As the program manager for the Nebraska I-Corps program, she serves as the key liaison with the Great Lakes I-Corps Hub, of which UNL is a member. In this capacity, Joy recruits participants for customer discovery programs offered locally, regionally and nationally. She also serves as the lead instructor for the local program, Nebraska I-Corps: Introduction to Customer Discovery.

In addition to leading these efforts, she is working to expand the current entrepreneurship training that NUtech offers to campus researchers, such as workshops, social events, and sharing resources with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Joy is especially enthusiastic about helping graduate students enhance their professional development, self-confidence and sense of belonging through NUtech’s entrepreneurship training and connections with the broader startup community.

Prior to transitioning to this position, Joy worked as the Operations Manager at NUtech for several years, managing the intern program and focusing on events and outreach. She has also gained experience in higher education in the Dean’s Office at UNL’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Research and Enterprise Directorate at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. At Queen’s, Joy coordinated several innovation and entrepreneurship programs, worked with industry partners, and developed events and publications to showcase university research.

Joy has a bachelor’s degree in international studies and English from UNL, as well as a master’s degree in English from Queen’s University Belfast. Outside of work, Joy loves to travel and visit museums. When sticking close to home, she enjoys reading, dining with friends and entertaining two spirited cats.