 Fellows join the 19 inaugural 2024 Fellows as part of a national network of nearly 50 faculty innovators driving improvements in student success.