For another look at the Social Impact Fellows program, check out this video from the program’s first year.
Collaborating across disciplines to solve today’s most pressing social challenges.
Through UB's Social Impact Fellows program, MBA and MSW students from the School of Management and School of Social Work, along with graduate students from the College of Arts and Sciences, create social innovation in Western New York. Presented in collaboration with UB’s Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars, the program brings students together to collaborate, address pressing social issues and make an impact.
The program has received philanthropic support from the John R. Oishei Foundation, Charles D. and Mary A. Bauer Family Foundation, School of Management Alumni Association, UB President’s Circle and several generous alumni and friends of the university. To support the Social Impact Fellows program, make a gift to UB’s Social Innovation Fund.
Student applications are open for the 2021 Social Impact Fellows program, which will take place from June 2 to August 6 for all fellows. For the first time in 2021, MBAs will continue their internships through the fall semester.
To apply, visit https://bit.ly/SIFStudentApp2021. Applications are due Jan. 29.
Note: Due to COVID-19, our partner organizations are developing internships that can be executed in a place-based, virtual or hybrid format, as needed.
For more information, contact Jenell Spitale, student services advisor in the School of Social Work, at spitalej@buffalo.edu, or Carrie Gardner, director of internships and experiential learning in the School of Management, at cg53@buffalo.edu.
In 2019, one team developed a plan to sustain the Service Collaborative’s Beds for Buffalo initiative—and got their hands dirty constructing beds, too. Photo: Onion Studio.
The Social Impact Fellows program prepares students to address social issues using principles of entrepreneurship and social innovation.
Another 2019 team worked with Stitch Buffalo, a nonprofit that empowers refugee women through textile arts. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.
Across the globe, social innovation is rapidly growing, as companies, nonprofits and governments partner to tackle sweeping challenges. That’s the spirit that guides the Social Impact Fellows program—and benefits all involved.
How our Social Impact Fellows use their diverse skills and perspectives to make a difference.
The Buffalo News featured our Social Impact Fellows on the front-page of the business section.