Teresa Stanek Rea

A former under-secretary of commerce for IP and director of the USPTO, as well as a passionate champion of diversity in the legal profession.

Inducted into the IP Hall of Fame in 2020.

The first woman ever to serve as under-secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO, Stanek Rea played a pivotal role in the implementation of the America Invents Act. A former president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, Rea is passionate about increasing diversity in IP law and is currently vice-chair of the IP group at law firm Crowell & Moring, LLP.