Meet the Team

Madhav Rajan is Dean of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting. His primary area of research interest is the economics-based analysis of management accounting issues, especially as they relate to the choice of internal control and performance systems in firms. He has carried out analytical, empirical, and field-based research on the role of information in incentive contracting, the value of nonfinancial and subjective performance measures, and the structural properties and usefulness of common financial ratios.

Before joining Booth, Rajan spent 16 years on the faculty of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business where he was the Robert K. Jaedicke Professor of Accounting, with a courtesy appointment in the Law School. He served as senior associate dean for academic affairs from 2010-2016, overseeing the school’s MBA program. From 2002-2010, he was area coordinator for the accounting faculty group. Previously, he served on the faculty at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, from 1990-2001.

While at Stanford, Rajan received the Robert T. Davis Award for Lifetime Achievement and Service (2017), and the Notable Contribution to Management Accounting Literature Award (2004). He also was the recipient of the David W. Hauck Award for Outstanding Teaching at Wharton (2000) and the Alexander Henderson Award for Excellence in Economic Theory (1990).

Rajan has served as editor of The Accounting Review, as well as Associate Editor for both the Accounting and Operations areas for Management Science. He has twice been a plenary speaker at the AAA Management Accounting Conference. He is coauthor of Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis, whose 16th edition was published by Pearson Prentice Hall in January 2017. He is also coauthor of Managerial Accounting, whose first edition was published by Pearson in January 2013.

He is a Director of Cavium, Inc. and iShares, Inc. and a Trustee of the iShares Trust.

Rajan received his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Madras, India, and an MS in Accounting, an MS in Industrial Administration, and a PhD in Accounting from Carnegie Mellon University.

Samir is an accomplished leader with a track record of driving innovation and impact across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently, he was deputy mayor for the city of Chicago, where he focused on economic and neighborhood development. He was a driving force behind initiatives such as INVEST South/West, the city’s signature community development initiative that marshaled resources from across city departments, community organizations, and corporate and philanthropic partners to support commercial corridors across several South and West Side neighborhoods. Before that, he served in the U.S. government during the Obama Administration, where he was part of the White House’s national security team and on the executive staff at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.

Samir also co-founded and served as CEO of NanoGraf Corporation, a global manufacturer of advanced materials for the lithium-ion battery industry that has raised over $100 million in funding and was spun out of Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University. He holds a B.A. and M.B.A. from Northwestern, where he served as a trustee, and he is active in the Chicago civic community, serving on the boards of the Metropolitan Pier and Exhibition Authority, Lyric Opera, and other organizations. He is also a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and is an alumnus of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship and the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.

As head of the Polsky Center, Samir plays a pivotal role in advancing the University’s innovation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and partnership priorities. He fosters connections across the University, our city, region, and world that enable the Polsky Center to accelerate the commercialization of critical technologies to help solve some of society’s most urgent challenges. He also elevates efforts to help drive economic development on the South Side and strengthen partnerships that bolster the university’s and Chicago’s upward trajectory as hubs of world-class innovation.

Nicole Bell serves as Chief of Staff at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she leads strategic initiatives and operations, including HR, finance, corporate partnerships, and the UChicago Science Incubator.

Nicole brings 15 years of experience in strategy and operations most recently as the First Deputy for Economic and Neighborhood Development for the City of Chicago, where she drove equitable economic recovery through large-scale initiatives such as the Chicago Recovery Plan’s $1.2 billion in new investments. Prior to her work with the City, Nicole was a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group, where she worked with a diverse set of clients including universities on strategy, innovation, and operations.

A lifelong science enthusiast, Nicole has also taught high school chemistry and coached robotics at a DC Public School, and she supported the success of small businesses and job seekers at the NYC Department of Small Business Services. Nicole holds a BA with honors and an MBA with high honors from the University of Chicago and is a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow.

Abigail Ingram is executive director of the Polsky Exchange, a 34,000-square-foot incubator space that leads the Polsky Center’s engagement with the South Side community through programs and initiatives that support local business owners and entrepreneurs. Abigail is passionate about the role of entrepreneurship as a pathway to opportunity and the importance of measuring impact.

Prior to joining the Polsky Center, Abigail launched the Women in Entrepreneurship Institute (WEI) at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, and served as its inaugural director for three years. While at WEI, the nation’s first comprehensive institute for women founders, Abigail designed and proved a model that measurably increases economic empowerment for entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur herself, Abigail also taught courses at Driehaus in Entrepreneurship Law, Entrepreneurship Strategy, and Women Entrepreneurs.

She launched her first venture, a music studio in Denver, Colorado, in 2009, and spent four years exploring sustainable business models for creative entrepreneurs. Abigail is a practicing attorney who founded and runs a boutique law firm that provides legal counsel to entrepreneurs.

Abigail  earned her J.D. and an M.A. in English from DePaul University. She went to undergrad at Eastern Illinois University, where she also studied English.

Steven Gould, MD, serves as the Consulting Director for Polsky Technology Ventures and is responsible for leading the formation and launch of new science-based ventures from University of Chicago faculty research. In this role, he advises faculty founders, engages the investor community, and works closely with leadership.

Steve is the Founder and Principal of The Gould Consulting Group, which provides advisory services to companies, universities and venture investors seeking to develop and capitalize on healthcare innovations in biotechnology and life sciences, devices, diagnostics, and healthcare IT. He is deeply engaged in the Chicago healthcare and entrepreneurial ecosystem. He is a founding member of the Board of Directors for MATTER; chair of the Advisory Board for Point B, a mentoring program formerly called Chicago Innovation Mentors (CIM); and a member of the Bioscience committee of WBC’s ChicagoNEXT. He has also previously served as a judge in the New Venture Challenge and has been an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Polsky Center.

He has in-depth experience raising capital for and investing in early stage companies in both clinical and scientific research in an academic environment, and as an executive for a publicly traded biotechnology company. As the scientific founder and former CEO of Northfield Laboratories, he led the company’s IPO and raised nearly $300 million in both public and private financings. Prior to Northfield, Steve was Chief of Surgery at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center and a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Steve received his BA from Williams College and his MD degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training in surgery at Yale and the University of Vermont, and a research fellowship at Michael Reese and the University of Chicago.

Steven Neil Kaplan is the Neubauer Family Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Kessenich E.P. Faculty Director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Steve cofounded the Polsky Center and the entrepreneurship program at Chicago Booth. He also started the New Venture Challenge (NVC), which is recognized as one of the top accelerator programs in the nation.

