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Be a Change Agent for 91快活林!

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The Innovation Fellows program helps students develop expertise and familiarity in the design thinking process - developing empathy, ideating new possibilities, prototyping solutions, and testing in real-world contexts.

Over three quarters, Fellows work in interdisciplinary teams with 91快活林 and community stakeholders to address a pressing challenge. The first quarter introduces the elements of the design thinking process, with a heavy emphasis on empathy. In the second and third quarters, students design and test prototypes of their solutions. The ultimate goal is to identify creative solutions that endure well beyond their time at 91快活林.

 

Below are examples of challenges addressed by the past four cohorts:

  • Admissions: Improving the Admissions Onboarding Process

  • Education: Improving Academic Support Services

  • Health: Supporting Mental Health for Male Students

  • Community: Fostering Belonging at 91快活林

  • Sustainability: Improving Waste Management

 

Why be an Innovation Fellow?

  • Hands-On Experience: Collaborate with a diverse group of students and work on projects that address real-world challenges, from sustainability to social impact

  • Leadership Development: Sharpen your leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while contributing to a culture of innovation at 91快活林

  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders, mentors, and like-minded peers who share your passion for making a difference

Apply!

Apply !

Applications are due on April 1st at 11:59 pm.

  • Who can apply for this program?

91快活林 students who are rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors (current First Year, Sophomores, and Juniors) are eligible to apply.

  • What is the time commitment?

Students commit to a 3 unit course, offered 1 unit each quarter.  There is a time commitment associated with and equivalent to a 1 unit course each quarter for a full academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

  • Can students participate in both Innovation Fellows and 91快活林 Study Abroad?

Students will not be able to participate in Innovation Fellows if they are committed to 91快活林 Study Abroad in the Fall Quarter of the same year as the Innovation Fellows application cycle.

  • What topic will be the focus?

This program will be driven by the students and the stakeholders engaged.  The theme is 91快活林 and the local community.

  • Has this course happened before?

As Design Thinking experts, the program continues to be improved upon.

A two year version of this program and a one year version of this program has been offered to previous cohorts of undergraduate students. Additionally, a version of this program has been offered to graduate students in the ECP at 91快活林.  An elective (non-credit) version has been offered for 4 years prior for undergraduates, the program has been well received by participants and students have asked for the creation of a larger for-credit version.

  • What majors is this program open to?

This program is open to all majors and will be interdisciplinary.

  • Can students be a LEAD Peer Mentor and be an Innovation Fellow?

We love and welcome LEAD scholars to apply, however, students cannot be LEAD Peer Mentors for LEAD Week and be in Innovation Fellows. 

