The Story Lab at Olin

Co-Founders and Directors: Jonathan Adler and Gillian Epstein


Our Goal

Stories connect us – they build identity and community. The Olin Story Lab advances Olin’s mission of “engineering for everyone” by designing and coaching storytelling experiences. From expert speakers to brand new storytellers, we work with a range of individuals and organizations to amplify stories that might not otherwise be heard. 

Our Process:

We offer a highly personalized and collaborative process grounded in literary practice, the performing arts, and psychological science. In the Story Lab, we use our experience as teachers, editors, consultants, and directors to empower storytellers with ways to create and share inspiring stories that foster self-awareness and build increasingly empathic and inclusive communities.

Our Clients:

We have worked with leaders who already have a big stage and everyday people who have never stepped on stage: college presidents and college students, non-profit organizations and professional societies, university faculty and staff, high school students and K-12 teachers, professional writers and those just getting started. And yes, even those who never even thought about getting started. (We grew this practice by teaching storytelling to engineers). 

All of our work is personalized, so please reach out to us to discuss how we might collaborate with you!


Contact us: Jonathan Adler or Gillian Epstein

Scenes from past Story Lab projects

A woman in a black dress stands in front of an audience with a microphone

Dr. Gillian Epstein introduces the Story Slam at EXPO.

A young man stands at a podium wearing graduation regalia

Moisés Sabido García delivers a story at President Barabino's Inauguration.

A man standing at a podium delivering a speech

David Hall shares a story with the audience at President Gilda Barabino's Inauguration, May 2022.

Three people stand side by side wearing academic regalia

President Gilda Barabino at her Inauguration with Drs. Jon Adler and Gillian Epstein, co creators of the Story Lab.

Two people sit facing one another and talking

A glimpse of the writing ribbon portion of President Barabino's Inauguration ceremony

A woman is seating and talking to the person sitting next to her

Attendees at President Barabino's Inauguration ceremony participate in a writing ribbon exercise

A photo of stripes of papers blowing in the winds

Writing ribbons blow in the wind at the Inauguration of President Gilda A. Barabino

A woman stands in front a sign that reads Olin Story Slam

President Gilda Barabino tells her story at her Inauguration Story Slam

A young man standing in front of a microphone holding a piece of paper
Olin Community Story Slam – 2019

Featuring Antonio Perez


Watch Previous Story Lab Productions

Gillian Epstein
at Olin Community Story Slam - 2019

A woman standing on a stage holding a microphone

Jon Adler
at Olin Community Story Slam - 2019

Two people standing on stage with a microphone about to tell a story

Amon Milner
at Olin Community Story Slam - 2019

A man standing in front of a microphone holding a piece of paper

Hwei-Shin Harriman
at Olin Community Story Slam - 2019

A young woman standing in front of a microphone with her arm in the air

Adva Waranyuwat
at Olin Community Story Slam - 2019

A woman standing in front of a microphone on a stage

Moisés Sabido García
at Olin Inauguration - 2022

A young man standing at a podium wearing a cap at gown

David Hall
at Olin Inauguration - 2022

A man wearing colorful regalia is standing at a podium delivering a speech

Meg Ku
at Olin Community Virtual Story Slam – 2020

A woman in a room with a blue background wearing a headset on a zoom call