Terps talk about Impact at UMD

On Friday, March 7, 2013, the Center for Social Value Creation at the Robert H. Smith School of Business hosted the 6^th annual Social Enterprise Symposium (SES). Terrapin Impact: Lessons from UMD, one of eight breakout sessions during SES, was an hour-long panel and discussion about what entrepreneurs are doing on campus to create social value at the University of Maryland and beyond. 

Moderated by Maryland’s chapter of Net Impact, an undergraduate organization dedicated to providing business tools and education to those interested in social enterprise, the session challenged both panelists and attendees to answer tough questions regarding social enterprise and impact. 

Panelists for the session included Austin Lee, former president, Smith Undergraduate Chapter of Net Impact; Dean Chang, associate vice president, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UMD; Jeff Hilnbrand, director, Startup Shell; Mark Stewart, sustainability manager, UMD Office of Sustainability; Mairin Srygley, co-founder and president, Voices: Arts for Social Change; and Pammi Bhullar, program manager, Center for Social Value Creation. 

After panelists introduced themselves, each posed two questions to the audience. Questions were distributed throughout tables in the meeting room and attendees were given time to discuss answers to their table’s question. During this time, panelists visited tables to share their expertise and advice. 

One table had the question of how to make a degree from the University of Maryland more valuable, more impactful. Answers ranged from “better promotion of entrepreneurial resources on campus to students” to “offer more classes for students passionate about specific topics.” After time was up, attendees were able to present their answers to the audience and to the panelists. 

The symposium’s theme of “Don’t Hold Back” was present throughout the session. As panelist Dean Chang expressed to attendees, “[You shouldn’t have to] choose between failing your classes and pursuing your passion.”