Elizabeth Lawton Kuriakose

Elizabeth Lawton Kuriakose’s career has centered on the intersection between research and the public interest. Before joining the MBA program at UC-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Elizabeth was an Assistant Director at the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. In her two years at the Packard Foundation, she worked to build an inspired community of donors supporting child health. She contributed to over $130 million of fundraising in private gifts and venture philanthropy. Earlier, she was a research assistant at the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C., specializing in law, politics, and ethics. Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Georgetown University and a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.

As a Jacobs Business Fellow, I plan to engage with the vast resources of the Jacobs organizations to strengthen my understanding of how to build and lead organizations that improve social health, especially by advancing the needs of young people. I have a special interest in education and am eager to dive into the studies of Jacobs researchers on the science of learning. I hope to build partnerships between business leaders, social entrepreneurs, and researchers, in order to ensure that the work of social enterprises and mission-driven businesses is based on the latest science. As an MBA student, I will build the skills to establish, scale, and operate both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Participating in the Jacobs Talent Network will enable me to focus my learning and will bolster my passion for supporting youth, families, and communities.