Intellectual Property for Educators: Teaching Ownership, Innovation, and Creative Work Across Disciplines-Michelson Institute for IP Master Class
Event Details
This Master Class will meet on May 18th, May 20th, and May 27th from 3PM ET - 5PM ET.
About the Master Class: Intellectual Property for Educators is a live, cohort-based training designed to help community college and university educators confidently understand and teach the basics of intellectual property (IP) without becoming legal experts.
Educators encounter IP every day—in student projects, creative work, entrepreneurship programs, workforce training, and digital learning environments—yet many feel uncertain about how ownership works, what students need to know, or how to integrate IP concepts responsibly into their courses. This multi-session training demystifies IP through an educator lens, focusing on relevance, real-world impact, and practical classroom integration.
Across four interactive sessions, participants will explore IP fundamentals, examine how IP shapes students’ experiences beyond the classroom, and learn two concrete models for thoughtfully embedding IP concepts into existing curricula. The training emphasizes confidence, clarity, and care—equipping educators to support student creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs while avoiding common pitfalls around legal advice and institutional policy.
This master class is ideal for faculty, program directors, workforce and entrepreneurship educators, and academic leaders who want to better prepare students for creative, professional, and entrepreneurial futures.
Takeaways the Audience Can Expect:
Identify the core categories of intellectual property (copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret) and explain their relevance in educational and student-facing contexts.
Recognize where intellectual property already appears in classrooms, programs, and institutions, including student projects, creative work, digital platforms, and collaborative activities.
Explain how intellectual property affects students beyond the classroom, particularly in employment, entrepreneurship, creative industries, and workforce development.
Apply two practical models for integrating IP concepts into courses, using IP as both a learning lens and a skill-adjacent topic across disciplines.
Distinguish between teaching IP awareness and providing legal advice, and confidently respond to student questions without overstepping professional boundaries.
Understand the role of institutional policies and power dynamics in determining ownership of work created in academic settings.
Design or adapt at least one classroom activity, module, or discussion that incorporates intellectual property concepts in a thoughtful, student-centered way.
Advocate for informed, ethical approaches to ownership and innovation that support student success, equity, and responsible creativity.
For More Information:
About the Speakers:
Chinwe Ohanele, Esq
Sr. Program Manager, MICHELSON 20MM FOUNDATION
Chinwe Ohanele (she/her) is the senior program manager for the Michelson Intellectual Property Institute, a 20MM initiative, and a visiting professor at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. In her role, she oversees the deployment of Michelson IP resources to community colleges, universities, and partner organizations nationwide.
The Institute looks to address critical gaps in IP education to empower the next generation of innovators by providing high-quality instructional content. In addition to creating and disseminating world-class educational resources, Michelson IP closes the IP education gap by convening and curating IP professionals and communities, and promoting innovation-friendly practices and policies.
Before joining Michelson 20MM, Chinwe was running her own law firm, Ohanele Law Firm where she served, and continues to serve, small business owners with business law and intellectual property services. She was formerly also an adjunct professor at USC Gould’s School of Law. She is passionate about using education as a tool to empower underserved communities to ensure the world doesn’t miss out on the creativity and genius inherent in those communities.
Chinwe holds a BS/BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of the Pacific and a J.D from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. She is licensed to practice law in California, New York, and New Jersey.
Whitley Crawford
Sr. Program Manager of Strategic Insights and Analytics, MICHELSON 20MM FOUNDATION
Whitley Crawford is the senior program coordinator of strategic insights and analytics at the 20MM Foundation. She brings data-informed strategy, thoughtful coordination, and a commitment to expanding access to IP education nationwide. Whitley was formerly the senior program coordinator for the Michelson Intellectual Property Institute, where she supported partnerships and helped strengthen programs that introduce students and emerging innovators to core concepts in intellectual property.
Before joining Michelson 20MM, Whitley worked in digital marketing, focusing on rebranding, team building, and data analysis. Whitley holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Texas at Tyler. She is an active member of the Los Angeles chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators and a community organizer who hosts Meetup groups across Los Angeles and Orange County.