Tom Ancona

Tom is responsible for fellowships at the McKeen Center, including Maine Community Fellowships, Denning Fellowships, and Global Citizens Fellowships. Additionally, he oversees the America Reads and Counts program, the Winter Break Community Engagement Fund, and the the What Matters campus dialogue series. In this capacity, he works with many students and community partners to build connections and opportunities for engagement while also working to bring students, faculty, and staff across campus into greater dialogue with one-another.

Tom came to the McKeen Center from Chicago where he worked for 9 years in entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago, first at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and then at the Chicago Innovation Exchange. A key goal of his work there was cultivating connections between the greater Chicago community and University of Chicago students and faculty. He completed his AB in Political Science with a focus on international relations and AM in the Social Sciences with a focus on education and urban policy, both from the University of Chicago.

Outside of his work at the McKeen Center, you’re likely to find Tom out on hikes with his wife and young sons, visiting his New England-based extended family, home-cooking Italian specialties, or watching baseball. He is also passionate about animal welfare and rescue organizations, urban design, education policy, politics and film.