Staff
Jody Emmings
Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Idea Lab
Pronouns: she/her
Library 266
[email protected]
651-696-6326
Jody Emmings designs strategies related to all entrepreneurial initiatives and the Idea Lab. She is driven by a curiosity and believes courage and relationships precede all innovation. Jody collaborates with students, faculty, colleagues, local founders and alumni across the globe creating work that spans from high-level strategy to program design to workshopping hope with pipe cleaners in the Idea Lab. Her favorite part of her job though is supporting students to test and build their most audacious ideas. A certified welder and visual artist, Jody owns a small business called Hot House Metal where she creates custom architectural metalwork. On her off time, Jody is most in flow when surrounded by nature with her partner and four kids and hand sewing micro-quilts while watching the English Premier League.
Briana Riley
Department Coordinator Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Idea Lab
Pronouns: she/her
Library 267
[email protected]
651-696-6501
Briana facilitates all Idea Lab activities. She is the go to person for scheduling space and working with the student staff to create a welcoming environment that encourages innovation, creativity, collaboration and joy. Briana graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a degree in Global Studies and an emphasis on governance, peace, and justice. Prior to joining Macalester, Briana worked at the YWCA St. Paul in programs designed to empower individuals and families experiencing deep racial and gender disparities. In her free time Briana is energized by traveling with her husband and two children, working in her organic vegetable garden, and spending time with friends and family.
Linda Seebauer Hansen
Communications and Engagement Specialist, Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Idea Lab
Pronouns: she/her
Library 229
[email protected]
651-696-6516
Linda Seebauer Hansen brings over ten years of experience serving in communication and marketing to philanthropic roles leading a variety of activities – programs, campaigns, grant writing, strategic planning, and recruiting and developing volunteers and Boards, for two Twin Cities based small nonprofit arts organizations. Prior to that she was the Metals Department Head at the Worcester Center for Crafts, MA, where she was awarded the Barrett Morgan Award for exemplary leadership and teaching. She received an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and BA from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with an emphasis in Public History. She is an Individual Artist grant recipient from the Wisconsin State Arts Board and has been a practicing studio and teaching artist, and entrepreneur for over twenty years. She enjoys sharing innovative and 21st century material and design studies with all-level of students, exhibition audiences, and collaborative partners. She enjoys being creative and curious.
Erik Halass
Program Manager
Pronouns: he/his
Library 229
[email protected]
651-696-6540
Erik Halaas manages all things E & I Programming – from 24 hour Macathon sprints to intensive summer programs. Erik is an avid connector of people, programs, resources, and ideas and has a passion for supporting folks in exploring, refining, and bringing abstract ideas to life. Erik has over a decade of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating novel programming in the areas of youth development, public health, student innovation and entrepreneurship. A recent FINNOVATION Fellow, Erik is exploring the possibilities of introducing sustainable alternatives to cremation and conventional burial to the state of Minnesota. In his free time, you can find Erik biking and hiking around the Mississippi river or knee deep in creative projects with his two kids.
Organizational Chart (pdf)
Ali Alizadeh ’85
Entrepreneur in Residence & Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics
Ali Alizadeh is a Principal and a co-founder of Hemisphere. Prior to co-founding Hemisphere, Mr. Alizadeh was a managing director at RBC Capital Markets. Mr. Alizadeh directs the firm’s development and investment efforts as well as managing the firm’s institutional and business relationships. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Alizadeh was instrumental in arranging nearly $1 billion of senior and subordinated debt for the gaming and hospitality industry. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Alizadeh was Senior Vice President in the Corporate Finance Department of Jefferies and Company, Inc. Prior to joining Jefferies, Mr. Alizadeh spent two years as a Managing Director at RBC Dain Rauscher and five years at Miller and Schroeder Financial, Inc. Mr. Alizadeh has also held corporate finance positions at Citicorp, N.A., in Chicago and New York. Mr. Alizadeh holds a B.A. in economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business in Rochester, New York.
Allan Martinez Venegas ’14
Entrepreneur in Residence & Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Allan Martinez, an applied anthropology and human-centered design specialist, has extensive experience tackling global social challenges. Projects include recruiting Ebola treatment unit staff in Liberia, addressing mosquito-borne diseases in rural Panama, and launching public-private partnerships in Nigeria. Allan’s research work includes understanding COVID-19 and HPV vaccine hesitancy in Kenya, identifying safeguarding and protection risks in humanitarian operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, and tackling causes of school attrition in Liberia. With a strong teaching background, Allan is a trainer and facilitator for research teams worldwide. He instructs at the University of Turin and the United Nations International Training Center of the ILO, teaching in the Master’s in Social Innovation for Sustainable Development, Master’s of Technology and Public Policy, and the Master’s in Development Management. Additionally, Allan is a teaching team member at IDEO, a premier Human-Centered Design firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Anthropology with a concentration in Human Rights and Humanitarianism from Macalester College and a master’s degree in Social Innovation for Sustainable Development from the University of Turin and the United Nations International Training Center of the ILO.
