Johnathan Falcone

What attracted you to the Keller Center?

I was first invited to the Keller Center by fellow School of Public and International Affairs graduate policy student and UPROOT Founder Nick Leiter. At first it may seem an unnatural fit to bring together policy makers – seemingly stuck in rigid bureaucracy – and entrepreneurs – free-spirits, ready to push against the grain. But for policy students who believe in the power of markets and the private sector’s latent potential to improve public outcomes, the Keller Center is a welcomed resource. The Keller Center’s leadership, network, and workspace provides the foundation to launch innovative solutions to challenging problems.

What advice would you have for students about getting involved at the Keller Center?

Simply, graduate students across Princeton University need to get more involved in the Center. There are few opportunities in life where you are provided all the tools to succeed, encouragement to endure challenges, and safety in failure. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur or even have the ambition to try, the Keller Center has programming and expert access that increase your chances for success. By virtue of attending Princeton, many of us have been gifted with talents to tackle our communities’ biggest challenges. Keller Center creates a channel for that talent and potential to be realized.

What are your academic or career goals?

As an active duty Naval Officer my foremost career goal is to support my fellow service members and to continue to serve my country in any capacity that I see fit. In my professional career, I have been fortunate to have acquired a diverse set of experiences from Wall Street, the Navy, and the United Nations. The common thread between those experiences was the opportunity to help others achieve their objectives, whatever those might be. And although UPROOT is a private venture, its mission to help servicemembers build wealth through real estate market access, closely aligns with my professional values.