Social Innovation Scholars Program

What Do You Stand For?
Introducing ---The College of Arts and Humanities Social Innovation Scholars Program
                                        (AMST429J/ARHU439J and ARHU 386)

Starting Spring Semester, 2013
You already believe in something, right? How would you like the opportunity to work closely with a social activist who believes in the same thing as you?  To learn how to develop and implement a strategy for social innovation in a cause you care about?  The College of Arts and Humanities is piloting a new scholars program in Social Innovation.  We are looking for students who are passionate, creative and talented enough to research and develop useful strategies for a non-profit organization.  The Social Innovation Scholars course series includes two 3 credit courses taught Spring/Fall 2013 and includes a 3 credit summer 2013 internship experience.

Scholars will work with a mentor and a representative of a non-profit organization to explore the cultural environment in which the non-profit organization works and to discover strategies to navigate the cultural context in order to achieve the organization’s goals.  The program will include a class in each of the Spring and Fall semesters, and a summer internship.  The first semester, scholars will work with a mentor, a representative of their organization and with each other to explore the cultural discourse surrounding their specific concern, examine the motivations and attitude sets of the core and oppositional audiences and devise a “chess move” to address their defined challenge.  The resulting white paper will be presented to the organization for a response.  In the summer internships, scholars will work in the non-profit organization, learning about the organization and its challenges and strategies.  In the second semester, scholars will learn about strategic implementation, test their innovation and reach a conclusion as to its effectiveness.

The Social Innovation scholars program will be directed by Sheri Parks, American Studies associate professor and associate dean in the College of Arts and Humanities, who has worked with non-profit organizations across Maryland and the United States.  Through her own courses, Professor Parks has mentored more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students who have worked with non-profit organizations.  The College of Arts and Humanities Social Innovation Scholars Program
is open to all UM students.

If interested, please email Ms Ashley Richerson at arichers@umd.edu by January 30. Space is limited so act fast!  This is a great opportunity to work with a faculty member and build your resume!