Back to Spring 2012

AshokaU Terp Changemaker Team Adopts New Structure

Set to Spread SocEnt Vernacular Across Campus


AshokaU Terp Changemaker Co-President Theo Eftimiades (right) works with Pradeep Suthram MBA ’12 on preparing the College Park Impact session at #SES12
From its early years, the Center For Social Value Creation has always been student-driven. Once upon a time (i.e., early 2008,) four students found a staff member in the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship managing a Social Venture Consulting Program named Melissa Carrier. They asked her about social enterprise opportunities at the University of Maryland and Melissa remembered conversations with the social entrepreneurship organization Ashoka regarding their new AshokaU Changemaker Campus initiative. The five decided that they were onto something. Six months later, these students became the first leaders of Ashoka’s pilot Changemaker program to spread the vernacular of social enterprise across college campuses— starting right here in College Park. And in the Spring of 2009, that same group of students and many more successfully planned and executed the 1st Annual Social Enterprise Symposium.

Today, the Terp Changemakers are finishing up their 4th year and already planning big things for the coming Fall. 2012-2013 Senior Co-Presidents Theo Eftimiades (UG ’13, Philosophy) and Karissa Tauber (UG ’13, Neurobiology) have been working with departing alumni Manka Banda (UG ’12, Global Health) and Sonaly Patel (UG ’12, Finance) to ensure that the club hits the ground running.

“In the three years I have been a part of the Ashoka Terp Changemakers team, we have proved to be a dynamic organization,” says Patel. “We have gone from pure awareness raising to hosting innovative competitions as interest in social entrepreneurship has steadily grown. As a result of our efforts, today, students across campus are engaging in the concept and are seeking out resources to connect their disciples to their passions for social change. I am excited to see what the new leadership of the club has in store for the coming years as I know that they'll continue to build on our past initiatives to create an thriving hub of social entrepreneurship on our campus.”

Whereas in past years Changemakers have existed in a flat structure, starting this year the club is reorganizing strategically in order to ensure the greatest affect and success. This includes the adoption of an Executive Leadership to supplement the open call for any and all student ChangeMakers to join the club come Fall.

“One of the features of Social Entrepreneurship and strengths of Changemakers is that our mission resonates with so many fields,” says Eftimiades. “Our recruitment effort has reflected this diversity of application and we have been recruiting a team of leaders from across campus.”

Joining Theo and Karissa will be:

  • Gabrielle Rovegno (UG ’14, Environmental Science), Community Outreach Chair
  • Abby Murray (UG ’13, International Business), Campus Relations Chair
  • Katie Bialy (UG ’14, Finance), Programming Chair
  • Rachelle Mulumba (UG ’13, Agricultural & Resource Economics), Curriculum & Career Development Chair
  • Melissa Gray (UG ’14, Graphic Design/Marketing), Marketing Chair
  • Megan Burkhart (MBA ’13, Entrepreneurship), MBA Liaison

“I am excited to see this group rejuvenated and ready for action” says Guillermo Olivos, Staff Advisor to Terp Changemakers.

“The tenets of social enterprise have evolved to the point of relevancy across all fields. When you consider the wide range of missions, causes, and passions of a student body of 37,000 students, the possibilities for applying sustainable business thinking to a better world are endless. Given the emphasis that President Loh has put on entrepreneurship as a whole for the University, this group has the potential to mobilize some great things to take Smith and Maryland to the forefront of this exciting space.”

To learn more, visit the club’s website at www.umdchangemakers.com.