Social Changemakers

Social Changemakers (SC) is a 12-week immersive program in which students learn and apply human-centered design to co-create new capabilities addressing a specific need of a community partner working on complex social, economic and environmental challenges. Community partners are student-driven, through either a student-led nonprofit (established for at least a year) or a pre-existing student engagement with a local nonprofit. Students work in small teams and have the opportunity to strengthen skills, from collaboration and leadership to project design and management.

Social Changemaker Logo

Learn More about the Program

Are you interested in learning more about this program for the Fall semester? Click here to fill out our interest form. 

Student Application for students to apply solo or be matched with a team; students can indicate who they already want to be paired with.

The application window is closed.

Social Changemakers meeting

Program Information

  • Who may apply?

    Social Changemakers is open to all participants, including Vanderbilt students, faculty, staff, local college students, community partners, etc.

  • Dates and times

    SC meets every Tuesday, 4:30pm–6pm, starting January 30th, 2024, until April 23, 2024, in the 3rd Floor Lounge of the Wond’ry (Room 300).

    Program Schedule:
    Jan 30: Fellowship Session (TBD)
    Feb 6: Session 1 (4:30-6pm)
    Feb 12: Session 2 (4:30-6pm)
    Feb 20: Session 3 (4:30-6pm)
    Feb 27: Session 4 (4:30-6pm)
    Mar 5: Session 5 (4:30-6pm)
    Mar 12: Spring Break
    Mar 19: Session 6 (4:30-6pm)
    Mar 26: Session 7 (4:30-6pm)
    Apr 2: Session 8 (4:30-6pm)
    Apr 9: Session 9 (4:30-6pm)
    Apr 16: Session 10 (4:30-6pm)
    Apr 23: Fellowship Session (TBD)

    Session Structure:

    4:30 – 5:00 pm    Program Content

    5:00 – 5:45 pm    Co-Creation (SC Teams Time)

    5:45 – 6:00 pm    Group Reflection and Next Steps

    Additionally, SC teams schedule regular contact with community partners and each other outside of session time and complete project-supporting work. The total time commitment averages 5 hours per week.

  • Learn more

    For community partner inquiries, contact Jackie Hansom at jackie.hansom@vanderbilt.edu.

    For all other questions, contact Dan Drogosh at dan.drogosh@vanderbilt.edu.

  • One of the groups who presented at Social Changemakers
  • Pointing during a presentation
  • Smiling client with social changemakers

Past Partners and Projects