He teaches advanced MBA and executive courses in entrepreneurial finance and private equity, corporate finance, corporate governance, and wealth management. BusinessWeek named him one of the top 12 business school teachers in the country. Steve conducts research on issues in private equity, venture capital, entrepreneurial finance, corporate governance and corporate finance. He has published papers in a number of academic and business journals. Kaplan is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and an associate editor of the Journal of Financial Economics.

He is the co-creator of the Kaplan-Schoar PME (Public Market Equivalent) private equity benchmarking approach. A Fortune Magazine article referred to him as “probably the foremost private equity scholar in the galaxy.”

Full Bio

Erika Mercer serves as the executive director of Booth Entrepreneurship at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she oversees all entrepreneurship programming within Chicago Booth, leading a team of staff in developing co-curricular programs and experiential learning opportunities for MBA students, alumni, and other related constituents. This includes managing the startup, private equity, venture capital, entrepreneurship through acquisition, and small business programs that serve the professional interests of students and alumni. She has been with the Polsky Center since 2010 and, over that time, has led the development and growth of numerous Polsky Center offerings.

Erika brings close to 20 years of experience in higher education, having previously held roles in the international programming offices at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Brown University, where she managed, developed, and promoted study abroad programs worldwide, acted as the primary contact for students, faculty, and staff on site, and provided international training and advising to undergraduates. She served as a member of several international education organizations, including The Forum on Education Abroad and NAFSA: Association of International Educators; was published in Abroad View Magazine and the Bulletin of the American Research Center in Egypt; and presented at national conferences on the topic of cultural and citizen diplomacy. She also interned in the Academic Editorial Department at Oxford University Press, where she assisted editors with the review and preparation of manuscripts for production.

Erika earned a BA, magna cum laude, from Middlebury College and an EdM from Harvard University. She has studied in Spain, Germany, and Egypt.

Abigail Prescott serves as the Executive Director of Marketing & Communications for the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she leads the Polsky Center’s internal and external messaging strategies to amplify the brand of the center and advance awareness of the broad suite of entrepreneurship programs available to students, alumni, faculty, and research partners, as well as the University of Chicago’s technology commercialization efforts and bolstering community engagement at through the Polsky Exchange.

Abigail holds over a decade of experience in external communications strategies and implementation. She brings experience in creative storytelling, targeted messaging, and brand identity to this role. Most recently, she held the position of Chief Communications Officer at Urban Gateways where she managed and launched an organizational visual identity rebrand; oversaw the development of a multi-platform mobile app technology solution with a heavy focus on end-user experience; and led a special task force to establish, adopt, and implement organizational core values. In her time with Urban Gateways she built a robust communications team focused on creative storytelling in order to demonstrate organizational impact to supporters and constituents. Abigail believes in the power of stories to help people connect more deeply with their passions and interests.

Abigail earned a master’s degree in arts management from Columbia College of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Illinois Wesleyan University. She believes in the power of the arts and all variety of creative practices as catalysts for change and growth – both personally and professionally.

Abigail lives in Oak Park with her husband, Hayden, and their three children, Beatrix, Isaac, and Logan. In her spare time she is a vinyasa yoga teacher, is a budding gardener, and makes extravagant cakes for her children’s birthdays.

Erika Mercer serves as the executive director of Booth Entrepreneurship at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she oversees all entrepreneurship programming within Chicago Booth, leading a team of staff in developing co-curricular programs and experiential learning opportunities for MBA students, alumni, and other related constituents. This includes managing the startup, private equity, venture capital, entrepreneurship through acquisition, and small business programs that serve the professional interests of students and alumni. She has been with the Polsky Center since 2010 and, over that time, has led the development and growth of numerous Polsky Center offerings.

Erika brings close to 20 years of experience in higher education, having previously held roles in the international programming offices at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Brown University, where she managed, developed, and promoted study abroad programs worldwide, acted as the primary contact for students, faculty, and staff on site, and provided international training and advising to undergraduates. She served as a member of several international education organizations, including The Forum on Education Abroad and NAFSA: Association of International Educators; was published in Abroad View Magazine and the Bulletin of the American Research Center in Egypt; and presented at national conferences on the topic of cultural and citizen diplomacy. She also interned in the Academic Editorial Department at Oxford University Press, where she assisted editors with the review and preparation of manuscripts for production.

Erika earned a BA, magna cum laude, from Middlebury College and an EdM from Harvard University. She has studied in Spain, Germany, and Egypt.

Amber Bradley, Ed.D., PPS, serves as the associate director, New Venture Challenge (NVC) at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She oversees and grows the NVC and its tracks, expanding the nationally recognized program and the resources available to University of Chicago entrepreneurs.

Amber has come to Chicago from Los Angeles, where she spent the past nine years working at the University of Southern California. Most recently, she held two positions: as assistant director of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) initiatives and as senior academic advisor at USC’s Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for the Arts, Technology and Business of Innovation. In this role, she supported the recruitment and admission initiatives of the Academy, including communication, outreach, interviews, and group presentations, and advised on the school’s recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups at the student, faculty, and staff levels.

Amber is a native of Southern California. She holds a doctorate in education with an emphasis in higher education administration, as well as a master of education in educational counseling and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in school counseling from the USC Rossier School of Education. She also earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) and an associate of arts in liberal arts from Santa Monica College.

Outside of work, Amber loves the beach, dancing, all things Disney, and is a huge foodie. She is looking forward to exploring the food scene in Chicago and welcomes any recommendations!

Paul Cavalieri serves as the senior associate director, small business operations at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Paul manages and builds the educational and experiential offerings in Polsky’s small business portfolio, oversees the Polsky BUILD and LAUNCH Summer Accelerator, supports students interested in closely held and family business, and serves as a resource to local businesses on a variety of operations topics.

Prior to joining Polsky, Paul gained expertise managing a medium-size enterprise at Race Pace Bicycles, a chain of seven bicycle shops in Maryland. Along with running the day to day operations, Paul focused on developing the company’s human resources system and bringing customer relationship management approaches to the marketing communications strategy. Before Race Pace, Paul worked as a third grade teacher at a public elementary school in Brooklyn, NY.

Paul earned an MBA from the University of Colorado, a master of science in education from Long Island University, and a bachelor of arts in journalism and government from American University. In his spare time, Paul enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and son and riding mountain bikes (slowly), playing drums (loudly), and learning Italian (parla un poco).

