Ellen Zatkowski serves as the director of science programs and student engagement at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She oversees a portfolio of programs supporting graduate and undergraduate students, postdocs, faculty, and researchers at the intersection of science, business, and entrepreneurship. This portfolio includes support for early-stage commercialization of research technologies through the Commercialization Fellowship, facilitating teambuilding between scientists and Chicago Booth students at the Collaboratorium, and exposure to investing in deep tech startups in the Innovation Fund Associates program. Ellen also serves as program director and instructor for the NSF-funded I-Corps program as part of the Great Lakes Region I-Corps Hub.

Prior to joining Polsky, Ellen managed the college success program for a Chicago non-profit serving students from low-income backgrounds. She got her start in entrepreneurship education at Babson College in Wellesley, MA, and loves to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Ellen earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in history from Boston College. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, hiking, exploring new bookstores and restaurants, and traveling with her family.