Lucas Peralta is an experienced educator and innovator serving as the Polsky Center’s Director of Strategic Data Initiatives. His penchant for solving difficult problems has made him a key leader and process innovator at the center. Lucas is leading the development of a strategic vision on how the center can use data to better serve students, faculty, and the UChicago community. He passionately believes that process and data must be informed by the people they serve.

Lucas formerly served as the center’s Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, in which he spearheaded programs that support venture creation and entrepreneurial education. Passionate about building human-centered entrepreneurial ecosystems, Lucas strives to foster environments where innovation thrives. Lucas is a graduate of the University of New Mexico and Harvard University. He aims to contribute to best practices around strategic innovation, startup acceleration, and entrepreneurial education across the higher education landscape.