Megan is the director of the Svider Private Equity Program and in her role manages a portfolio of experiential programs that help students pursuing careers in investing gain access to training and mentorship in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurship through acquisition. The Svider Private Equity Program is the umbrella program that includes all of our PE, VC, and ETA initiatives and utilizes the expertise and resources of the Polsky Center to provide innovative programs that are supported by, and help students access, our broad Booth network.

The Svider Private Equity Program suite includes the Private Equity and Venture Capital (PE/VC) Lab, which offers a firsthand look at private equity through an academic-year internship and academic course; the Sterling Partners Investment Thesis Challenge (SPITC), which provides investment thesis training with mentors at private equity firms; the Private Equity Case Challenge (PECC), a global, intercollegiate case competition held in partnership with Oxford University; and the PE Alumni/Student Coaching program, a mentorship program that matches Booth students pursuing careers in private equity with members of the Polsky Center Private Equity Council and Chicago Booth alumni network for one-on-one mentoring and advising sessions. In addition, Megan manages the annual Chicago Booth Private Equity Conference and the UChicago Private Markets Program, an immersive academic and career-oriented program to educate College students in the private markets through theory, cases, and modeling workshops, and position them to pursue professional opportunities in private equity, private credit, family capital and private markets investing, and investment banking.

Kylie Gilmore serves as the Assistant Director, Student Programs at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Kylie manages a portfolio of programs under the Svider Private Equity Program suite, with a specific focus on Polsky’s Entrepreneurship through Acquisition and Venture Capital programming.

Prior to joining Polsky, Kylie worked as Director of Campus Engagement at Concordia University Chicago where she managed university wide programs including orientation, student organizations, events and more. She has been serving in the Higher Education sector since she was a student herself, bringing almost a decade of experience.

Kylie graduated with her BA in Marketing from the University of Illinois Springfield where she then accepted a job as Assistant Director of Marketing. During her time in this role, she pursed a MA in Communication and in 2019, graduated and relocated to Chicago.

In her spare time, Kylie enjoys spending time with her family back home in Rockford and attending as many live music and comedy events as possible.

Sarah Harris is the Assistant Director, Operations at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Part of the Education and Programming team at the Polsky Center, Sarah focuses on the Center’s business operations, specifically bookkeeping related to procurement and vendor relationships, and expense system management.

Sarah comes to the University of Chicago with over a decade of experience in Operations and Administration, much of which has been in Southern California’s nonprofit sector. Having worked in a wide range of positions and leadership, Sarah holds a deep appreciation for the importance of organizational culture. She is committed to creating operational systems and policies that empower people to focus on their most important work and cultivating a healthy, productive working environment that respects, honors and promotes excellence.

A recent transplant to Chicago, Sarah was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She earned a B.A. in Recreation and Leisure Services at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and enjoys camping, reading, thrifing, and looking for ways to get involved and enjoy her local community.

Heyward Harrison serves as the Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship Programs and Outcomes. In this role, he assists the entrepreneurship programs team in administering a series of student founder-focused educational programs that are designed to bring inspiration and support to prospective entrepreneurs.

He was a student-athlete at UNC Chapel Hill where he was an Olympic Trials qualifier in the Men’s 200M Backstroke. He then moved abroad to Australia where he was a swim instructor for children and adults. His time as a teacher abroad and his experience as a student-athlete were the foundation for his passion for education and the student experience.

Prior to joining Polsky, Heyward lived in Clark, Colorado where he worked for Vista Verde Guest Ranch. He then moved to Chicago and worked as a Client Service Representative for Northern Trust in their Benefit Payments department before embarking on his career in Higher Education with the University of Chicago.

Heyward is passionate about media and devotes much of his free time to film, literature, video games, and music. He is also a huge fan of basketball and his partner Maddie.

Lisa Hearon is the Associate Director of Science Programs and Student Engagement at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 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.

As an 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 with the Museum of Science and Industry’s Fab Lab and held annual spring productions on the University of Chicago campus, earning newsworthy 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 golden-doodle, Nova. She’s also an avid pool player when time permits and is always looking for an opportunity to RACK ‘EM!

Mary Kay Loncar serves as the associate director at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Mary Kay manages the day-to-day operations of the Polsky Center from budget reporting, gift, sponsorship and investment processing, contracts, and logistics. She maintains internal relationships with University of Chicago departments and external partners and considers herself a generalist committed to making sure the students the Center serves and her colleagues have the information and resources they need to do their job. 

Prior to joining Polsky, Mary Kay was an assistant director of marketing at UChicago Medicine, where she did similar work. Having spent time on the other side of the University, she was able to transfer her institutional knowledge to her current role and maintains relationships with former colleagues and contacts across campus. Prior to working the University of Chicago, she worked in advertising, marketing, and corporate communications/production. 

Mary Kay earned a B.S. in journalism from the University of Kansas.  

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in her spare time Mary Kay is interested in travel and spending time with family and friends. She is also working on becoming a much better cook with the support of her ‘foodie’ colleagues. 

Isra Omar, serves as the Senior Assistant Director, at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Isra oversees the Small Business Growth & Financial Fundamentals Program, leading to the expansion and advancement of numerous small businesses. Isra manages a portfolio of initiatives, including promoting the program to attract clients and student consultants, leading the recruitment, selection, and onboarding process, and developing program scope and objectives in collaboration with the Faculty Director, student consultants, and small business clients.

Isra has a strong passion for helping small businesses and the local Chicago community. She volunteered for the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) where she managed the oral recording sessions of its storytellers in partnership with StoryCorps. In recognition of her hard work, Isra was named the first recipient of the Emerging Young Leader Award presented during the 2018 Annual MALA Gala. Isra is a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in accountancy and a minor in Arabic studies.

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.

Makaia Smith serves as the Assistant Director of Events at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She will be supporting the Education and Programs team with the planning and execution of a broad range of in-person and virtual events. Makaia will play a critical role in streamlining the events process as we continue to improve our operational efficiency.

Prior to joining the Polsky Center, Makaia was the Events Coordinator for the Kankakee Public Library and Spotlight Meetings and Events, Inc. In this role, she coordinated in-person and virtual community programs and events with 3,500+ attendees.

Makaia’s education background includes a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design with a minor in Event Management from Central Michigan University.

Juliet Twomey is the Assistant Director of Student Programs at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She supports a variety of programs for students pursuing careers in private equity and venture capital.

Before joining the Polsky team, Juliet led student programming for the non-profit Effective Leadership Academy, encouraging students to develop strong leadership skills. She has engaged with various community organizations, such as Solidarity Bridge, a non-profit improving global health, and worked coordinating resources for students and families with Americorps in Dayton, Ohio. Juliet also has international experience working as an English Language Assistant for a K-12 school and supporting research of APSOCECAT, a non-profit for DeafBlind, both positions located in Barcelona, Spain. Juliet graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in arts & sciences.

