Browse this directory to find people who manage our programs. We want to hear from you! We are a big team composed of a handful of staff members and a large group of student leaders.
Leadership & Staff
Below are staff at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and contact information for related departments at the University of Utah.
Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute Leadership

Troy D’Ambrosio
Lassonde Executive Director, Assistant Dean – troy.dambrosio@eccles.utah.edu, 801-587-3836

Jack Brittain
Professor, Lassonde Chair – jack.brittain@utah.edu, 801-581-8791

Jay Barney
Presidential Professor, Lassonde Chair – jay.barney@eccles.utah.edu, 801-585-2456

Kathy Hajeb
Professor (Lecturer) & Lassonde Faculty Director – kathy.hajeb@utah.edu, 801-587-3836

Matthew Higgins
Chair, Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy – matt.higgins@eccles.utah.edu, 801-213-1699
Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute Staff

Anne Bastien
Program Director – anne.bastien@utah.edu, 801-585-3198

Alicia Vess
Administrative Officer – alicia.vess@utah.edu, 801-587-3836

Pat Jones
Associate Director – pat.jones@utah.edu, 801-585-0722

Thad Kelling
Marketing and Public Relations Director – thad.kelling@utah.edu, 801-587-8811

Despina Giannopoulos
Marketing Coordinator – despina.giannopoulos@utah.edu, 801-581-5373
Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy
We partner with the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the David Eccles School of Business to provide academic opportunities. Learn more and find faculty at eccles.utah.edu/entp
Housing & Residential Education
We partner with Housing & Residential Education (HRE) at the University of Utah to manage residential opportunities at Lassonde Studios. Contact HRE employees and learn more at housing.utah.edu.
Programs & Student Leaders
Below you will find contact information for our programs. We have new students managing most of our programs each academic year. Use the program email to reach the students managing each program
Utah Entrepreneur Challenge & Opportunity Quest
For general inquiries, use the program emails: lassondeuec@utah.edu (Utah Entrepreneur Challenge) and lassondeoq@utah.edu (Opportunity Quest).
High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge
For general inquiries, use the program email: hsuec@utah.edu.
Company Launch
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondelaunch@utah.edu.
Get Seeded
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondegetseeded@utah.edu.
Make Program
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondemake@utah.edu.
Lassonde New Venture Development
For general inquiries, email the Lassonde Institute: lassonde@utah.edu.
Networking and Outreach
Skills programs include: Cowork, Meetups and Ambassadors.
For general inquiries, email the Lassonde Institute: lassonde@utah.edu.
Cowork
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondecowork@utah.edu.
Meetups
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondemeetup@utah.edu.
Ambassadors
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondeambassadors@utah.edu.
Skills Programs
Skills programs include: Workshops, Hours with Experts, Food Entrepreneur, Arts Entrepreneur, LSND 400.
For general inquiries, email the Lassonde Institute: lassonde@utah.edu.
Workshops
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondeworkshop@utah.edu.
Hours with Experts
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondeexperts@utah.edu.
Arts Entrepreneur Program
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondearts@utah.edu.
Food Entrepreneur
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassondefood@utah.edu.
Lassonde 400
For general inquiries, use the program email: lassonde400@utah.edu.
Residential Advisors
Visit the Housing & Residential Education (HRE) website for more information: housing.utah.edu.
For general inquiries, email HRE: info@housing.utah.edu.
Lassonde Studios Front Desk
For general inquiries, email lassondefrontdesk@housing.utah.edu or call 801-213-8700.