Rising to the Challenge: Ordinary People Together Making Extraordinary Change - March 16-19, 2021 | Virtual - Ashoka U
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Rising to the Challenge: Ordinary People
Together Making Extraordinary Change
March 16-19, 2021 | Virtual
SPONSORS
Ashoka U would like to extend a very special thank you to our 2021 sponsors. You have
been alongside us & supported us every step of the way & we couldn’t have brought the
Exchange to life without you!
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SESSION & PLATFORM ACCESS
The Exchange is hosted on the Attendify platform, sign in here to claim your account. Please note
that you must use the email address that you used to register to login.
You will be able to “attend” the event in two different ways:
From your Laptop:
• Explore the Agenda & Speaker List
• Customize your Profile - Tell others what you’re about!
• View our Attendee list & connect with folks privately.
• Share photos, post messages, comment & like other users' posts
• Access all event information (schedule, documents, maps, speaker bios)
• Claim your profile here.
From your Phone, tablet, or iPad to access even more features, like:
• Save participants' profiles as VCards to your phone
• Take notes (you can #tag other attendees to document something about them)
• Bookmark sessions, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, & attendees
• Rate speakers & sessions, provide feedback & comments
• Set scheduled reminders for sessions & create a personal schedule
• Download the Attendify app from the App Store or Google Play & search for the “Ashoka U
Exchange”
• For more detailed steps, check out the Attendify App Attendee Guide
Please allow up to 24 hour after registering to be granted access to the platform. For any
questions regarding Attendify & access to sessions, please reach out to Araseli at
alara@ashoka.org.
Important note: While the times in this PDF program are in EDT, the Attendify platform
automatically adjusts all session times based on your local time zone.
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SHARED VALUES
The Exchange is more than just an event, it's a community.Together, we create a culture of:
AUTHENTICITY. Our actions & motivations remain true to our personal & collective
values.
OUR SHARED VALUES
BELONGING. We are a home for changemakers & a support network of visionary
thinkers.
OPTIMISM.Where others see problems, we see the spark of a new idea.
INCLUSION.We seek out & respect diverse voices to uncover the best opportunities.
GENEROSITY.We are here for each other, eager to listen & share.
COURAGE.We’re not afraid of unorthodox ideas because they’re inherent to progress.
RESPECT. We recognize the right of every attendee to feel safe, heard, & valued at the
Exchange.We are all part of this community together & all voices matter.
We put our values into practice by creating a space that has zero-tolerance for
discrimination, exclusionary practices, & harassment of any form. We expect all
attendees to engage one another respectfully & ethically, helping to ensure an
environment that is safe & accessible to all. As part of the Exchange community, you
commit to:
• Observe the values & put them into practice to the best of your ability
• Be mindful of each other’s boundaries (physically & psychologically)
• Sustain an environment that is free of prejudice of any kind
We rely on each member of this community to use good judgement & practice
integrity in all interactions, for ourselves & the Exchange. Should you personally
experience or witness any violation of our Community Code of 2
Conduct, we
encourage you to either fill out this anonymous form or reach out to a member
of the Ashoka U team immediately.
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Land Acknowledgement
Even though the Exchange is taking place virtually, Ashoka U would still like
to acknowledge, share gratitude, & provide awareness related the land that
each of us individually currently occupies.
Ashoka U is located on the traditional territory of the Algonquin,
Nacotchtank nation, which then became part of the Piscataway nation - a
place which has long served as a site of meeting & exchange amongst
nations. As a US-Based organization we are aware of the many genocides &
injustices that were forced upon the Indigenous communities that called
this land home before we did. By acknowledging the land & the people of
the Nacotchtank nation we aim to take one small step toward
reconciliation.
From wherever you are joining us, it is important for all of us to
understand our own history & how it intersects with others. We invite you
to reflect upon the land upon which you stand & the Indigenous peoples
who know it as home.
6AGENDA COUNCIL
We’d like to recognize our 2021 Agenda Council who has co-led the selection of content featured
on this year’s agenda. The Council has brought a lens of equity & inclusion to the selection process
& helped to ensure that the agenda represents the diverse needs & interests of the growing social
innovation education community.