In her spare time, Juliet loves traveling, spending time outdoors, painting, and going to concerts.

Kate Turvy is the director, entrepreneurship programs at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where she leads the strategic growth and execution of entrepreneurship initiatives for graduate and undergraduate students, including the New Venture Challenge suite of programs, educational workshops and events, and student mentorship opportunities.

Previously, Kate worked in the K-12 education space—first in school operations at Akili Academy of New Orleans, and later at the Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund). At The Fund, she managed a portfolio of data and policy initiatives to advance school principal’s work across Chicago Public Schools. She helped facilitate several citywide working groups and committees, including the Education Transition Committee for Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2019.  Before her time in the education space, Kate competed as a professional tennis player on the international circuit.

Kate holds a BS in education and social policy from Northwestern University and is currently an MBA candidate at Chicago Booth, expecting to graduate in spring 2025.

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.

Michael Batalia currenty serves as senior director, business development and licensing. Michael leads a Business Development team that negotiates and manages intellectual property (IP) licenses and options, interinstitutional agreements, confidentiality disclosure agreements, and material transfer agreements (outgoing corporate).

Michael was previously a director at Apio Innovation Transfer, where he was responsible for developing and presenting technology transfer and IP training programs on a global scale. He is also the cofounder of Wide-Eyed Technologies, which developed and applied 3D printing technologies for custom manufacturing.

Michael is a UChicago alum, where he earned his A.B. in Chemistry. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduate school, Michael was awarded a Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Postdoctoral Fellowship, and he performed research in the department of microbiology and immunology as well as the department of chemistry at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Ben Cox, PhD, serves as manager of intellectual property and technology development at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He manages a diverse intellectual property portfolio consisting of inventions related to physics, medical imaging, and devices. He has become a key leader for the ongoing development of our quantum sciences technology portfolio and has also made great progress on soliciting and developing medical device inventions from clinical researchers.

Ben has assisted with entrepreneurial programs across the Polsky Center, acting as a coach to early-stage startup companies through the completion of the programs. He also serves as a mentor through the Polsky Exchange, where he advises people from UChicago and the surrounding community on engineering design, fabrication techniques, and intellectual property.

Prior to joining Polsky, Ben was a postdoctoral fellow in the Medical Engineering Group at the Morgridge Institute for Research in Madison, WI, working on novel medical device development with campus area clinicians. During his postdoctoral fellowship, he also served as an associate lecturer in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, teaching undergraduate design courses. He also volunteered on the board of directors for WiSolve Consulting Group, a non-profit business consulting group that trains STEM grad students in business consulting and entrepreneurship, serving a term as their director of operations.

Ben earned his PhD in medical physics from the University of Wisconsin, leveraging his engineering background to design and fabricate hardware for a variety of medical imaging applications. Before graduate school, he helped found a fabrication facility at the Morgridge Institute in Madison as a staff engineer. Additionally, he is an inventor of a novel nuclear medicine imaging phantom and co-founded a startup company to commercialize it. In his spare time, he enjoys learning how to cook new things and spending time with family and friends.

Jack Crewse serves as an Associate Manager of Intellectual Property and Technology Development as part of the Polsky Science and Technology team. In this role, he collaborates with a diverse group of faculty members, focusing on the protection of intellectual property in the fields of computer science and physics.

Before his tenure at Polsky, Jack was engaged as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Argonne National Laboratory’s Center for Nanoscale Materials. His research there centered on exploring new nanomaterials through analytical techniques and high-performance computing simulations. As a graduate student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, he delved into the impact of disorder on quantum phase transitions, employing high-performance Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, Jack spent time as a Visiting Researcher at the University of Regensburg, where he pioneered simulations for terahertz laser interactions with topological insulator materials, providing vital insights for groundbreaking experiments in ultra-fast electron dynamics. He earned his B.S. in Physics from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2015.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Jack is passionate about music and art, enjoys PC gaming, and is a dedicated father.

In his role, Jacob manages patent filing and prosecution for a diverse portfolio of inventions, including those related to chemistry and therapeutics. He also participates in faculty outreach efforts and in assessing new technologies from intellectual property and commercial potential perspectives.

Prior to joining the Polsky Center, Jacob was engaged as a Patent Agent at Haley Guiliano, LLP. His practice focused on preparing and prosecuting patent applications covering a range of life science-related technologies, as well as providing risk assessments for client assets. Jacob earned his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, where his research centered on the development of new synthetic methodologies and preparations of organometallic reagents, as well as the total synthesis of complex molecules.

In his spare time, Jacob enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Anna Dembo, PhD, serves as a manager, intellectual property and technology development, at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She manages patent filings and prosecution for a diverse portfolio, including cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Anna also participates in faculty outreach efforts and in assessing new technologies from intellectual property and commercial potential perspectives.

Prior to joining Polsky, Anna was a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Geoffrey L. Greene, chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago. She also received her doctorate degree at the University of Chicago from the Committee on Cancer Biology. Anna’s research focused on preventing outgrowth of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

In her spare time, Anna enjoys traveling, cooking, and listening to podcasts.

Eric Ginsburg, PhD, serves as the senior director, intellectual property and technology development at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Eric’s team works with faculty and other researchers to move their discoveries and inventions towards the marketplace.

Prior to joining Polsky, Eric worked in research and development at Eastman Kodak and Abbott Laboratories, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the IBM Almaden Research Center.  

Eric earned a SB degree from MIT and a PhD from Caltech, both in Chemistry. His graduate work focused on the synthesis and characterization of soluble electrically conducting polymers. Eric is a registered patent agent and a certified licensing professional.  

In his spare time, Eric enjoys being somewhere like this or this as often as possible.

Steven Gould, MD, serves as the Consulting Director for Polsky Technology Ventures and is responsible for leading the formation and launch of new science-based ventures from University of Chicago faculty research. In this role, he advises faculty founders, engages the investor community, and works closely with leadership.

Steve is the Founder and Principal of The Gould Consulting Group, which provides advisory services to companies, universities and venture investors seeking to develop and capitalize on healthcare innovations in biotechnology and life sciences, devices, diagnostics, and healthcare IT. He is deeply engaged in the Chicago healthcare and entrepreneurial ecosystem. He is a founding member of the Board of Directors for MATTER; chair of the Advisory Board for Point B, a mentoring program formerly called Chicago Innovation Mentors (CIM); and a member of the Bioscience committee of WBC’s ChicagoNEXT. He has also previously served as a judge in the New Venture Challenge and has been an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Polsky Center.

