JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 16, 2021) – Dr. Mutombo Muvundamina, founder and chief executive officer of Tendaya Technology Group, has been appointed as an adjunct faculty member in the East Tennessee State University Department of Chemistry. The appointment will provide opportunities for collaboration and internships between Tendaya and ETSU, the university said.
“We are excited to join an institution that is known to support scholarly and creative
activities to enhance the teaching and learning environment,” Muvundamina said. “We
look forward to working side-by-side with our outstanding colleagues to help ETSU
in its mission. We plan on working with the faculty and students on research and academic
activities that benefit the regional, state, national and global communities ETSU
serves.”
Muvundamina’s mission is for Tendaya to develop and commercialize novel materials
for applications in green energy technology and in medical technology platforms, he
said. His company will develop and distribute polymeric membrane materials for use
in high-capacity batteries and polymeric materials for use in biomedical-related applications,
as well as adhesives and composite polymer film adhesive for electronic and energy
storage applications.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Muvundamina as a colleague in the Department of Chemistry,”
said Dr. Robert Standaert, ETSU Department of Chemistry chair. “He brings a wealth
of experience from industry and an extraordinary breadth of expertise in materials
science that really enriches our department. Our faculty and students look forward
to the new opportunities that working with Dr. Muvundamina and Tendaya Technologies
will bring.”
Tendaya Technology Group joined the ETSU Innovation Lab, an organization that helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop emerging technologies,
as a member in January.
“Dr. Muvundamina has an impressive background with over 30 years in academia and industry
on materials, polymers, manufacturing and commercialization,” said Dr. Audrey Depelteau,
director of the Innovation Lab. “He brings a remarkable level of experience to the
Innovation Lab, and this appointment will certainly expand the relationship between
industry and the faculty and students at ETSU.”
Muvundamina has a doctorate in polymer science and a master’s degree in chemical engineering
from the University of Washington, and he has worked in various industry settings,
including H.B. Fuller Company and Eastman Chemical Company. He previously taught as
an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota.