Elizabeth Smith Brigham W. Spencer Mitchem ‘59 Director for Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Adjunct Lecturer of Psychology

I currently serve as the W. Spencer Mitchem Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College. I lead a team committed to facilitating access and exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship for all.

Prior to taking this role in October 2020, I was the Head of Product, Morningstar Direct & Reporting Solutions Software, for Morningstar Inc. in Chicago. Before leading these commercial business lines, I scaled and led the Product Marketing organization for Morningstar’s roughly $400M global software portfolio. While in that role, I was recognized as the Product Marketing Leader of the Year in 2019 by the Global Product Marketing Alliance.

Before joining Morningstar in 2017, I led product management and marketing teams at enterprise technology start-ups in Chicago and at public companies, such as Jive Software and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.

I have been a “Davidson College Groupie” for nearly 24 years and have served on the Board of Visitors, Alumni Association Board, and led multiple alumni chapters across the country. I was honored to receive the Davidson Alumni Service award in 2019.

In 2021, I began co-teaching the Psychology Practicum 291 with Dr. John Kello working on I-O psychology consulting engagements with corporate clients through Davidson alumni and other local partners. I’m looking forward to continuing the class as an adjunct lecturer in the fall and spring of the upcoming academic year.

I am also a mentor and board member for LaunchCLT, play the piano and acoustic guitar, and dream of building a family band with my young sons and husband.

I hold a B.A. in English, cum laude, from Davidson College and an MBA, with Distinction, in corporate strategy and marketing from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.