He has in-depth experience raising capital for and investing in early stage companies in both clinical and scientific research in an academic environment, and as an executive for a publicly traded biotechnology company. As the scientific founder and former CEO of Northfield Laboratories, he led the company’s IPO and raised nearly $300 million in both public and private financings. Prior to Northfield, Steve was Chief of Surgery at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center and a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Steve received his BA from Williams College and his MD degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training in surgery at Yale and the University of Vermont, and a research fellowship at Michael Reese and the University of Chicago.

Veronica Haywood-Ragland, DPT, PT, PhD, serves as a manager, intellectual property and technology development, at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She manages patent filings and prosecution for a diverse portfolio from the Biological Sciences Division and works with faculty to develop intellectual property and commercial strategies to move faculty innovations from the bench to the market.

Prior to joining Polsky, Veronica was an Associate Technology Manager for the University of Illinois Chicago, where she was responsible for evaluating, managing, marketing, and licensing intellectual property assets from several departments in the Colleges of Medicine, Applied Health Sciences, Nursing, Public Health, Social Work, and Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Veronica trained in the Center for Tissue Regeneration and Wound Healing and earned her Ph.D. in Oral Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Veronica’s research focused on the molecular and glyco-biological changes associated with pathological wound healing. In addition to her Ph.D., Veronica also holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University.

Veronica has over 10 years of clinical experience working in acute and critical care settings with specialty training in Wound Care, which she uses to support clinical and translational science and commercialization initiatives within the university setting. She is a current member of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), Women in Bio, and the Wound Healing Society. In her spare time, Veronica enjoys providing advisory and consultancy services to a diverse array of companies, serving on organizational committees, gardening, and traveling.

Mike Hinton, PhD, serves as a senior manager, technology marketing, at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Mike’s responsibilities include sourcing industry partners for the commercialization of a diverse portfolio of University intellectual property. He also identifies and monitors market trends and supports optimization of strategies for introducing technologies into the competitive environment.

Mike holds a PhD in microbiology and immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University and conducted research on the hepatotoxic effects of anti-HIV therapeutics under a National Institute of Health fellowship. Prior to joining Polsky, Mike served on the board of directors of Colonial Scientific, a laboratory and medical supplier primarily serving the northeast region.  He also worked as a chemist for Chemtool Incorporated providing technically oriented project management and sales support.  He also volunteered as a technical consultant with the Chicago Inventors Organization working with early stage medical device companies addressing patentability and marketability of inventions.

In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with family, live music shows, and outdoor recreational activities.

Fei Li, Ph.D., serves as a senior manager in venture partnership at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Fei supports science faculty with startup formation and venture capital connections – including managing the Science Commercialization Advisors (SCA) program.

Prior to joining Polsky, Fei worked at ARCH Venture Partners on deal sourcing and due diligence to evaluate investment opportunities in physical and life sciences. Prior to ARCH, Fei was a research engineer at Canon Nanotechnologies, Inc where he developed new materials used in semiconductor lithography applications.

Fei holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of New Mexico, an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and post-doctoral experience from Texas A&M University.

Shyama Majumdar is the director of Science Accelerators and Investments at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she oversees numerous entrepreneurial functions, including domain-specific accelerators in cleantech, data science & AI, and quantum, as well as gap funding mechanisms like the George Shultz Innovation Fund and entrepreneurial programs for students and faculty at the University. Shyama has a proven track record in facilitating the commercialization of early-stage technologies and launching ventures with external investor funding. She excels in building entrepreneurial programs, venture strategy, and fostering relationships with a variety of different stakeholders, including faculty members, VCs, industry executives, and students.

Previously at the Polsky Center, Shyama built and launched the Transform data science and AI accelerator in 2023. Collectively, Shyama has helped raise over $24 million in investor funding for the startups via the different programs she created. She is an advisory board member for 1871 AI Innovation Labs and Markison Patent Portal, and has been actively involved in various speaking and judging engagements within the science and technology community.

Before joining the Polsky Center, Shyama was a research assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where she conducted prostate cancer research. At UIC, she also worked as a program coordinator at IllinoisVENTURES, overseeing the proof-of-concept fund for early-stage technologies developed at the university. Earlier, she served as a consulting program manager at EnterpriseWorks, helping to develop and manage their accelerator program.

In addition to her business acumen, Shyama brings over 10 years of experience as a cancer research scientist. Shyama earned a PhD in Biology and an MBA from the University of Delaware and conducted her postdoctoral research in cancer biology at Harvard Medical School and UIC.

Emily J. McFadden, PhD, serves as manager of business development and licensing at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago.

Prior to joining Polsky, Emily worked at Cooley LLP as a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) registered patent agent. While at Cooley, Emily reviewed freedom-to-operate and landscape analyses, performed due diligence as part of mergers and acquisitions, and completed patent drafting and prosecution.

Emily earned her PhD in Biochemistry from Duke University where she studied long non-coding RNA structure-function relationships in prostate cancer. While at Duke, Emily applied for and received a NIH T32 fellowship through the Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering and completed an internship at BD Genomics in Research Triangle Park, NC as part of the fellowship. After her PhD, Emily completed post-doctoral training at Yale University where she studied ribosome biogenesis and ribosomopathies.

In her free time, Emily enjoys checking out parks and nature trails, finding new music and podcasts, and exploring Chicago.

Kenneth Gayosa Onishi, PhD, serves as manager for business development and licensing at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Ken works with faculty in the Duchossois Family Institute to build partnerships with companies working in the microbiome and helps researchers transform their ideas and discoveries into licenses, products, services, and startups.

Prior to joining Polsky, Ken managed the chronobiology and neuroimmunology laboratory at the Institute for Mind and Biology. He earned his PhD in integrative neuroscience from the University of Chicago and his research focused on circadian rhythms and sex differences in biomedical research. While pursuing his doctoral degree, Ken performed due diligence as a George Schultz Innovation Fund Associate and screened novel University technologies for scientific merit, market size, and consumer adoption.

Ken is dedicated to commercializing microbiome-related technologies to improve health outcomes via therapeutics and diagnostics. In his spare time, Ken enjoys climbing, running outdoors, and experimenting in the kitchen.

Harrison Paul, PhD, serves as an associate manager, technology marketing, at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Harrison’s responsibilities include sourcing industry partners for the commercialization of a diverse portfolio of University intellectual property. He also identifies and monitors market trends and supports optimization of strategies for introducing technologies into the competitive environment.

