Be a Change Agent for Santa Clara University!
Ciocca Center Innovation Fellows focuses on finding a pain point on our SCU campus and using design thinking methods and empathy to identify and implement solutions. This 1 year program is great for students who want to continue to improve and grow the SCU community. The first quarter is a learning experience of mastering design thinking tools as part of an interdisciplinary team. In the second and third quarter, student teams will work with SCU administrators to address a real problem on campus. In the fourth quarter, students will further refine their ideas, test, and implement their creative ideas for solutions that stick, well beyond their time here at SCU.
Ciocca Center Innovation Fellows are committed to curiosity and fostering development of the student experience at Santa Clara University.
Issues that Innovation Fellows are addressing include:
- Food insecurity
- Male-identifying student access to mental health resources
- A "one-stop" solution for student clubs to create events
- Student attendance at sporting events
- Making STEM spaces more inclusive for non-Engineers
Prof. Kathy Sun
Co-Instructor
Keith Yocam
Co-Instructor
Hallie Mullane
Program Administrator and Teaching Assistant
Sharmila Bhatt
Psychology, Real Estate
Samira Billow
Biology Major, Public Health Minor
Ivan Carrasco
Mechanical Engineering
Kendall Cox
Undeclared
Jackson Dwelle
Biochemistry Major, Entrepreneurship Minor
Sabrina Gonzalez
Economics
Daniel Gustin
Major in Economics and Minor in Technical Innovation, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship
Erik Keifer
General Engineering
Patricia Landers
Biology and Child Studies Double Major
William Langdoc
Sociology Major
April Le
Ethnic Studies Major
Anushree Malhotra
Psychology and Child Studies Double Major, Public Health Minor
Ahnika Mangalick
Computer Science and Mathematics Major
Chelsea Nguyen
Business Management Major Technical Innovation, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship Minor
Kimberly Salas-Ruiz
Child Studies Major (pre-health track)
Abigail Sauter
Neuroscience Major
Kelly Zhou
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Major
Applications are closed for this academic year and will re-open in Spring 2024. Lookout for this opportunity to be a part of an interdisciplinary team committed to creating impactful change!
- Who can apply for this program?
SCU students who are rising Sophomores and Juniors (current First Year and Sophomores) 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).
Additionally, students commit to presenting their solution during the following Fall.
- Can students participate in both Innovation Fellows and SCU Study Abroad?
Yes, it is possible. You will need to be willing to attend some meetings virtually and to work with your team around timezones. A number of Innovation Fellows have been part of SCU Study Abroad. Please work with the Ciocca Center Program Director to work on developing a plan for this.
- What topic will be the focus?
This program will be driven by the students and the groups engaged. The theme is Santa Clara University, and this is a great program for students who want to continue to improve and grow the SCU community.
- Has this course happened before?
As Design Thinking experts, the program continues to be improved upon.
A two year long version of this program is being offered to 16 undergraduate students. Additionally, a version of this program has been offered to graduate students in the ECP at SCU. 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 year long course open to?
This program is open to all majors and will be interdisciplinary.
Abem Lucas
CS and Engineering
Ash Uyematsu
Biology, Public Health, Japanese Minor
Brian Wiebe
CS and Engineering, Technical Innovation Minor
Camren Kremers
Finance, Real Estate Minor
Evan Baerg
Bio-Chemistry
Harvard Muhm
Business, French
Hriday Gurnani
Finance, Economics
Jonathan Santosa
CS and Engineering
Kaitlin Webster
Neuroscience, WGST
Karl Schumacher
Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering Minor
Khushboo Gupta
COEN, Design Thinking and Innovation
Leo Illing
Physics, Mathematics Minor, Art History Minor
Lillian Coan
Marketing
Nicolas Lyons
Business
Olivia Sargent
Biochemistry, Public Health Minor