Meet Our Student Leaders
Our Student Leaders represent a select group of undergraduate and graduate students that are passionate about driving innovation forward and translating academic research outcomes into impact. Upon completion of our programs, our students are successfully positioned at the intersection of academia, industry, and entrepreneurship with intentionality around developing their knowledge, skills, and networks in the innovation space. Though our leaders are gaining experience in different teams within our office, they serve as connectors between these teams through collaborative projects and professional development trainings. Our Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program provides undergraduate students with a solid introduction to innovation and the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program helps graduate students drive innovation and transform ideas into impactful real-world solutions.
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Abby Brady
Launch Blue Marketing and Communications Ambassador
Integrated Strategic Communication & Sports Communication major | Senior
Launch Blue since August 2024
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Alexia Alsum
Commercialization Ambassador at UK Innovate
PhD Candidate at University of Kentucky
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Beatriz Heringer
Launch Blue Marketing and Communications Ambassador
Marketing Major | Freshman
Launch Blue since February 2025
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Catherine Fullen
UK Innovate Student Associate, Marketing and Communications
Business major | Senior
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Christopher Whitley
UK Innovate Marketing & Communications Fellow
Marketing Research & Analytics & Business Administration major | Graduate Student
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Daniel Walters
Launch Blue Marketing and Communications Ambassador
Business Management major | Senior
Launch Blue since December 2023
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Emersyn Acomb
UK Innovate Student Associate, Marketing and Communications
Marketing & Economics major | Senior
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Eva Blankenberger
Launch Blue Marketing and Communications Ambassador
Management & Marketing major | Junior
Launch Blue since February 2025
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Jack Hughes
Ventures Ambassador
Finance major |Senior
Invest Blue since May 2024
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Jaden Edelen
UK Innovate Student Associate, Marketing and Communications
Integrated Strategic Communications major | Freshman
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Kevin Okeyo
UK Innovate Social Innovation Entrepreneurial Leader
Finance | Graduate Student
UK Innovate, Social Innovation since February 2025
Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
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Madison Bates
Launch Blue Entrepreneurial Leader
UAccel Quick Start + Regional I-Corps Program
Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Candidate
Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
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Madison Clark
Invest Blue Marketing and Communications Ambassador
Finance & Accounting major | Senior
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Makenzie Purdom
Integrated Strategic Communication | Senior
Incoming J.D. Candidate | UK Rosenberg College of Law
Launch Blue June 2022 to August 2024; Returned April 2025
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Maximillian LeDoux
Social Innovation, Commercialization and Innovation Leader
Finance major | Freshman
UK Innovate, Social Innovation since January 2025
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Sam Howlett
Commercialization Ambassador at UK Innovate
Aerospace Engineering major | Junior
UKI Commercialization since April 2024
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program
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Yasmin Affini
Launch Blue Marketing and Communications Ambassador
Data Science and Statistics major | Sophomore
Launch Blue since February 2025
Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program