Prior to joining Polsky, Harrison earned his PhD in molecular engineering from University of Chicago and conducted research on sustainable materials with enhanced transport properties for applications in water purification and biomedical devices. While pursuing his doctoral degree, Harrison performed due diligence as a George Schultz Innovation Fund Associate and screened novel University technologies for scientific merit, market size, and consumer adoption. He also co-founded Oleo Sponge, Inc. to commercialize an oil spill remediation technology from Argonne National Lab.

In his spare time, Harrison enjoys hiking, climbing, and playing tabletop RPGs.

Shane Thomas Peace, PhD, is a manager, intellectual property and technology development, at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He manages patent filings and prosecution for a diverse set of faculty from the Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. In addition, Shane participates in faculty outreach efforts and in assessing new technologies from intellectual property and commercial potential perspectives.

Prior to joining Polsky, Shane was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago’s Institute for Mind and Biology, where he researched the role of cortical feedback in the olfactory system during odor discrimination tasks using electrophysiological and optogenetic tools. Shane earned a PhD in neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University where he used a microelectrode array and optogenetics to study neural synchronization mechanisms that coordinate coherent oscillations in the olfactory bulb. Shane earned a BA in psychology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

In his free time, Shane enjoys low and slow barbeque, listening to the Mississippi delta blues, and spending time in the great outdoors.

Dr. Charlie Shaw assumes the role of Associate Director of Business Development and Licensing with a rich tapestry of experience and expertise. Driven by his passion for bridging the gap between academia and industry, Dr. Shaw held roles focused on technology commercialization. He previously worked as a technology licensing manager at prominent institutions such as the Moffitt Cancer Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest Innovation.  Notably, he played a pivotal role in promoting commercial opportunities for innovations spanning oncology, medical devices, engineering, and nanotechnology, while also aiding multiple university start-ups and consulting for angel investment funds such as Resilient Ventures.

Following his tenure in commercialization licensing, Dr. Shaw worked with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, where he managed partnerships and contracts, further broadening his expertise in the intersection of science, business, and law.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr. Shaw is deeply committed to community activism. He worked tirelessly to raise awareness of prostate cancer risk in Southside Chicago and promote STEM education in primary schools in NC. His involvement in various community organizations and initiatives, including National Urban League, MudPies Child Development Centers, Kappa League for young males and the Bethesda Center for the Homeless, reflects his dedication to social impact and diversity advocacy.

Dr. Shaw earned his BS from Davidson College, PhD from Duke University and gained post-doctoral experience within the University of Chicago.

Rahul Singal is a Program Manager at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, where he manages accelerator programming for pre-seed startups in Cleantech, Quantum, and AI/Data sectors. He also contributes to strategic initiatives and special projects for the Booth School of Business, including expanding deep tech accelerators globally from Chicago to Delhi and Paris.

Prior to Polsky, Rahul spent over five years working in technology and innovation, primarily at Accenture, where he worked across North America and Europe as part of the Enterprise Startup Partnerships and Corporate Venture Capital group. He led collaborations with emerging startups which drove over $50M in services revenue. His work spanned frontier technologies such as Space Tech, AI, and Quantum Computing, where he played a central role in structuring partnerships, negotiating licensing agreements, and developing joint go-to-market strategies with Microsoft and other key partners.

Rahul holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Washington State University, where he was an Engineering and Entrepreneurship Scholar. A technologist at heart, he holds certifications in Microsoft Azure and enjoys AI engineering, full stack development, and creative writing. Whether collaborating with founders or building new tools, Rahul thrives at the intersection of innovation, business, and technology.

Narayan Subramanian currently serves as senior manager, Intellectual Property and Technology Development at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago. In this role, he closely collaborates with our Technology Development team to identify faculty members whose research might benefit from advanced inventing sessions. He also assists in identifying opportunities to commercialize their research.

Before joining our team, Narayan worked at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where he held various positions, most recently as the Technology Head for Satellite Remote Sensing. At TCS, he led a group that provided various intellectual property (IP) services to the organization, including patent analysis, ensuring freedom to operate, providing training, and managing licensing. Prior to TCS, Narayan gained experience in IP management during his eleven-year tenure at General Electric (GE), where he worked in various technology domains. At GE, he managed the IP Portfolio for the GE battery division and was actively involved in risk mitigation strategies. Throughout his two decades of experience, he has played a pivotal role in guiding strategic innovation, nurturing inventions to maturity, and conducting competitive analysis.

Narayan holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in design thinking and innovation. Additionally, he is a registered patent agent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Outside of work, Narayan enjoys taking long walks, playing chess, and is a meditation instructor.

Han Sun, PhD, CLP, is assistant director of Business Development and Licensing at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, Han works closely with innovators, research teams, and industry partners to facilitate strategic collaborations, licensing opportunities, and commercialization pathways that translate academic research into impactful products, services and ventures. Han is also the primary contact for technology commercialization initiatives at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Han holds a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is a registered U.S. patent agent and a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP), bringing together deep scientific training and expertise in intellectual property and technology transfer. Han is committed to fostering innovation ecosystems where academic excellence and industry collaboration converge to drive licensing and commercialization.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading and gardening.

Anna Wislocki, PhD, serves as the associate director of accelerators and investments at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She supports the quantum, clean tech and data and AI accelerator programs where she is responsible for managing a portfolio of new and existing programs, events, and scientific initiatives. Anna joins the team of individuals working on programs and partnerships at the intersection of deep tech and entrepreneurship.

Prior to joining Polsky, Anna was a lead researcher for a number of STEM projects focused on education, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She collaborated with both the University of Illinois at Chicago and Chicago Public Schools to build chemistry curriculum that helps students learn chemistry through building connections between the subject matter and their daily lives. Anna has experience working closely with faculty, researchers, graduate students, college students and high school students through her professional and academic work.

Anna holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds a master of science in chemistry from University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor of science in biology from University of St. Francis.

Anna is dedicated to fostering and engaging the community in science while facilitating a path of learning which generates and proves opportunity that will lead to the successful fulfilment of one’s professional goals in life. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, exercising and spending time with family and friends.

Abigail Ingram is executive director of the Polsky Exchange, a 34,000-square-foot incubator space that leads the Polsky Center’s engagement with the South Side community through programs and initiatives that support local business owners and entrepreneurs. Abigail is passionate about the role of entrepreneurship as a pathway to opportunity and the importance of measuring impact.

