Be a Change Agent for Santa Clara University!
Innovation Fellows are committed to improving the SCU community. Over three quarters, Innovation Fellows work in interdisciplinary teams with SCU stakeholders to address a pressing challenge on campus. The first quarter is an introduction to 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 for Innovation Fellows to identify creative solutions that endure well beyond their time at SCU.
Now in its fourth iteration, the Innovation Fellows Program works in partnership with the Sustainable Business Institute and the Office of Student Life to address important issues related to sustainability and well-being at SCU. Below are examples of past issues addressed by Innovation Fellows:
2024-2025 Cohort:
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Fostering Belonging at SCU
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Improving Waste Management
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Encouraging Sustainable Behavior
2023-2024 Cohort:
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Managing Excess Goods
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Improving the Admissions Onboarding Process
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Supporting the Office of Multicultural Learning
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Improving Academic Support Services
2022-2023 Cohort:
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Supporting Mental Health for Male Students
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Increasing Engagement with SCU Athletics
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Improving Event Planning
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Managing Excess Food Waste
Applications are now closed for Fall 2025.
- Who can apply for this program?
SCU 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 SCU Study Abroad?
Students will not be able to participate in Innovation Fellows if they are committed to SCU 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 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 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 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 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.
Prof. Kathy Sun
Co-Instructor
Keith Yocam
Co-Instructor
Brian Thomas
Program Director
Cristina Florea
Co-Instructor
Colin Justin
Co-Instructor
2024-2025 Cohort
Abby Wilwerding, '26
Communications Major, Retail Studies and Real Estate Minors
Alisa Cheng, '27
Accounting and Information Systems Major, Music Minor
Andrew Joseph, '26
Neuroscience and Mechanical Engineering Majors
Anna Aldrin, '26
Computer Science and Engineering Majors
Asha LaManque, '27
Computer Science Major
Calissa Leong, '26
Bioengineering Major
Charles Legge, '26
Accounting and Information Systems Major
Connor Fox, '26
Finance Major, Real Estate Minor
Cooper McCarthy, '26
Mechanical Engineering Major, Aerospace Engineering Minor
Emily Han, '27
Business Marketing Major
Emily Kang, '26
Accounting Major, Asian-American Studies Minor
Ethan Yeh, '26
Finance Major, Asian American Studies Minor
Evan Hackstadt, '27
Computer Science Major
Flavio Olivieri Villalvazo, '27
Mechanical Engineering Major
Francisca Gelman, '26
Communications and Spanish Double Major
Gabrielle Ponciano, '27
Management Information Systems Major
Gavin O'Connor, '26
Finance and Computer Science
Henry Gewecke, '27
Business
Irene Chang, '26
Computer Science and Engineering
Jason Wu, '27
Computer Science and Engineering
Julia Philbrick, '26
Communications Major, Political Science and Entrepreneurship Minors
Kiara Pech, '27
Economics Major
Lauren Raney, '25
Political Science Major, Economics Minor
Liv de Jounge, '26
Political Science Major, Economics Major, International Business Minor
Meg Rawson, '26
Engineering and Web Design
Mia Flores, '26
Political Science and Sociology
Michael Cooper, '26
Economics Major, Business Analytics Minor
Miranda Roche, '27
Business
Pragna Bura, '27
Management Information Systems Major
Rahul Kaura, '26
Computer Engineering Major
Sandro Biscocho, '26
Accounting and Information Systems Major
Sarah Floyd, '27
Finance Major
Sean Wu, '27
Computer Science and Engineering
Sunny Tran, '27
Finance Major, Business Analytics Minor
Taylor Ogata, '27
Business
Winston Qiu, '26
Accounting Major
Yash Gaur, '27
Business Management Major
Zach Carlson, '26
Engineering
2023-2024 Cohort
Sharmila Bhatt, '25
Psychology, Real Estate
Samira Billow, '25
Biology Major, Public Health Minor
Ivan Carrasco, '25
Mechanical Engineering
Kendall Cox, '26
Undeclared
Jackson Dwelle, '25
Biochemistry Major, Entrepreneurship Minor
Sabrina Gonzalez, '26
Economics
Daniel Gustin, '25
Major in Economics and Minor in Technical Innovation, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship
Erik Keifer, '25
General Engineering
Patricia Landers, '25
Biology and Child Studies Double Major
William Langdoc, '26
Sociology Major
April Le, '26
Ethnic Studies Major
Anushree Malhotra, '26
Psychology and Child Studies Double Major, Public Health Minor
Ahnika Mangalick, '26
Computer Science and Mathematics Major
Chelsea Nguyen, '25
Business Management Major Technical Innovation, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship Minor
Kimberly Salas-Ruiz, '25
Child Studies Major (pre-health track)
Abigail Sauter, '26
Neuroscience Major
Kelly Zhou, '25
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Major
Abem Lucas, '25
CS and Engineering
Ash Uyematsu, '24
Biology, Public Health, Japanese Minor
Brian Wiebe, '25
CS and Engineering, Technical Innovation Minor
Camren Kremers, '24
Finance, Real Estate Minor
Evan Baerg, '25
Bio-Chemistry
Harvard Muhm, '25
Business, French
Hriday Gurnani, '25
Finance, Economics
Jonathan Santosa, '24
CS and Engineering
Kaitlin Webster, '25
Neuroscience, WGST
Karl Schumacher, '24
Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering Minor
Khushboo Gupta, '24
COEN, Design Thinking and Innovation
Leo Illing, '25
Physics, Mathematics Minor, Art History Minor
Lillian Coan, '24
Marketing
Nicolas Lyons, '24
Business
Olivia Sargent, '25
Biochemistry, Public Health Minor