GABRIEL Fernandes Cardoso – Executive Manager, Sabin
Institute; Social Entrepreneurship Professor, UDF University Center
STEPHEN Dooley – Executive Director, Surrey Campus,
Simon Fraser University
ANGELOU Ezeilo – CEO, Author, & International
Environmental & Equity Consultant
LISA Gring-Pemble – George Mason’s School of Business
Associate Professor; Co-Executive Director, Business for a
Better World Center
JERRID P. Kalakay – Professor of Business & Organizational
Leadership,Valencia College
ARASELI Lara – Exchange Manager, Ashoka U
EVELYN Rodriguez – Director of Campus Support Services, Miami
Dade College
HILLARY Scanlon – Founder & CEO, Sustainability Through an
Inclusive Lens
7ADVISORY COUNCIL
We’d like to recognize our 2021 Advisory Council who has co-led the selection of content
featured on this year’s agenda. The Council has served dually as partners & advisors to Ashoka U
to build, expand, & reimagine how we can fortify community development for the Exchange.
POOJA Addla Hari – Product & Customer Success Manager,
Enfuego Technologies
LAUREN Burrows – Education & Inclusion Coordinator,
Brantford Centre for Student Equity, Diversity & Inclusion,
Wilfrid Laurier University
SAMANTHA Fluerinor – Senior Program Coordinator,
Tulane University; The Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social
Innovation & Design Thinking
LUCIANA Goles – Director of Youth, Ashoka Chile
SALEHA Khumawala – Robert Grinaker Professor of
Accounting; Founding Director of the SURE, University of
Houston
CHARMAINE Lyn – Director of Changemaker Education, Ashoka
Canada
VINCENT Odhiambo – Regional Director, Ashoka East Africa
8STUDENT COUNCIL
We’d like to recognize our 2021 Student Council who has co-led the selection of content featured
on this year’s agenda. The Council has led the with student experience in mind & with the goal of
creating a highly valuable experience for student attendees.
VIVIAN Chen – Arizona State University
ADALI Flores-Mendoza – University of St.Thomas
EGETTE Indelele – George Mason University
EMILY Klassen – University of San Diego
DUSTIN Liu – Harvard
9Enfuego Ad
10PRE-DAY: Monday, March 15
Research Showcase Part 1
1:00 PM– 3:00 PM
Part of the Changemaker Education Research Forum (C-CERF), held alongside the 2021 Ashoka
U Exchange. During this session, researchers can share their insights, findings, & learnings with
other participants. We are delighted to welcome attendees from Canadian & non-Canadian
campuses alike & look forward to expanding the scope of our conversations across borders!
SPEAKERS:
› "(Re)Searching from Within: Arriving at a Scholarly Approach to SI in Higher Education"
– JOCELYN COURNEYA, RINA FRATICELLI, AFRAH IDREES, JESSICA MACHADO
DR. MELANIE PANITCH, SAMANTHA WEHBI - Ryerson University
› "Students Mapping Systems: A Driver for Transformation? " – TASH CALF ROBE & DR.
KATHARINE MCGOWAN - Mount Royal University
› "Research for Changemakers: The Quality of Your Changemaking Depends on How Well
you Understand Your Problem" – Lauren McNamara, Ashoka Fellow, The Recess Project
View the full C-CERF agenda here.
Canada Meetup
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Category: Networking
Ashoka Canada invites participants from across Canada to join in this semi-structured
networking hour. We will use our time to connect, build relationships, & share about the state of
social innovation & higher education in Canada
Ashoka Canada invite les participant(e)s de partout au Canada à se joindre à cette heure de
réseautage semi-structurée. Nous utiliserons notre temps pour se présenter, établir des relations
et échanger sur l’état de l’innovation sociale et de l’éducation post-secondaire au Canada.
SPEAKERS: ANNA JOHNSON – Changemaker Education Director, Ashoka Canada;
CHARMAINE LYN – Network Engagement Manager, Ashoka Canada
11DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Kicking off the Exchange with Centered Presence
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM Category: Mindfulness & Wellbeing
Kick off the Exchange with a guided mindfulness practice to check in with yourself & get centered in
your intentions for your changemaking work & Exchange experience.
SPEAKER: SARAH-MARIE HOPF – Founder; Integral Coach; Mindfulness Meditation Teacher,
Thriving in a Noisy World
Session Resources:
Video link
BOOK TALK: The Power of Disability for Changing the World
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Category: Book talk
Disabled people are underappreciated & untapped authorities on ingenuity, enterprise, resilience,
love, political resistance, dealing with adversity, & a good life. The advantages that disabled people
offer are the perfect remedy for the troubled times we live in. This session will explain why
addressing systemic discrimination, refreshing democracy & "building back better' after Covid must
include & incorporate the expertise & experience of the largest minority group in the world.
SPEAKER:AL ETMANSKI – Author & Community Organizer
Session Resources:
Video link
Africa Meetup
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Category: Networking
Ashoka invites participants from across Africa to join in this semi-structured networking hour. We will
use our time to connect, build relationships, & share about the state of social innovation & higher
education in Africa.