Teaching Team

Prof. Kathy Sun

Co-Instructor

Keith Yocam

Co-Instructor

Marcella Sorrentino

Assistant Program Director

Cristina Florea

Co-Instructor

Colin Justin

Co-Instructor

2026-2027 Cohort

Aaryana Poudel, '28

Business Undeclared

Aidan Kwapisz, '28

Business Undeclared

Amaya Lin, '28

Business Undeclared

Andreas Flierl, '27

Mechanical Engineering Major

Ava Stoddard, '28

Business Undeclared

Carolyn Nguyen, '28

Business Undeclared

Charles Lyons, '28

Business Undeclared

Clair Kim, '28

Political Science Major

Diana Garcia-Becerra, '26

Mechanical Engineering Major

Ellie Hong, '27

Web Design and Engineering Major

Erik Latchford, '28

Business Undeclared

Grant Du, '28

Finance Major

Gulraj Dhaliwal, '28

Finance Major

Isabelle Douchane, '28

Business Undeclared

Ishika Gupta, '27

Computer Science and Engineering Major

Izabella Diaz, '28

Business Undeclared

Jensen Welton, '28

Bioengineering Major

John Brooks, '27

Biology Major

Kaiya Lu, '28

Business Undeclared

Keerthi Gopinath, '27

Management Information Systems Major

Kylie Chang, '28

Finance Major

Lana Villegas, '28

Business Undeclared

Malia Hoey, '26

Neuroscience Major

Mateo Coulson, '28

Political Science Major

Matthew Law-Smith, '28

Business Undeclared

Meg Jones, '26

Sociology Major

Nicole Azar, '28

Political Science Major

Olivia Desire, '27

Computer Science and Engineering Major

Patrick O'Connor, '28

Studio Art Major

Peter Miao, '28

Biochemistry Major

Quinn Moses, '28

Business Undeclared

Raahil Khan, '28

Business Undeclared

Ruth Janfa, '26

Psychology Major

Ryan Foster, '28

Economics (BS) Major

Sabrina Amaro, '28

Accounting and Information Systems Major

Sean Tsang, '27

Finance Major

Shayla Bansal, '27

Economics (BS) Major

Shreya Dusankar, '28

Business Undeclared

Sophia Ramos, '28

Business Undeclared

Stephanie Vu, '28

Mechanical Engineering Major

Swathi Giri, '27

Accounting Major

Teresa Bui, '28

Management Information Systems Major

William Baldwin, '28

Communication Major

Yuvraaj Bhatter, '28

Business Undeclared

Zara Raza, '28

Business Undeclared

Aaryana Poudel
Aaryana Poudel, '28
Business Undeclared
Aidan Kwapisz
Aidan Kwapisz, '28
Business Undeclared
Amaya Lin
Amaya Lin, '28
Business Undeclared
Andreas Flierl
Andreas Flierl, '27
Mechanical Engineering Major
Woman smiling in green shirt outdoors
Ava Stoddard, '28
Business Undeclared
Carolyn Nguyen
Carolyn Nguyen, '28
Business Undeclared
Charles Lyons
Charles Lyons, '28
Business Undeclared
Clair Kim
Clair Kim, '28
Political Science Major
Diana Garcia-Becerra
Diana Garcia-Becerra, '26
Mechanical Engineering Major
Ellie Hong
Ellie Hong, '27
Web Design and Engineering Major
Erik Latchford
Erik Latchford, '28
Business Undeclared
Grant Du
Grant Du, '28
Finance Major
Gulraj Dhaliwal
Gulraj Dhaliwal, '28
Finance Major
Isabelle Douchane
Isabelle Douchane, '28
Business Undeclared
Ishika Gupta
Ishika Gupta, '27
Computer Science and Engineering Major
Izabella Diaz
Izabella Diaz, '28
Business Undeclared
Jensen Welton
Jensen Welton, '28
Bioengineering Major
John Brooks
John Brooks, '27
Biology Major
Woman in black blazer outdoors smiling
Kaiya Lu, '28
Business Undeclared
Keerthi Gopinath
Keerthi Gopinath, '27
Management Information Systems Major
Kylie Chang
Kylie Chang, '28
Finance Major
Lana Villegas
Lana Villegas, '28
Business Undeclared
Malia Hoey
Malia Hoey, '26
Neuroscience Major
Mateo Coulson
Mateo Coulson, '28
Political Science Major
Matthew Law-Smith
Matthew Law-Smith, '28
Business Undeclared
Meg Jones
Meg Jones, '26
Sociology Major
Nicole Azar
Nicole Azar, '28
Political Science Major
Olivia Desire
Olivia Desire, '27
Computer Science and Engineering Major
Patrick OConnor
Patrick O'Connor, '28
Studio Art Major
Peter Miao
Peter Miao, '28
Biochemistry Major
Quinn Moses
Quinn Moses, '28
Business Undeclared
Raahil Khan
Raahil Khan, '28
Business Undeclared
Ruth Janfa
Ruth Janfa, '26
Psychology Major
Ryan Foster
Ryan Foster, '28
Economics (BS) Major
Sabrina Amaro
Sabrina Amaro, '28
Accounting and Information Systems Major
Sean Tsang
Sean Tsang, '27
Finance Major
Shayla Bansal
Shayla Bansal, '27
Economics (BS) Major
Woman with white headband and top smiling
Shreya Dusankar, '28
Business Undeclared
Sophia Ramos
Sophia Ramos, '28
Business Undeclared
Woman in gray hoodie smiling outdoors
Stephanie Vu, '28
Mechanical Engineering Major
Swathi Giri
Swathi Giri, '27
Accounting Major
Teresa Bui
Teresa Bui, '28
Management Information Systems Major
William Baldwin
William Baldwin, '28
Communications Major
Yuvraaj Bhatter
Yuvraaj Bhatter, '28
Business Undeclared
Zara Raza
Zara Raza, '28
Business Undeclared
Abby Wilwerding
Abby Wilwerding, '26
Communications Major, Retail Studies and Real Estate Minors
Alisa Cheng
Alisa Cheng, '27
Accounting and Information Systems Major, Music Minor
Andrew Joseph
Andrew Joseph, '26
Neuroscience and Mechanical Engineering Majors
Anna Aldrin
Anna Aldrin, '26
Computer Science and Engineering Majors
Woman smiling in blue shirt
Asha LaManque, '27
Computer Science Major
Calissa Leong
Calissa Leong, '26
Bioengineering Major
Charles Legge
Charles Legge, '26
Accounting and Information Systems Major
Connor Fox
Connor Fox, '26
Finance Major, Real Estate Minor
Cooper McCarthy
Cooper McCarthy, '26
Mechanical Engineering Major, Aerospace Engineering Minor
Emily Han
Emily Han, '27
Business Marketing Major
Emily Kang
Emily Kang, '26
Accounting Major, Asian-American Studies Minor
Ethan Yeh
Ethan Yeh, '26
Finance Major, Asian American Studies Minor
Evan Hackstadt
Evan Hackstadt, '27
Computer Science Major
Flavio Olivieri Villalvazo
Flavio Olivieri Villalvazo, '27
Mechanical Engineering Major
Francisca Gelman
Francisca Gelman, '26
Communications and Spanish Double Major
Gabrielle Ponciano
Gabrielle Ponciano, '27
Management Information Systems Major
Gavin OConnor
Gavin O'Connor, '26
Finance and Computer Science
Henry Gewecke
Henry Gewecke, '27
Business
Irene Chang
Irene Chang, '26
Computer Science and Engineering
Jason Wu
Jason Wu, '27
Computer Science and Engineering
Julia Philbrick
Julia Philbrick, '26
Communications Major, Political Science and Entrepreneurship Minors
Kiara Pech
Kiara Pech, '27
Economics Major
Lauren Raney
Lauren Raney, '25
Political Science Major, Economics Minor
Liv de Jounge
Liv de Jounge, '26
Political Science Major, Economics Major, International Business Minor
Meg Rawson
Meg Rawson, '26
Engineering and Web Design
Mia Flores
Mia Flores, '26
Political Science and Sociology
Michael Cooper
Michael Cooper, '26
Economics Major, Business Analytics Minor
Miranda Roche
Miranda Roche, '27
Business
Pragna Bura
Pragna Bura, '27
Management Information Systems Major
Rahul Kaura
Rahul Kaura, '26
Computer Engineering Major
Sandro Biscocho
Sandro Biscocho, '26
Accounting and Information Systems Major
Sarah Floyd
Sarah Floyd, '27
Finance Major
Man in suit and tie smiling
Sean Wu, '27
Computer Science and Engineering
Sunny Tran
Sunny Tran, '27
Finance Major, Business Analytics Minor
Taylor Ogata
Taylor Ogata, '27
Business
Winston Qiu
Winston Qiu, '26
Accounting Major
Yash Gaur
Yash Gaur, '27
Business Management Major
Zach Carlson
Zach Carlson, '26
Engineering
 