Prior to joining the Polsky Center, Abigail launched the Women in Entrepreneurship Institute (WEI) at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, and served as its inaugural director for three years. While at WEI, the nation’s first comprehensive institute for women founders, Abigail designed and proved a model that measurably increases economic empowerment for entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur herself, Abigail also taught courses at Driehaus in Entrepreneurship Law, Entrepreneurship Strategy, and Women Entrepreneurs.

She launched her first venture, a music studio in Denver, Colorado, in 2009, and spent four years exploring sustainable business models for creative entrepreneurs. Abigail is a practicing attorney who founded and runs a boutique law firm that provides legal counsel to entrepreneurs.

Abigail  earned her J.D. and an M.A. in English from DePaul University. She went to undergrad at Eastern Illinois University, where she also studied English.

Barbara Agyapong serves as the Program Manager at Polsky Exchange. She manages community-facing programs and completes research on program effectiveness. She is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, managing and evaluating daily operations of various Polsky Exchange programs.

Barbara advocates for social justice, inclusivity and development, with a passion for social innovation and a commitment to fostering positive economic and social change. Throughout her career, she has worked across sectors, from academia to the non-profit world and corporate environments, consistently delivering impactful results, developing strategies, fostering partnerships and driving community development. As an ENACTUS alumnus, she has been actively involved in empowering communities and fostering collaboration on a global scale.

Prior to joining Polsky, Barbara worked in Social Impact at Wright-Patt Credit Union, Ohio managing the organizations DE&I programs whilst assisting them in achieving their Corporate Social Responsibilities through policies that promote transformation and drives community development. These experiences have equipped her with a global perspective and a deep understanding of effective policy and program implementation.

Barbara holds an MA in International and Comparative Politics from Wright State University, Ohio and a BA in Political Science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Dania Baig serves as the Associate Director for Events and Facilities at the Polsky Center. In her role, she plays a pivotal role in optimizing the usage of the Polsky Exchange, a multidisciplinary co-working space and business incubator, through marketing, liaising, and day-to-day oversight. Dania’s role is instrumental in fostering revenue growth for the Exchange by actively promoting available spaces to potential users while ensuring all compliance and safety standards are maintained.

Dania has always been passionate about serving Chicagoans and fostering economic growth in the city. Prior to joining the Polsky Center, she interned with the City of Chicago where she supported the reopening of Chicago’s Small Business Centers, along with the opening of eight new locations, after the Covid lockdown. She also volunteers at FORA (Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America), where she tutors and counsels refugees ages 6-18 to help them create lasting connections and achievements in the city.

Dania is a graduate of Yale University, where she performed with and managed the Yale Whiffenpoofs, and earned a degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics.

Vince Beachum is Senior Program Manager and Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director at Polsky Exchange.  In this role, Vince is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Center, day-to-day operations, including one-on-one advising, strategic business & feasibility planning, business development, financial analysis & modeling, accessing capital, market research and education & training to new and existing business owners.  Vince also focuses on community outreach, works closely with community organizations, businesses and industry leaders in effort to align resources, initiatives and training.

Vince is a Desert Storm Veteran and has over 20 years of experience working for Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric and John Deere, where he led multiple business units in operations optimization, cost reduction, profit maximization and strategic growth.  After leaving the corporate world, Vince spent 12 years as owner of several small businesses, including a mechanical engineering company and logistics & distribution franchise.  Prior to joining Polsky Exchange, Vince worked as an Illinois and Indiana SBDC Business Advisor.  He is also an adjunct professor for the City Colleges of Chicago where he teaches in the Business and Supply Chain Management disciplines.

Vince earned his B.S. in Process Management from Franklin University and an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.  Vince is a golf enthusiast, comedy buff and audio books fanatic.

Amelia Salter is the Director, Corporate Advisory & Sponsorships for Polsky Deep Tech Ventures. In this role, she is responsible for engaging with corporate and philanthropic partners in support of DTV’s portfolio of accelerators and other programs.

Amelia brings extensive experience building strategic partnerships and programs across both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining Polsky, she worked with a boutique marketing agency to develop comprehensive marketing and communications strategies for Fortune 500 and startup clients in healthcare, life sciences, and MedTech. Previously, she served as Senior Director of Programs at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, where she managed a portfolio of programs and initiatives that provided educational content, resources, and business services to Chicago’s business community. Before joining the Chamber, Amelia spent nearly four years with the University of Illinois System’s Office of Economic Development and Innovation forging new partnerships to connect the university’s R&D assets, faculty, students, and alumni with diverse stakeholders across the state.

Amelia holds a master’s in business administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor of arts in communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She currently serves on the associate board of Chicago:Blend, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in Chicago’s venture capital and startup community. In her spare time, Amelia enjoys traveling, reading, and trying out new recipes.

Abigail Prescott serves as the Executive Director of Marketing & Communications for the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she leads the Polsky Center’s internal and external messaging strategies to amplify the brand of the center and advance awareness of the broad suite of entrepreneurship programs available to students, alumni, faculty, and research partners, as well as the University of Chicago’s technology commercialization efforts and bolstering community engagement at through the Polsky Exchange.

Abigail holds over a decade of experience in external communications strategies and implementation. She brings experience in creative storytelling, targeted messaging, and brand identity to this role. Most recently, she held the position of Chief Communications Officer at Urban Gateways where she managed and launched an organizational visual identity rebrand; oversaw the development of a multi-platform mobile app technology solution with a heavy focus on end-user experience; and led a special task force to establish, adopt, and implement organizational core values. In her time with Urban Gateways she built a robust communications team focused on creative storytelling in order to demonstrate organizational impact to supporters and constituents. Abigail believes in the power of stories to help people connect more deeply with their passions and interests.

Abigail earned a master’s degree in arts management from Columbia College of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Illinois Wesleyan University. She believes in the power of the arts and all variety of creative practices as catalysts for change and growth – both personally and professionally.

Abigail lives in Oak Park with her husband, Hayden, and their three children, Beatrix, Isaac, and Logan. In her spare time she is a vinyasa yoga teacher, is a budding gardener, and makes extravagant cakes for her children’s birthdays.

Alonna Dray serves as the associate director of digital marketing and communications at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she drives digital strategy to promote Polsky’s programs and mission, managing social media channels, email marketing, and audience engagement initiatives.

Prior to joining Polsky, Alonna served as assistant director of digital communications in Alumni Relations and Development at the University of Chicago. In that role, she developed and executed social media strategies for major events such as Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. 

