Baylor University Students Ready to Lead in Innovation and Entrepreneurship through UIF

Baylor’s Innovation Fellows to Drive Change and Entrepreneurship on Campus

Baylor University, established in 1845, is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Nationally ranked as a number one research institution, the university offers a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students. Students from all 50 states and over 100 countries benefit from a broad range of degree programs across the university’s 12 academic divisions. The university is celebrating the selection of four students as University Innovation Fellows (UIF), a prestigious program led by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design. These Baylor students are among 164 fellows chosen from 44 institutions across 13 countries. Since its inception, the UIF program has trained over 3,300 students.

The fellows program empowers students to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity on their campuses, working to create opportunities for their peers to develop essential skills, establish innovation spaces, launch entrepreneurial initiatives, and collaborate with faculty. They also advocate for institutional change and represent their schools at national events.

The four Baylor students selected for the first cohort of UIFs come from diverse academic disciplines and were nominated by faculty and administrators following a competitive application process. After completing a six-week online training program, they are now prepared to serve as leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship. The Baylor UIFs include: Ethan Friend, a sophomore Medical Humanities major from Littleton, Colorado; Warren Huang, a sophomore Economics major from Austin, Texas; Carter Lewis, a sophomore Computer Science major from Lubbock, Texas; and Spencer Yim, a sophomore University Scholar from Westport, Connecticut. These students will work to foster innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities across Baylor’s campus.

These fellows are focused on helping their peers develop creative confidence, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the agency to tackle global challenges. They will engage in activities such as developing student innovation spaces, founding entrepreneurship organizations, facilitating experiential workshops, and collaborating with faculty and administrators to create new courses. Additionally, they will advocate for long-term institutional change, representing the student voice in discussions about the future of higher education.

Jeremy Vickers, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development at Baylor, expressed his pride in the university’s UIF cohort, noting that they are actively engaging across campus to learn from key leaders and identify opportunities for innovation that will benefit the campus community. Dr. Vickers also serves as Baylor’s Faculty Champion for the Innovation Fellows program, guiding both student and faculty fellows. He participated in the Faculty Innovation Fellows community, a network designed to help faculty and staff expand innovation and entrepreneurship at their institutions. These faculty fellows collaborate with student UIFs and independently design initiatives that improve their schools while connecting with global educators to share ideas and receive feedback.

Humera Fasihuddin, co-director of the UIF program, emphasized the crucial role of student involvement in shaping the future of teaching and learning. She noted that students provide a vital perspective on what learners need to succeed. Leticia Britos Cavagnaro, co-director of UIF, highlighted that these student leaders are not only envisioning change but actively creating it, while honing skills that will serve them in the years to come. In conclusion, Baylor University's selection of four students as University Innovation Fellows shows the university's focus on supporting innovation and student leadership. These students will help bring positive change to campus, develop important skills, and contribute to improving education for the future.

Editor's Note:

The University Innovation Fellows program, a renowned initiative led by Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, empowers students to drive innovation and entrepreneurship at their schools. Baylor University is proud to have four students selected for UIF, who will work to inspire change and creativity among their peers to address global challenges. This initiative highlights the growing role of students in shaping the future of higher education and reflects Baylor's commitment to providing opportunities for students to develop the skills needed to succeed in the global economy. 

Skoobuzz congratulates the four students on their remarkable achievement and hopes they will make a positive impact on the world.