Meet the 3 New Innovation Fellows Joining the Polsky Center This Summer

The Polsky Center is welcoming three new faces this summer taking on roles as Innovation Fellows. 

The Polsky Innovation Fellowship features three students with technical backgrounds to support analytical and marketing work for the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We met with each of the three new fellows taking on these roles to learn more about their backgrounds, expertise, and what they’re most excited for in their new roles.

Barbara Yuchen Wang

Tell us about your background.

I am a rising fourth-year student at the College, studying Economics and Public Policy with a specialization in Education Policy. As I head into the 4+1 Public Policy program, I am excited to deepen my understanding of how policies and social entrepreneurs can drive social change. My international background enables me to analyze social progress through a multicultural lens, equipping me with the perspective to consider diverse policy and business impacts across communities.

How will your background help you excel in the role?

Having worked with two startups — one nonprofit and one international — I’ve gained hands-on experience in navigating startups’ common struggles. These experiences taught me how to think strategically, adapt quickly, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders. I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with business partners and colleagues from around the world, which has enhanced my ability to build connections and contribute to global-minded, mission-driven projects.

What are you most excited for in your role?

This summer, I will officially begin my journey at the Polsky Exchange, a program dedicated to supporting startups in Chicago and beyond. I’m thrilled to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their ventures. Being part of the process where ideas turn into reality is always deeply rewarding for me. As an intern, some of my most fulfilling moments have come from supporting projects that make a tangible difference in society, and I’m eager to keep doing that!

What are your hobbies?

I love trying and learning to play different musical instruments. I can play piano, erhu (a traditional Chinese instrument with a mechanism similar to the violin), harmonica, and carillon—there is one set in the Rockefeller Chapel! My favorite musicians are Debussy and Satie, whose compositions continue to inspire me. In addition to music, I enjoy traveling and exploring the lives and works of writers and philosophers from different cultures. My favorite writer is Stendhal, whose insights on subtle human nature resonate with me.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

One of my most heroic moments this year was biking across (part of) the desert in Marrakech! It took me about four hours, mostly without rest!

Alexander Gappert

Tell us about your background.

I am a rising fourth-year student at the University of Chicago, studying Economics and East Asian Studies, originally from Denver, Colorado. Before attending university, I served as a U.S. Navy air traffic controller, with deployments aboard the USS Harry S. Truman to the Mediterranean, Arabian, and Red Seas, and later stationed in Rota, Spain, where I supported regional humanitarian operations. I have completed internships in private credit and venture capital, worked at a startup supported by the Polsky Center, and currently contribute to a nonprofit helping veterans transition to the workforce through career development programming. I am also involved in a campus consulting organization, applying strategic thinking to real-world challenges.

How will your background help you excel in the role?

What sets me up to excel as an Innovation Fellow is my ability to lead with clarity, adapt quickly, and support Polsky with both strategic insight and operational focus. I thrive in fast-paced environments, communicate effectively across teams, and bring a problem-solving mindset grounded in real-world experience.

What are you most excited for in your role?

I look forward to contributing to real innovation projects that create tangible impact within UChicago’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Being able to have the chance to take ownership of meaningful work, collaborate with driven teams, and gain insight into how the Polsky Center supports startups and research commercialization is incredibly exciting.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy golfing, snowboarding, listening to podcasts, trying new food, and traveling.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

While stationed in Rota, Spain, I had the chance to be a background actor on the TV show Jack Ryan during filming aboard a Naval ship, appearing in scenes with John Krasinski and Marc Menchaca.

Julia Goberman

Tell us about your background.

I am a rising fourth-year at the College studying Economics with a specialization in Data Science and a Minor in Chemistry. I’m also heading into the 4+1 Applied Data Science program. My academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of data, strategy, and innovation. I’ve previously worked as a research assistant in the Department of Radiology, focusing on PET imaging, and as a Summer Analyst at Red Chalk Group, where I supported market research and strategic consulting for tech-sector clients.

How will your background help you excel in the role?

My experiences have taught me how to think critically and solve problems using both data and creativity. I have developed the versatility and teamwork skills needed to thrive in this role.

What are you most excited for in your role?

What are your hobbies?

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.