Smith Students Bring Passion and Business Together in Social Innovation Fellows

Now in its fourth year at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, Social Innovation Fellows (SIF) welcomed a new face of the program this Fall. Professor David Kirsch has taken on the SIF curriculum and breathed a new energy into the program.  “So far, I think SIF is more of an experience than a class.” said Mandy Yard, current SIF Fellow. “I have been able to learn business concepts and apply them to real life, while focusing on how to change the world.”

Professor Kirsch challenges students to consider creative applications of business that produce social and environmental prosperity, and aided students in honing in on their specific social and environmental passion areas. A favorite project among many SIF students is sharing current events with one another. “I think it is important for students to know what is going on in the world, especially when it comes to creating change.” says Yard.

SIF students reimagine these issues as business opportunities able to initiate positive change, and develop blueprints outlining what such a business models may look like. For SIF student Daniel Kaufman the best part of the program so far has been “seeing how passionate my classmates are about a certain social issue, and watching them take the first step toward making a difference.”

Looking forward to next semester, SIF students will have the option to make these blueprints a reality by actually starting the business they’ve outlined.

More on Social Innovation Fellows

The Social Innovation Fellows (SIF) Program immerses students in the process of seeking innovative solutions for social transformation through business principles and hands-on engagements with for-profit and nonprofit organizations. This two semester fellowship includes an interactive practicum experience and co-curricular programming aimed at developing skills in the areas of sustainability and social enterprise/entrepreneurship.

Applications for the 2015-2016 cohort of Social Innovation Fellows opens January 5^th. Rising junior and senior business majors interested in social impact are encouraged to apply!