Shawnee State University just handed the keys to one of Portsmouth’s hottest new projects to a hometown veteran. Dr. Amanda Hedrick has stepped up as the new director of the Kricker Innovation Hub on August 1, taking over from David Kilroy, the man who built the Hub from scratch and is now headed to Yale.
The Hub, tucked right into downtown Portsmouth, isn’t just a fancy building—it’s a launch pad for big ideas. Think: a local baker turning kitchen experiments into a business plan, or a college kid with an app idea finding mentors and maybe even investors. It’s where small-town dreams get the tools and connections to grow big without packing up for the big city.
Hedrick, who’s spent 23 years at SSU leading everything from early childhood programs to STEM innovation projects, says she’s ready to take things “to the next level” by pulling in even more community and regional partnerships.
Kilroy leaves behind a powerhouse legacy: millions in grant funding, dozens of partnerships, and a team that’s already made the Hub a downtown anchor for tech and entrepreneurship. Interim SSU President Eric Braun called his work “outstanding,” and says Hedrick is the perfect leader to build on that momentum.
Bottom line? The Kricker Innovation Hub is about turning good ideas into great businesses—and with Hedrick at the helm, expect to see even more local success stories coming out of Portsmouth.