Megan Butler
Sustainability Director & Professor of Sustainability Design Lab course
Megan received a Masters in Development Practice and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Science and Management from the University of Minnesota. Her dissertation research focused on community-based natural resource management. She is passionate about creating bridges between research and practice through her work and brings experience with international development, renewable energy transition, governance, environmental education and conservation to her role as Sustainability Director. In her free time she enjoys distance running and volunteers as an english/spanish interpreter. Stop by the Sustainability Office to introduce yourself to Megan and talk about sustainability topics that excite you!
E&I/Idea Lab Student Staff
Zai Spencer Hi, I’m Zai and I’m from Cambridge, England. I am class of 2028, and I have not decided my major. I am interested by politics, languages, philosophy and religion. I love sports (badminton, football (soccer), and running) and reading too. I am into analogue and digital photography too, so I am excited to work in the department to engage and practice my creativity and editing skills.
Ava Ortiz
Hi! I’m Ava (they/them). I’m from Chicago, currently undeclared, and a part of the class of 2027. I personally love that the Idea Lab serves as a space that facilitates creative expression in students and often helps provide a break from the regular academic pace.
Pablo Jimenez
My name is Pablo, and I am an Environmental Studies major with a Portuguese minor in the class of 2027 here at Mac. I’m from La Paz, Bolivia, and I enjoy working in the Idea Lab because of the opportunities it offers students like me to bring our creative ideas to life using the diverse range of materials available.
Jocelyn Cottrell
Hi there, I’m Jocelyn! I’m a psychology and philosophy major graduating in 2026. I’m from Richmond, Virginia, and in my free time I love to draw, embroider, and read. I can’t wait to see what beautiful things people make in the Idea Lab this year!
Alex Parr
My name is Alex Parr (she/her). I am from St. Paul and I grew up in Sri Lanka. I am majoring in Geology and ES. I love crafting and creating, especially anything to do with sewing, embroidery, crochet, and glue guns!
Elena Ortiz Fishman
Hi my name is Elena, and I am a sophomore! I use she/her pronouns and am planning on majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish! I am from St. Louis Park, MN and I love anything creative, listening to music, biking or doing anything outdoors. I chose to work at the Idea Lab because I love working with other people and art is super fun!
Callum Booth
Heyo, my name is Cal! I am a biochemistry major class of ’27, from Berkeley, CA. I love to spend time in the Idea Lab sewing, and I hope to help organize and build this creative space we all share! On top of crafting, I love to get outside for mountain biking, as well as finding fun spaces on campus to game with friends.
Pema Dolker Hi! I’m Pema and a junior chemistry major (bio chem emphasis) from Mlps. I love comics(both reading and making them) and being able to meet new people and other creatives in the Idea Lab area. 🙂
Laurice Jimu
Hi I’m Laurice Jimu ’27. I’m a Zimbabwean majoring in CS and Economics. I enjoy looking for problems and solving them. The best part about the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department are the various programmes we have that support students who want to make a difference and change things for example the Zia and Priti Innovation and Impact Fund or MacStartups
Akshat Koirala
My name is Akshat Koirala (he/him). I am a junior at MAC from Nepal. I enjoy motorbiking, playing my guitar and cooking momos when I have time. This summer I had the privilege of working with the E&I department for MACNEST and I love the staff, the programs and the themed events our E&I hosts to make everything colorful and more fun. I want to be amazing and the best way to do that is to work with amazing people. Excited !!
Jaelyn Kombiyil
Hello! My name is Jaelyn (she/her) and I’m a sophomore Philosophy and Classics major from Bangalore and New York City. In my free time I love to write, play music, and debate. I’m so excited to continue working in the E&I Department since it’s such a lovely environment full of really cool people!
Mila Petit
Hi my name is Mila (she/they)! I’m a sophomore from Washington majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Critical Theory. I love mending and making clothing and the Idea lab helps me express my creativity.
Leovigildo Lorenzo
Hi y’all, My name is Leovigildo Lorenzo and I am a current Sophomore graduating in 2027! I am from Oakland, CA and I love to hang out with my friends! What I appreciate about the Idea Lab is that I’m getting vital skills in teamwork and problem solving.
Daisy Chan
Hi!! I’m Daisy from Hong Kong and I’m a Sophmore CS major and professional orange lover. I like to collect silly trinkets and jewelry, and I love that the idea lab is an absolutely perfect place to make whimsical crafts :>
Aliona Fedorovic
Hi! My name is Aliona and I am a first year at Macalester graduating in 2028. I am undecided with my major yet but very interested in Fine Arts. I am from Vilnius, Lithuania and for fun I like to watch movies, do tarot readings, or sketch the environment. What I like about the Idea lab and Entrepreneurship Dept is openness to creativity and encouragement of creating.
Megan Rezac
Hi, I’m Megan! I’m a junior from Omaha, NE majoring in International Studies and Educational Studies. I enjoy all types of crafting, from fiber arts and sewing to jewelry making and collaging, and am always excited to dive into a new project. I love that I get to work in a space constantly filled with creative people!
Anna Kraus
Hi! My name is Anna, and I’m a sophomore Psychology major (Class of 2027) from Modesto, California. I love to be outside, read, play music, and do puzzles. I love any sort of art- from ceramics to painting to cooking- and I’m always excited to learn new ways of creating. I can’t wait to expand my creative skills and help others do the same this year in the Idea Lab!