Reflections on 2023

As we step into 2024, let's revisit some standout moments from the year we leave behind. 

Growth was a recurring theme last year. Noteworthy additions to our team brought fresh perspectives, fostering expansion in opportunities and programming. 

Tad Hirsch joined the Center as our Kenan Visiting Professor and plans on guiding students through advancing technology's social and ethical complexities in his Critical Design Studio.

Alice Kogan infused creativity into our fall semester with her expertise in the Creativity, Innovation, and Design course, giving students a space to strengthen their creativity muscles and use them to address mental health challenges on campus. 

Ben Lehnert, now our Entrepreneurship and Design Fellow, has been instrumental in guiding student entrepreneurs through the hurdles of designing viable, impactful solutions within our eLab program. 

Business Operations Administrator Rhonette Smith swiftly became an essential part of the Digital Media and Communications team, introducing innovative technologies and accessibility practices.

Our newest member of the Keller team is multifaceted program coordinator Mark Simeon, who supports our makerspace lab, oversees the Program in Institutional and Historical Racism, and coordinates the Princeton Startup Immersion Program, expanding our opportunities to include a new location in Bengaluru, India last summer.

While celebrating new additions, we also had to bid farewell to valued colleagues. A beloved faculty member, John Danner, retired after a decade of shaping students' understanding of social entrepreneurship. 

Keith Hollingsworth concluded his successful stint teaching Black Entrepreneurial History but remains a valuable consultant for our Program in Institutional and Historical Racism. 

Our former Makerspace manager, Castle Kim, departed after reimagining and growing our Makerspace Lab into a cutting-edge creativity hub.

Speaking of growth, our Design for Innovation program directors, Manish Bhardwaj and Nena Golubovic, have offered the first of Keller's innovation grants to six phenomenal teams of Princeton researchers. Their program will move breakthrough ideas from the lab into the marketplace, where they can positively impact real-world problems.

In summary, 2023 marked a year of evolution for the Keller Center. We're grateful for the community support, enabling us to empower innovators to create meaningful impact. We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing our mission in 2024.