Matthew Marquardt

What attracted you to the Keller Center?

My freshman fall, I got rejected from every freshman seminar that I had applied to. While looking for a fourth class I stumbled onto Creativity, Innovation and Design with Professor Sheila Pontis. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect but ended up loving every second of the course. I really enjoy how the Keller Center and the Entrepreneurship Certificate encourages applied thinking and problem solving through a human-centric approach. I feel that this approach has been invaluable in all aspects of my life.

How have you benefited from your involvement with the Keller Center?

The faculty is certainly the Keller Center’s greatest asset. I have learned so much from the various professors and my advisors in the Keller Center. They have challenged me to view the world differently, adopt humility while solving problems, be an active listener, and much more. Without them, my Princeton experience would look very different.

What are your academic or career goals?

I want to have an impact and improve people’s lives through work in health or sustainability. While the method is still very much being determined, the mission is the same: to help others. Every problem is an opportunity to create a solution. I hope that my studies in Chemistry and Entrepreneurship will prepare me to address some of our global challenges and to make a difference.