FACILITATOR:VINCENT OTIENO ODHIAMBO – Regional Director East Africa,Ashoka Africa
12DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Screw Networking as Usual: Creating a More “Human” Experience
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Category: Networking
“Networking” is often a dull situation that leaves you wondering whether you made a new friend or
just heard someone repeat their LinkedIn profile. Join four friends & advocates for purposeful
connections to reflect on high-impact relationships in your life & identify your role in creating more
“human” experiences. You’ll leave this session with practical ways to engage conversations that create
more intentional community in your everyday life.
FACILITATORS: ALYSSA FEUERBACH – Co-Founder, Hype Women Glocal; WARNER
HELLYER – Co-Founder, Hype Women Glocal; EMILY MIGALA – Co-Founder, Hype Women
Glocal; MACKENZIE YATES – Co-Founder, Hype Women Glocal
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
KEYNOTE: Leading Change the Changemaker Way
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Category: Keynote
Ashoka U's powerful community has influenced millions of students to become changemakers. We have
built new educational models, shared lessons learned on campus change, & lifted each other up through
leadership challenges. Ashoka U co-founder Marina Kim will share reflections on the last 12 years of
Ashoka U, what we've accomplished together, where we fell short, & how we must do better. Ashoka
Founder & CEO Bill Drayton will reflect on his hopes for where the community will continue to lead &
innovate in the future for an equitable & inclusive "everyone a changemaker" world. her hopes for where
the community will continue to lead & innovate in the future.
SPEAKERS: BILL DRAYTON – Founder & CEO, Ashoka; DR. MARK R. GINSBERG – Provost and
Executive Vice President, George Mason University; MARINA KIM – Co-Founder & Executive Director,
Ashoka U; DR. MAURY PEIPERL – Dean, School of Business, George Mason University;
EXCHANGE EMCEE: ERIN KRAMPETZ BOYD – Head of Resident Experience, Culdesac
Session Resources:
Video link
13DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
BIG IDEA TALK: Normal is Not an Option
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Category: Big Idea Talk
COVID-19 has drawn attention to numerous barriers that people with disabilities have been
experiencing for decades. This talk will explore how we can leverage these now common experiences to
make the world more accessible. One of the worst things that we can do is go back to normal. Normal
was rooted in a culture that valued comfort over our collective progress. An accessible world is within
reach; let’s seize it!
SPEAKER: HILLARY SCANLON – Founder & CEO, STIL Solutions
Session Resources:
Video link
Who ARE we? Co-Creating Community Narrative & Power-Aware
Partnerships
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Category: Equipping Changemakers
Is social innovation gentrification? Equitable change-making necessitates a deep respect for the
complexity of human beings, courage, self-awareness, empathy, & humility. This workshop offers tools for
building a community-aware consciousness that is inclusive & power aware & explores the concept of a
“social justice tour” with self-reflective skills necessary to create one's own. As an interactive, co-created
narrative that challenges dominant epistemologies, we shape our community’s history through lived
experience.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Identify aspects of one’s own identities, power, & privilege within their own community to build one’s
own social justice tour.
› Identify ways in which traditional campus/community collaborations may re-enforce or re-create
systems of oppression or colonialism.
› Identify how critical contextualization versus Experience first benefits students & communities.
Facilitators: MAX HILL – Master of Public Policy Candidate, Rackham Merit Fellow, & Weill Scholar,
University of Michigan; SUSAN SANNING – Associate Dean & Director of Service & Social
Innovation, Grinnell College; KEIRA WILSON – Assistant Director of Service & Social Innovation,
Grinnell College
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
14DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Using mapping & the SDGs to invigorate regional social impact
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Category: Global Challenges
This session will explore projects underway in Central Ontario designed to build capacity within a
regional ecosystem. This session will offer valuable perspectives & points of connection from community
to campus tied to Georgian College, an Ashoka Campus. Participants will be provided the opportunity to
explore interactive mapping, an approach used to invigorating a region to achieve the UN SDGs &
connect them to social enterprise & diverse suppliers.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Participants will contribute to the conversation on SDGs within their regional context.
› Participants will be guided through interactive mapping as a tool for engagement.
› Participants will learn about the importance of community & campus partnerships as they relate to
making regional social impact
SPEAKERS: ASHLEIGH ADDISON – Data Oversight, Community Benefit Purchasing Project,
ellygreen.com; ELLY GREEN – Social Enterprise Developer/Consultant, ellygreen.com; SHAYLYN
MCKAY– Centre for Changemaking & Social Innovation Intern, Georgian College
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
EDIThread Discussion: Activism in the Social Media Age
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Category: Workshop
This will be a discussion & exchange on how to be effective, compassionate, & inclusive activists, whilst
focusing on our own well-being, & the well-being of those around us. As the Changemakers of
tomorrow, we need the tools & tips to create change online; safely & inclusively. We invite you to join
the discussion on how we can create a better tomorrow.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Understand inclusive ways of using social media to support activism.
