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Lisa Herschbach, Ph.D. is the director of the Office of Innovation. As director, she oversees the University’s P.D. Merrill Makerspace, including its programs, professional staff, and students. The office also manages the Shaw Innovation Fellows program, which provides financial and creative support for young innovators from across UNE’s academic programs.

Prior to UNE, Herschbach worked at Thaden School in northwest Arkansas beginning in 2016, first as the founding director of its high school, then as director of finance and operations, deputy head of school, and most recently as executive director of community relations. She has also served as a faculty member in social studies and history. 

Before her tenure at Thaden, Herschbach worked for over 20 years in higher education and held various academic and administrative roles at Princeton University and Rutgers University, including residential college dean, director of the summer bridge program, and director of the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.

Herschbach earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Stanford University before attending Harvard University, where she earned her doctoral degree in history of science. During her career, she built and expanded several maker education initiatives, including founding a digital learning space within Princeton’s teaching and learning center and expanding a studio lab to support interdisciplinary experimentation and exploration through innovative uses of technology. She was voted the 2022 Power Woman of Arkansas for elevating K-12 education in the state and recognized by the National SEED Project as a new leader in 2021.