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Kailyn Pedersen '23 discusses her work as a Lewis Family Fellow for SCU's Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship

Political science major Kailyn Pedersen, spent this past year working as a Miller Center Lewis Family Fellow with Innovation Works, a venture accelerator in Baltimore that works with local entrepreneurs to help alleviate the racial wealth divide.

Kailyn and fellow political science major, Calley Lwin, spent the spring quarter of their junior year preparing for their project with the Miller Center. Pedersen and Lwin traveled to Baltimore the following summer, and spent six weeks interviewing local leaders and crafting an impact assessment survey for Innovation Works. Their work aimed to quantify Innovation Work’s impact in local Baltimore communities. 

In addition to her work in Baltimore, Kailyn also provided input on the Miller Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy as the center’s first DEI intern. 

Earlier this year, Kailyn was recognized as an Impact Pioneer by the Miller Center executive director, Brigit Helms, as part of the center's 25th anniversary. Pedersen discussed her experience working with the Miller Center and offered her perspective on social entrepreneurship.

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The Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship accelerates leadership by providing students with opportunities to learn and work with social enterprises that are on the front lines of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. The Miller Center Lewis Family Fellowship is a fully-funded summer field experience along with two quarters of classwork and academic research for Santa Clara University junior-level students. More info