› Able to challenge social media ‘trends’ & interactions which could have a larger negative impact.
› Understand the evolving nature of activism in a modern world.
FACILITATORS: HULDA ADAO – Co-Founder, EDIT; LYDIA COLLINS – Co-Founder, EDIT
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
Resource Pack
15DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Antiracist Educator Professional Development
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Category:Anti-Racism Activism
We propose an antiracist model for professional development as a tool for transforming schools &
teachers to be critically sensitive changemakers. Drawing upon more than 20 years of developing an
antiracist transformative teaching master’s program, we highlight processes that transform teachers’
knowledge & practices with the goal of transforming classroom environments, instruction, & curricula to
create equitable & inclusive education for all students.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Participants will have a clearer understanding of the need for antiracist education & antiracist teacher
professional development.
› Participants will better understand elements needed to create effective antiracist teacher professional
development experiences.
› Participants will take away examples of these experiences to build on in their own practices.
SPEAKERS: LAURA DALLMAN – Doctoral student & Graduate Research Assistant, George Mason
University; ELIZABETH (BETSY) DEMULDER – Professor & Academic Program Coordinator for
the Transformative Teaching, George Mason University; LAUREN RODRIGUEZ-GREGG –
Elementary Instructional Coach/Facilitator, Loudoun County Public Schools; STACIA STRIBLING –
Assistant Professor, George Mason University; JENICE VIEW – Associate Professor Emeritus, George
Mason University
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
16DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Fostering Student “Owner”ship in Changemaker Development
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Category: Courses & Course Sequences
Many students seek to incorporate within their careers a passion for promoting positive social change.
To accomplish this, students – particularly undergraduates - may benefit from concrete opportunities
to take ownership of their personal & civic purposes by embedding such purposes into their discipline-
based academic work. This Best Practices session will highlight approaches used within & outside the
classroom that empower students to become engaged change agents within their professions.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Provide tools that help students to discover & integrate their life purpose into their academic work
› Provide guidance for how faculty can foster a classroom environment that empowers students to
become engaged agents & co-producers in their learning
SPEAKERS: MITZI GONZALEZ – Student & Co-founder of Bluhm, University of Monterrey;
BETSY SCHMIDT – Professor of Practice, School of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts
Amherst; SAM TORRES – Student, School of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst;
YANNIZ VALADE – Yunus Centre Coordinator, University of Monterrey
FACILITATOR: LAQUITA BLOCKSON – Founding Faculty Director of the Social Innovation
Master of Arts program & Associate Professor of Business Management,Agnes Scott College
Session Resources:
Video link
BIG IDEA TALK: Universities, Power & the Future of Democracy
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM Type: Big Idea Talk
How do Universities act as catalysts for big historic shifts in how we organize ourselves as human
beings? Through this talk, you will travel around the world through the last 2000 years to revisit the
moments in which universities accelerated massive paradigm shifts in history. We will end with an
outlook on how universities can advance wellbeing for individuals, society & the planet by accelerating a
Changemaker Renaissance & Enlightenment.
SPEAKER: Fernande Raine – Founder & CEO, got history, inc.
Session Resources:
Video link
17DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
$650B Opportunity: Connecting Students with Transformative Power Of
University Endowments
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Category: Global Challenges
Higher education institutions have immense power to drive systemic change. This session highlights the
exciting opportunity to build innovative educational programs, engaging students in how a university
manages its endowment. Representing $650 billion in assets, endowments have historically invested with a
sole focus on financial return, but now understand that investing can be done in ways that generate a
strong return & accelerate the shift to a sustainable economy.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Understand the role that the world's investment markets must play in a transition to a sustainable
world
› Learn about the immense power of university endowments to both be a vehicle for educating, engaging
& empowering students & for advancing sustainable investing impact
› Learn several different models for how to implement a campus program, understand pros & cons, &
have an action plan for next steps
SPEAKERS: KARAN KISHOREPURIA – Student, Northeastern University; JEFF MINDLIN – Vice
President & Chief Investment Officer, Arizona State University/ASU Enterprise Partners; NICOLE
TORRICO – Program Manager, Intentional Endowments Network; FIONA WILSON – Deputy Chief
Sustainability Officer, University of New Hampshire
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
18DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Dialogue & Advocacy: Amplifying Our Voices to Bring Change
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Category: Anti-Racism Activism
Now more than ever, our world is in need of full spectrum listening, empathetic understanding, &
effective change to heal what has been hurt. Our workshop highlights the ways we can utilize dialogue
as an empowering tool for advocacy. By breaking down what goes into a dialogue around
microaggressions, we'll share best practices for communication, the need for anti-racism practices, &
how to advocate for marginalized members of our community.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Be able to implement dialogue as a tool for advocacy & empathetic understanding - especially when
facilitating around a topic like microaggressions, racism, or inclusion.
