What are your responsibilities at the Keller Center?
I lead the eLab Accelerator and Incubator programs, which are designed to help students build their own startup ventures at Princeton. I also co-teach eLab Community Project Studios, a full-year course in which entrepreneurial students learn how to introduce value-creating products and services into real world settings. Outside of eLab, I meet and advise students on first steps and connect them to a broad network of seasoned mentors and advisors, faculty, and potential investors. I am always looking to connect with individuals who are willing to lend their time and expertise to Princeton's budding entrepreneurs, whether it be in the form of mentorship, office hours, workshops, or lectures.
What do you appreciate most about the Keller Center?
I have been with the Keller Center since 2006, and it has been a privilege to watch so many talented students pass through our doors over the years. I appreciate working in such a dynamic and creative environment where students of all majors and disciplines can come together to create something that has the potential to change our increasingly complex world. The Keller Center is a place where students have the freedom to explore new pathways and pursue their dreams, and I am lucky to be a part of it.
What advice would you have for students about getting involved at the Keller Center?
I receive frequent inquiries from students looking to create a startup but they don’t know where to begin. I enjoy sitting down with them to discuss their options and one of the first things I ask is if they have taken any entrepreneurship or design courses. I also recommend that they explore the startup world by doing a Keller Center-sponsored internship. Of course I encourage them to apply to eLab, but I also explain that getting involved in a variety of Keller programs will give them a broader set of tools with which to build their startup venture.