Before joining UChicago, Alonna served as communications director for Arts Council Oklahoma City, promoting community arts programs and building relationships with local partners. She also worked as a program associate at Inasmuch Foundation, where she supported strategic planning and led focus groups with community leaders. However, Alonna’s career began as a middle school art teacher with Oklahoma City Public Schools, where she developed curricula and served in leadership roles, including elective chair and faculty advisory committee member. This diverse background in education, the arts, and communications has strengthened her ability to connect with a wide range of audiences and implement creative, results-driven strategies.

Alonna holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Arts Education and Studio Art from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Professional Master’s in TESOL from the University of Oklahoma. In her spare time, Alonna enjoys painting, attending the theatre, and exploring nerdy hobbies like D&D, Harry Potter, and Star Wars. She is also the proud pet parent of two three-legged cats.

Melissa Fassbender serves as the senior associate director, external relations and science communications at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she works closely with the Science and Technology team to highlight translational research, IP-based startups, among other groundbreaking innovation and new technologies from across the University. She also is responsible for planning and managing all logistics for external brand-building opportunities and events, engaging with campus partners, media outlets, and external organizations in the entrepreneurial, science, technology, and business community.

Prior to joining Polsky, Melissa was an editor at Xconomy where she wrote about innovation in the biotech space. Before this, she held the same title at Outsourcing-Pharma, a global publication focused on drug development and clinical trials. She also was the editor of an online and print magazine dedicated to design engineering.

Melissa earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas, where she majored in literary studies and minored in communications and journalism.

Melissa is interested in old books, modern art, and coffee in any form.

Darwin Minnis serves as the associate director of media relations and external communications at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role he is responsible for leading, developing, and implementing comprehensive public relations programs and content strategies focused on generating media coverage for the Polsky Center.

Before joining Polsky, Darwin worked at Fortune Brands Innovations, a home and security products company, where he led external communication strategies and media relations for the company. Prior to this, he spent six years at Navistar, a commercial truck and bus manufacturer, where he was responsible for vocational product and bus communications.

Darwin earned his bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University, where he majored in Journalism and minored in Marketing.

Darwin is passionate about storytelling, video production and creating music.

Jessy Tapper Derleth, AM ’15, serves as the senior writer and content manager at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is primarily responsible for writing the Polsky Weekly 10, a weekly email newsletter that shares the most relevant and exciting news in Polsky’s ecosystem to upwards of 25,000 subscribers from around the world every Friday. 

 Prior to joining Polsky, Jessy worked as a copywriter for a comprehensive marketing agency, helping to shape the voice and experiential language for a variety of household brand names, from Sour Patch Kids and Wheat Thins to United Airlines and the U.S. Army.  

Jessy earned her master’s degree in humanities from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University where she graduated cum laude with highest honors in English. 

Outside of her work with the Polsky Center, Jessy spends most of her time writing for other mediums, currently trying her hand at fiction. In her spare time, she loves reading a good (and sometimes bad) book, yoga, learning to cook, NFL RedZone, and her adorable French bulldog pup named Hank. 

As a Patent Docketing Administrator, Kim supports administrative processes related to technology commercialization, including coordinating and overseeing the activities, reports, and filings associated with the patent prosecution journey.

Prior to joining Polsky, they managed operations for a curatorial department at the Art Institute of Chicago, with a focus on interdepartmental relationship-building within the institution. Kim has a background in classical languages and literature with undergraduate and graduate degrees both from the University of Chicago.

In their spare time, they enjoy knitting and training regularly on aerial rope, straps, and handbalancing.

Beatriz Gonzalez is the executive assistant for Bill Payne, executive director for science and technology at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She support executive administrative functions and special projects for the technology commercialization and operations teams.

Prior to working at the Polsky Center, Beatriz spent a dozen years as an assistant at a law firm in the West Loop. She enjoys working on projects at home, revamping spaces and creating new ideas.

YaQuavia (Yaya) Gooden is the Compliance Manager at the Polsky Center. Yaya will support Polsky’s compliance strategy, by optimizing invention reporting for technologies spawned from federal grants and sponsored research agreements, in partnership with the Polsky Technology Development and Data Management teams. Yaya will also manage a strategic grant compliance initiative with the Office of University Research Administration (URA) ahead of introducing a PI compliance education program. 

Prior to joining the Polsky Center, Yaya held several roles in compliance and contracts management at the Chicago Housing Authority and CVR Associates. She is well known in Chicago compliance for thorough asset audits that align internal procedures with federal and state regulatory policies. Yaya earned a master’s in public administration from the Keller School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting from Columbia College of Chicago. 

Yaya is driven by being able to utilize her knowledge of compliance to help departments grow and understand how what they process effects other departments. In her spare time she is a basketball mom, enjoys to cook and spend time with her family.

Shakira Jones is the disclosure administrator at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She manages invention disclosure, patenting, and license agreement data and processes. Shakira brings to the team a strong background in customer relations and administration. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with her church’s food pantry, and has worked with Habitat for Humanity in Louisiana to rehabilitate homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

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Jan Lach serves as a Data Manager for the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, Jan leads data governance, systems optimization and special projects to support technology commercialization.

Prior to joining Polsky, Jan served as senior assistant director, data management at UChicago Alumni Relations and Development office, where she engineered data-driven databases to improve alumni and donor engagement activities and transformed the Harper Lecture Series reporting and analytics.

Jan earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from UC Irvine and a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University. In her free time, Jan enjoys learning new skills and trekking the world to find the best street food.

Renee Lowers serves as a financial analyst at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Renee supports the finance team with a particular focus on financial maintenance of license agreements and related royalty reporting, accounts receivable, and revenue distribution.

Prior to joining Polsky, Renee worked at Fidelity Investments in Westlake Texas. During her time at Fidelity, Renee worked on the Transfer of Assets and International Settlements team as a senior representative where she assisted clients in transferring numerous assets from their brokerage accounts at competitive firms to their accounts with Fidelity. In addition to her transactional responsibilities, Renee created training materials and onboarded new associates.

Renee earned a bachelor’s degree in finance at Howard University located in Washington, D.C.

Outside of work, Renee enjoys music, video games, cooking, and traveling. She is looking forward to exploring the food scene in Chicago and seeing all the activities the city has to offer.

Teana Stocco supports the patent and licensing portfolio as licensing administrator. She also helps to manage the team’s relationships with several University and non-University organizations including University Research Administration, the University of Chicago Investment Office, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Prior to joining Polsky, Teana worked for several law firms in the areas of litigation, personal injury, and employment law.

Teana received her bachelor’s in science degree in legal studies from Grand Valley State University, and a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. Teana resides in the near west suburbs with her husband and three daughters.