› Understand how deeply crucial it is to develop & commit to ongoing anti-racism practices in their
leadership roles
SPEAKER: KAMELOTTE GREGORY – Assistant Director of the Center for Social Impact, North
Central College; STEPHANIA RODRIGUEZ – Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs, North
Central College
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
Brain(mental) health: Journey onto well-being & resilience
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Category: Mindfulness & Wellbeing
Most of us are taught that life is linear. But in fact, most of the world's challenging events are random,
non-linear & chaotic. How do we thrive in this chaotic world? This session focuses on a deterministic
approach in the journey towards well-being & resilience by embracing our brain(mental) health amidst
everyday chaos.
SESSION OUTCOME:
› Audience should be able to understand the wholistic components of well-being, namely self, purpose
& healthy relationships towards achieving resilience.
SPEAKERS: EGETTE INDELELE – Student Council, George Mason University;
MAHALAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN – Research Intern,The Cato Institute
FACILITATOR: SARAH-MARIE HOPF – Founder; Integral Coach; Mindfulness Meditation Teacher,
Thriving in a Noisy World
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
19DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Dismantling Denial about Teachers’ Biases
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Category: Research
This session will focus on how Project ExCEL-Ignite (E-Ignite), actively addresses inherent bias in
teachers' perspectives about diverse students & their potential to demonstrate advanced capacity
through its innovative professional learning program. Using the key techniques of perspective taking,
data analysis & video reflection as vehicles to engage teachers in developing a resolution for the real-
world problem of underrepresentation of culturally, linguistically & economically diverse students in
gifted programs.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Participants will understand how using a PBL aligned professional learning program addresses
systemic racism & addresses equity.
› Participants will understand how perspective taking, data analysis, & video reflection provides
teachers an opportunity to examine their biases.
› Participants will understand how traditional classroom practices amplifies inequity & how PBL
curriculum is a vehicle to create & pedagogical inclusive excellence.
SPEAKERS: KIMBERLY DALY – Adjunct Professor & Project Coordinator, George Mason
University; ANNE HORAK – Research Faculty, PI & Project Director, George Mason University;
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
Changemaking vs. Digital Transformation
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Category: Co-Curricular Offerings
Changemaking at Georgian had to radically pivot on how we delivered highly interactive &
participatory programming in a remote learning environment. Little did we know this was the our
concerns as we had to embrace an 'interpreneurial digital business model' sitting on the precipise of
the Metaverse. This presentation will examine how weaving together frameworks from Human
Centred Interaction, Community Organizing & Business Model Innovation helped shift our Centre
forward.
SESSION OUTCOME:
› Participants will be able to develop a rough framework for reflecting on a digital model for
Changemaking at their institution
SPEAKER: NICOLE NORRIS – Manager, Centre for Changemaking & Social Innovation, Georgian
College
Session Resources:
Video link
20DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, & Strong Institutions
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Category: Anti-Racism Activism
UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 promotes peaceful & inclusive societies, access to justice, & strong,
accountable institutions. In this session, researchers at George Mason University will discuss how they
are putting their research into practice to implement on-the-ground change to promote peace &
tolerance, address corruption, & ensure the wellbeing of social justice & human rights activists.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Participants will learn about specific projects & obtain a better understanding of how universities
contributing to creating peace, enabling justice, & strengthening social institutions.
› Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges of & opportunities for changemaking
from within universities to address SDG 16.
SPEAKERS: SUSAN ALLEN – Associate Professor & Director of the Center for Peacemaking
Practice, Carter School of Peace & Conflict Resolution, George Mason University; CHER CHEN –
Associate Professor & Founder of the Human Rights & Global Justice Initiative, School of Integrative
Studies, George Mason University; KARINA KOROSTELINA – Professor & Director of the Program
on Prevention of Mass Violence & the Program on History, Memory, & Conflict, Carter School of Peace &
Conflict Resolution, George Mason University; LOUISE SHELLEY – University Professor & Director
of the Terrorism, George Mason University
FACILITATOR: LEAH NICHOLS – Executive Director, Institute for a Sustainable Earth, George
Mason University
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
Introduction to Systems Change
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Category: Best Practice
In this session we will provide an overview of Systems Change and how a systems focus can strengthen
your approach to solving social problems.
