Ashoka Teams with University of
Maryland as "Changemaker Campus"
Smith School Leads Social Change Initiative
Ashoka, the world's largest network of social entrepreneurs, is launching a
pilot program called "Changemaker Campuses" in which Ashoka applies its
considerable talents and resources as a catalyst for positive social change to
America's university campuses. Ashoka selected the University of Maryland as one
of only four campuses across the United States to serve as the pilot program for
its campus initiative. The University of Maryland is represented in this
initiative by a team of students from across the entire university campus. The
team is spearheaded by Melissa Carrier, director of venture investments and
social entrepreneurship at the Smith School's Dingman Center for
Entrepreneurship, with Brian L. Nelson, a Tyser Teaching Fellow in the
logistics, business and public policy department at the Robert H. Smith School
of Business, as the faculty representative. Nelson is also the course
coordinator for "Social Responsibility in Business," a newly required course for
both Smith's part-time and full-time MBA programs.
Over the weekend of Oct. 31, 2008, the UM team attended a weekend retreat
sponsored by Ashoka and the Dingman Center. Since its creation in 1981, Ashoka
has selected over 2,000 leading social entrepreneurs from around the world as
Ashoka Fellows, providing them with living stipends, professional support, and
access to a global network of peers in more than 60 countries.
The purpose of the weekend was to take the first steps informing a "change
maker" campaign at UMCP and the other colleges involved in this pilot program:
Cornell, Johns Hopkins and George Mason. To this end, Ashoka met with a team of
students and staff and faculty representatives to formulate an overall strategy
for facilitating positive social change through curriculum, extracurricular
activities, internships, and career placement.
The "Change Maker" campus, facilitated by Ashoka, is part of Smith School
Dean Anand Anandalingam's campaign to increase the offerings and initiatives at
the Smith School in respect of social entrepreneurship, corporate social
responsibility, business ethics, and not-for-profit organizations.
More information about
social impact at Smith