Abigail Sauter
Abigail Sauter, '26
Neuroscience Major
Ahnika Mangalick
Ahnika Mangalick, '26
Computer Science and Mathematics Major
Anushree Malhotra
Anushree Malhotra, '26
Psychology and Child Studies Double Major, Public Health Minor
April Le
April Le, '26
Ethnic Studies Major
Chelsea Nguyen
Chelsea Nguyen, '25
Business Management Major Technical Innovation, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship Minor
Daniel Gustin
Daniel Gustin, '25
Major in Economics and Minor in Technical Innovation, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship
Man in dark suit jacket and white shirt smiling
Erik Keifer, '25
General Engineering
Ivan Carrasco
Ivan Carrasco, '25
Mechanical Engineering
Man with glasses smiling outdoors
Jackson Dwelle, '25
Biochemistry Major, Entrepreneurship Minor
Kelly Zhou
Kelly Zhou, '25
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Major
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Kendall Cox, '26
Undeclared
Kimberly Salas Ruiz
Kimberly Salas-Ruiz, '25
Child Studies Major (pre-health track)
Patricia Landers
Patricia Landers, '25
Biology and Child Studies Double Major
Sabrina Gonzalez
Sabrina Gonzalez, '26
Economics
Samira Billow
Samira Billow, '25
Biology Major, Public Health Minor
Sharmila Bhatt
Sharmila Bhatt, '25
Psychology, Real Estate
William Langdo
William Langdoc, '26
Sociology Major
 
A person in a suit and tie smiling against a plain background.
Abem Lucas, '25
CS and Engineering
A person stands under a wooden pergola walk.
Ash Uyematsu, '24
Biology, Public Health, Japanese Minor
Brian Wiebe
Brian Wiebe, '25
CS and Engineering, Technical Innovation Minor
A person in a blue suit, smiling, against a dark background.
Camren Kremers, '24
Finance, Real Estate Minor
A person smiling outdoors.
Evan Baerg, '25
Bio-Chemistry
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Harvard Muhm, '25
Business, French
A person in a suit and glasses smiling.
Hriday Gurnani, '25
Finance, Economics
A person smiling and standing in an urban outdoor setting.
Jonathan Santosa, '24
CS and Engineering
Kaitlin Webster Ciocca Center Intern
Kaitlin Webster, '25
Neuroscience, WGST
A man in a blue shirt and patterned tie, smiling.
Karl Schumacher, '24
Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering Minor
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Khushboo Gupta, '24
COEN, Design Thinking and Innovation
A person in a white shirt with blurred cityscape background.
Leo Illing, '25
Physics, Mathematics Minor, Art History Minor
A person wearing a dark blue top, smiling in an outdoor setting.
Lillian Coan, '24
Marketing
A person in a suit and tie against a white background.
Nicolas Lyons, '24
Business
A person smiling, standing in front of green plants outdoors.
Olivia Sargent, '25
Biochemistry, Public Health Minor