The session is rooted in Ashoka’s nearly four decades of experience in supporting social entrepreneurs
who are passionate about systems change – tackling the root causes behind problems in a way that leads
to lasting change – and will share some of their cases as examples. We will also share some tools and
resources to get started mapping out your own systems change journey and/or to help others do so.
SPEAKER: NADINE FREEMAN – Globalizer Co-Director,Ashoka
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
21DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Leading & Sustaining Changemaking in Times of Disruption
6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Category: Institutional Leadership
In times of disruption, changemaking with a view toward the long-term can be impeded in the short
term by leadership distraction & resource constraints. We are living in such times. This session is
designed to convene higher education change leaders & changemakers in a conversation about how to
lead & sustain changemaking initiatives that we can control through the change happening around us that
may be beyond our immediate control.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Insights into how to lead & sustain changemaking initiatives.
› Understand shared practices about maintaining priority & sustaining change initiatives in spite of
disruption.
› Broader connections & stronger motivation to continue to engage in changemaking.
SPEAKERS: CRAIG DUNN – Wilder Distinguished Professor of Business & Sustainability, College of
Business & Economics, Western Washington University; CHRISTOPHER MICHAELSON – Opus
Distinguished Professor of Principled Leadership & Change Leader for Strategy, The Center for the
Common Good, University of St. Thomas (USA); LUCAS SENGER – Senior Instructor, College of Fine
& Performing Arts,Western Washington University
FACILITATOR: TOBIAS ANDREASSON – Associate Director, Academic Social Innovation,
CQUniversity
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
How I Lead a Change Team_example
22DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
The Philosophy Behind Experiential Learning: Creating an Extraordinary
Course Experience
6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Category: Co-Curricular Offerings
This is an interactive session that will highlight multiple experiential learning, problem-based learning, &
service learning pedagogies into social innovation courses.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Attendees will learn about six different course designs & projects for students that have an impact on
communities
› Attendees will learn about 10-12 Experiential Learning Exercises to Achieve Extraordinary Change in
the Classroom to inform their changemaking efforts in their specific contexts.
› Attendees will learn how to develop experiential learning courses Online to drive changemaking
efforts in their specific contexts.
SPEAKERS: DEBBI BROCK – Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship & Marketing, Wingate
University; SUSANNA CHUI – Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Hang Seng University
of Hong Kong; SALEHA KHUMAWALA – Robert Grinaker Professor of Accounting & founding
director of SURE, University of Houston
FACILITATOR: CHARLES BECKER – Professor of Practice & Managing Director, SURE Program,
University of Houston
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
23DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Empathy Education: Theory & Practice
6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Category: Equipping Changemakers
Everyone knows the importance of empathy education. However, it is not easy to develop such a
program. In 2020, Prof. Hyun Shin (Hanyang University) has developed & implemented an innovative
program, "Empathy Leadership Program", for university & high school students in collaboration with T&C
Foundation. The program focuses on emotional, cognitive, & compassionate empathy training, & the
results were promising.The lessons & insights from the program will be discussed.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› To understand how to develop & implement an empathy education program.
› To learn how to measure the outcome of an empathy education program.
› To be inspired to develop & implement your own empathy program.
SPEAKERS: GAEUN JEONG – Manager, T&C Foundation; HAJE KIM – University Student & T&C
Young Fellow, Korea University; HYUN SHIN – Professor, Hanyang University; HYUNJIN WOO –
Student & T&C Young Fellow,Yonsei University
Session Resources:
Video link
Gaeun Jeong presentation
Haje Kim presentation
Hyun Shin presentation
Hyunjin Woo presentation
Aligning higher education community engagement with the Sustainable
Development Goals
6:45 PM – 7:15 PM Category: Global Challenges
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015
as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, & ensure that all people enjoy peace &
prosperity by 2030. Higher education is uniquely positioned to respond to the 17 SDGs, particularly
through the work faculty, staff, & students conduct alongside community partners to address pressing
needs & respond to evolving challenges. This workshop will align partnership efforts with SDG progress
to reify the strategic value of higher education community engagement & strengthen capacity to educate
students on issues of global concern.
SPEAKERS: ;JESSICA GIVENS – SDG & Beyond Task Force Coordinator, Julie Ann Wrigley Global
Futures Laboratory SDG & Beyond Task Force Coordinator; KRISTIN MEDLIN – Director of
Research, Collaboratory
Session Resources:
Video link
24DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
The Importance of Real History to Enhance your Power
6:45 PM – 7:15 PM Category: Equipping Changemakers
In this session, three youth leaders, Victor Ye, Jana Amin & Anya Dua will talk about their work in
empowering young people with the power of narratives that strengthen their identity and connect them
with a purpose to build a better future. They will share both their own journeys, and distill best practices
for adult ally-ship with young changemakers. The discussion will be moderated by got history? founder
Fernande Raine.
