Lisa Hearon is the associate director of Science Programs and Student Engagement at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago. In her role, Lisa leads strategic programming that bridges scientific discovery with entrepreneurial action. She oversees key initiatives such as the Collaboratorium, which connects researchers and scientists with business students to explore commercialization opportunities; the I-Corps program, where she supports teams in testing their assumptions through customer discovery; and the Innovation Fellows, a cohort-based program that empowers students to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and venture support.

Lisa also plays a central role in meeting with students across disciplines to help them navigate and engage with the wide array of innovation and entrepreneurship programs available at Polsky. She is passionate about helping students find their place in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, whether they’re curious about launching a startup or contributing to a venture team.

A passionate advocate for education and innovation, Lisa co-founded The Cambridge School of Chicago, a private elementary school grounded in a holistic educational approach. The school emphasized STEM learning through collaborations like the Museum of Science and Industry’s Fab Lab, and held annual spring productions on the University of Chicago campus, earning recognition from local media.

Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she served as a research assistant and contributed to student-led research through scientific presentations and conferences.

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys bowling, roller skating, diving into family genealogy, organizing family reunions, and spending time with her energetic mini goldendoodle, Nova. She’s also an avid pool player when time permits and is always looking for an opportunity to RACK ‘EM!