SRC Senior Management

Dr. Todd Younkin is the CEO and President of Semiconductor Research Corporation. Appointed by the Board in 2022, Younkin has transformed SRC into a vibrant powerhouse responsible for nearly $100M annually in university-based research sponsored by 25 international companies and 2 U.S. government agencies. Todd's critical initial accomplishment as CEO was to oversee the development and publication of the 2030 Decadal Plan for Semiconductors, released in partnership with the Semiconductor Industry Association in 2021, which bolstered the case for the passage of the CHIPS and SCIENCE ACT of 2022 on August 9^th, 2022.

The global SRC research agenda funds over 100 universities, supports over 3000 academic and industry researchers, and graduates around 1500 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students annually. Todd’s excited by the worldwide call for a renewed investment in semiconductor materials, hardware, and design, as well as the equally important calls for an emphasis on education and workforce development and our need for environmental sustainability.

Dr. Younkin serves on the Secretary of Commerce's Industrial Advisory Committee in support of CHIPS for America. He is currently on the Georgia Tech ECE Executive Advisory Board, the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN), and the State University of New York (SUNY) Research Council.

Prior to helming SRC, Dr. Younkin worked at Intel from 2001-2020, with research and development experience that spanned Intel’s 0.18um to 5nm nodes and a variety of Intel business units. He completed his B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Florida and holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology.

Outside of work, Todd enjoys tennis, spending time with his family, and all things nerdy. 

Only by investing in a bright, collective future, will we rise to the meet the opportunities presented by the next industrial revolution.

Success isn't just about reaching the destination; it's about embracing the journey with unwavering determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

David Henshall is Vice President of Business Development and Government Relations at Semiconductor Research Corporation. Dave's primary role involves creating and growing partnerships with government and industry to expand their semiconductor research portfolio. This not only provides a larger pipeline of technologies but also ensures a steady flow of graduating students into the industry. These technologies drive SRC member profits and market share. Dave doesn't just lead; he inspires, empowers, and delivers results that redefine what's possible.

Henshall was a federal employee for 6 years working at both DARPA and ARPA-E where he co-created the DARPA MTO Transition Accelerator and served as the Deputy Director of Commercialization to support the transition of federally funded technologies towards manufacturing. Prior to government, Henshall spent 20 years in industry working in the field of wide bandgap semiconductors to support the LED, RF, and power electronics industries. While in industry he led an operations organization of 200 employees, created and managed a profitable business supplying engineered substrates to Micron Technologies, and performed research that helped make LED lighting ubiquitous.

He received his B.S. and M.S. in Ceramic Engineering and Science from Alfred University, has authored and co-authored over 20 research papers, and holds one patent.

When not working, Dave enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering, and learning about power tools while refurbishing his house.

Karen Di Spigna is the Chief Accounting Officer of Semiconductor Research Corporation.

As Chief Accounting Officer at SRC, Karen Di Spigna is responsible for managing all aspects of finance, contracts and intellectual property for all of SRC’s entities. Prior to joining SRC in 2008, Karen was an Audit Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Raleigh, North Carolina, working in their Assurance and Business Advisory Services practice. At PwC, she served both private and public companies in a wide range of business sectors.

Karen has her B.S. in Accounting from the State University of New York at Geneseo and she is a Certified Public Accountant with licenses in both North Carolina and New York.

Karen enjoys going on new adventures with her family outside of work.

Commitment and ethics are not just ideals to uphold; they are the cornerstone of our integrity and contribute to SRC's continued success.

It's the spark of optimism in young minds that fuels my conviction that together we can unravel the mysteries of the universe and shape a brighter tomorrow.

Dr. Victor Zhirnov is the Chief Scientist at Semiconductor Research Corporation. He is responsible for envisioning new long-term research directions in semiconductor information and communication technologies for industry and academia. Victor lead the team responsible for developing and publishing the Microelectronics and Advanced Packaging Technologies Roadmap in 2023. The MAPT Roadmap summarizes the key drivers of technology progress, provides guidance for how to achieve the technical challenges outlined in the Decadal Plan, and strategizes for developing the workforce required to realize the promises of these innovations. Previously, Dr. Zhirnov worked with academics and industry professionals to build the 2030 Decadal Plan for Semiconductors, which identified the five "seismic shifts" shaping the future of information and communication technologies (ICT).

Victor's semiconductor experience spans over 30 years in the areas of materials, processes, devices physics, fundamental limits and much more. He has authored and co-authored over 150 technical papers and contributions to books. Victor has served as the Chair of the Emerging Research Device (ERD) Working Group for the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) and has served as an advisor to a number of government, industrial, and academic institutions.

Prior to joining SRC, Dr. Zhirnov was a research professor at North Carolina State University and still holds an adjunct faculty position there. Before that, he was a senior scientist at the Institute of Crystallography of Russian Academy of Science in Moscow.

Victor earned his Ph.D. in solid state electronics and microelectronics from the Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow and received his M.S. in applied physics from the Ural Polytechnic Institute, Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Victor's pastimes include running statistical models for fun, cultivating his knowledge of wine, and learning new languages.   

Naomi Godfrey is the Director of Human Resources at Semiconductor Research Corporation. She is responsible for recruiting, employee relations, performance management, training, compensation, and compliance at Semiconductor Research Corporation. Naomi boasts more than 20 years of experience in human resources and has leveraged this background to make her a seasoned generalist who can tackle multiple projects at once.

Naomi received her B.S. from the State University of New York College at Potsdam.

When not working, Naomi enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the world with her friends, and a good jigsaw puzzle.  

Our most precious resource at the heart of our company is the people who breathe life into our organization every day.

Quiet dedication and loyalty fuel our technology department, ensuring we're always there to support our business needs.

Michael Sullivan is the Manager of Business Technology at Semiconductor Research Corporation. In this role, he is responsible for

Previously, Michael spent nearly two decades as the Systems Administrator, and later Senior Systems Administrator, at SRC. In this role, he was responsible for managing data security and technology infrastructure. Michael got his start in systems administration at Blackbaud before joining SRC.

Michael earned his B.S. from Wofford College.

Outside of the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his family and exploring new woodcraft hobbies. 

Jennifer Dickens is the Manager of Communications at Semiconductor Research Corporation. She is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing internal and external communication strategies. She helps the world understand how SRC develops the future through our collaborative R&D and WFD initiatives.

Jeni led Business Technology at SRC for seven years. Prior to that, she held technical support roles at SRC, Microsoft, and Sweda. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Berry College. She was proud to be selected as part of the inaugural class of Bonner Scholars at Berry, sponsored by the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation. This opportunity allowed Jennifer to volunteer nearly 300 hours of community service per school year, resulting in a lifelong passion for service.

When not working, Jeni enjoys spending time with her family and solving puzzles of all kinds.

I believe in the power of storytelling to connect and inspire. Each narrative shared has the potential to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and ignite change.

Every aspect of our company's operations deserves meticulous attention and unwavering dedication. I believe in getting the job done without compromise.

Mary Nichols is the Executive Assistant and Program Operations Manager at Semiconductor Research Corporation. Her role includes ensuring member satisfaction and coordination of SRC's resarch programs. She has broad experience and understanding of SRC operations, having supported GRC, STARnet, JUMP and the CEO. In these roles, she has put SRC members first and helped to ensure their membership results in a positive and productive experience.

She previously worked for Adelphia Communications Corporation as the Assistant to the Director of Finance. Mary brings more than 25 years of experience in the Executive Assistant field.

Mary's pastimes include spending time with her family, playing piano, and writing music and poetry.