SPEAKERS: JANA AMIN – Activist, Co-Founder, UnTextbooked; ANYA DUA – Founder/Co-
Founder, GenZ Identity Lab and UnTextbooked; FERNANDE RAINE – Founder, Got History?
VICTORYE – Ashoka Young Changemaker, UnTextbooked
Session Resources:
Video link
Sustaining leaders of color: the story of Ignite Institute
6:45 PM – 7:15 PM Category: Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
In this session, we explore the lineage of social change movements & it's inevitable connection to leaders
of color. Ignite Institute leverages 150 years of history to reimagine three distinct ways of catalyzing &
emboldening a new generation of leaders for today. We will conclude our presentation with conversation
focused on the various challenges of being sustained in the long work of justice.
SPEAKERS: JONATHAN MURILLO – Program coordinator, Ignite Institute; AIZAIAH YONG–
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology & Pastoral Care, Pacific School of Religion
Session Resources:
Video link
Creativity & Friendship: The Undergraduate /Immigrant Seniors Life
Writing Project
7:15 PM– 7:45 PM Category: Equipping Changemakers
We pair undergraduate creative writing students with immigrant seniors to publish a book of poems &
stories each year. This year, we could not meet live & so all meetings were conducted on various online
platforms. Rather than a book, we made a short film featuring the Seniors poems & fiction. New skills
were formed, friends were made & we fought social isolation together.
SPEAKER: NATALIE MEISNER – Director of Changemaking, Mount Royal University
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
25DAY 1: Tuesday, March 16
Changemaker day: a journey of self-transformation & community
inspiration
7:15 PM– 7:45 PM Category: Students in Action
Changemaker Day is a festival that brings together people who recognize themselves as changemakers
or wish to become one. Our goal for the session is to share how through this event, we are able to
inspire thousands of young people to join or create their own changemaking initiatives. In our latest
edition, we reached more than 7,500 people from around Mexico & Latin America.
SPEAKERS: Erika Daniela Cisneros González – LLB, Tecnologico de Monterrey; ITZAMARA
GUERRERO – Industrial Engineering Student, Tecnologico de Monterrey; EMANUEL ESTRADA
LARIOS – Engineer,Tecnologico de Monterrey
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
Long term coaching of changemakers: the key to breed innovators
7:15 PM– 7:45 PM Category: Spark
As the changemaker philosophy spreads, many entrepreneurs start to emerge in the ecosystem & will
need guidance to accomplish their goals. As educators, we know that difficulties are inevitable. The
students face challenges; as well as, difficulties developing their projects. Such circumstances influence
the resolve of the changemaker.
UDEM working to improve this scenario, has created Form to Transform betting in the long-term
guidance of the next generation of changemakersAmerica.
SPEAKERS: JESÚS ALEJANDRO ESCAREÑO ALVAREZ – Form to transform coordinator,
University of Monterrey - Formar para Transformar; RODOLFO LÓPEZ ARZOLA – University of
Monterrey - Formar para Transformar; JARED ESTEFANÍA MONTIEL RAMOS – University of
Monterrey - Formar para Transformar
Session Resources:
Video link
26Agnest Sscott College Ad
27DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
Queerfolx Connect!
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Category: Networking
Let's get together! This networking session is for folx who are queer or LGBTQ+ identified & want to
connect with other queerfolx at The Exchange. Katherine Taylor (they/she), McDaniel College, will lead
the session by offering up a few discussion questions & will leave lots of room for conversation &
connecting. Drop in, say hi, & leave as you like!
FACILITATOR: KATHERINE TAYLOR – Assistant Director of Community Engagement, McDaniel
College
European Meetup
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Category: Networking
Ashoka invites participants from across Europe to join in this semi-structured networking hour. We will
use our time to connect, build relationships, & share about the state of social innovation & higher
education in Europe.
FACILITATOR: MISZA CZERNIAK – Head of the J2CC Program,Ashoka Poland
Education for Sustainable Development
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Category: Networking
In 2003 the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
launched a global multi-stakeholder network of Regional Centers of Expertise on ESD (RCEs). RCEs
facilitate multi-sector collaboration, & are a tool for transformation to a more sustainable society,
combining education & action for sustainable development. RCE North Texas is one of the 179 RCE’s
worldwide founded in March 2019 at the University of Texas at Arlington.
FACILITATOR: MEGHNA TARE – Chief Sustainability Officer, University of Texas at Arlington
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
28DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
Start Close In: Cultivating Self-Compassion in Difficult Times
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Category: Mindfulness & Wellbeing
Being a changemaker (and a human being) is hard. In this session, we'll explore a simple self-
compassion practice to better deal with difficult emotions & challenge & create space to respond
with intention & kindness (rather than being reactive). As we acknowledge & care for what’s
happening inside of us, we can become - as research has shown - more motivated, more persistent,
more resilient, & less self-focused.
FACILITATOR: SARAH-MARIE HOPF – Founder; Integral Coach; Mindfulness Meditation
Teacher,Thriving in a Noisy World
Session Resources:
Video link
Research Showcase Part 2
11:00 AM– 1:00 PM
Part of the Changemaker Education Research Forum (C-CERF), held virtually alongside the 2021
Ashoka U Exchange. During this session, researchers can share their insights, findings, & learnings
with other participants. We are delighted to welcome attendees from Canadian & non-Canadian
campuses alike & look forward to expanding the scope of our conversations across borders!
SPEAKERS:
› "Decolonizing Research: The Knowledge for Change (K4C) Consortium on Training
the Next Generation of Activist Researchers" – WALTER LEPORE, SURIANI
DZULKIFLI, BUDD HALL; Royal Roads University, University of Victoria, UNESCO
› "Undergraduate Research as a Fulcrum for Leveraging Change" – JAMES STAUCH,
BARB DAVIES, & CORDELIA SNOWDEN; Mount Royal University
› "Evaluating & Improving the Contributions of Doctoral Research to Social
Innovation" – RACHEL CLAUS, RACHEL DAVEL, STEPHANIE JONES, & BRIAN
BELCHER; Royal Roads University
29DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
BIG IDEA TALK: What I Learned From a Lifetime of Hating School
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Category: Big Idea Talk
An Ashoka U Change Leader Emeritus shares his story of growing up dyslexic & hating school.
Discover how a love of learning triumphed over school & led to a career focused on access, inclusion,
& innovation in education. Learn how design thinking & roles as a startup founder, faculty member, &
administrator inform how we create educational access, cross-disciplinary learning, & work to end
systemic discrimination in school.
SPEAKER: GARRET WESTLAKE – Executive Director,VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation
Session Resources:
Video link
BOOK TALK: Redesigning the Substitute Teaching Experience
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Category: Book Talk
Jill Vialet is a serial social entrepreneur & co-founder of the nonprofit organization, Substantial. In
their upcoming book, Substantial Classrooms: Redesigning the Substitute Teaching Experience, Vialet &
vonMoos explore human centered design as a tool for improving substitute teaching & developing
social sector innovations. In this session, Jill will engage the participants in an interactive process
incorporating reflection, discussion & an introduction to design hacks for your own work.
SPEAKER: JILL VIALET – Co-Founder, Substantial
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
BOOK TALK: Purpose Mindset with Akhtar Badshah
12:00PM – 12:30 PM Category: Book Talk
In my book, "Purpose Mindset", I provide a framework for exploring the shifts that can take place
within our inner selves. Purpose is that renewable source of energy that continues to drive humanity
forward, without purpose we lose our path. I outline five principles of purpose mindset in my book to
provide a framework from which we can move from the focus on the 'me' the 'we' & collective good.
SPEAKER: AKHTAR BADSHAH – Associate Teaching Faculty, University of Washington
MODERATOR: DIANA WELLS – President Emeritus,Ashoka
Session Resources:
Video link
30DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
SPARK SESSION: Anti-Racist Pedagogy through Digital Learning & Online
Social Impact Internships
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Category: Anti-Racism Activism
How can we use digital technology to support anti-racist & de-colonial learning for ourselves & others?
How can we ground our efforts to ‘do good’ in critical reflection & praxis rather than self-righteous
paternalism? In this session, panelists from Mexico, Morocco, & the United States reflect on their
ongoing experiences confronting inequality, grappling with hierarchy, & building relationships across
differences of culture & power.
SPEAKERS: MARC ANTHONY BRANCH – Partner Coordinator & EdGE Mentor, Omprakash;
BÁRBARA LAZCANO – Directora de Desarollo y Vinculación, Solidaridad Internacional Kanda
(SiKanda); NADIA MOUKANNI – PhD Student, UC Davis
FACILITATOR: WILLY OPPENHEIM – Founder & Co-Director, Omprakash
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
SPARK SESSION: Thriving in a Diverse Environment: A Self -Awareness
Journey
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Category: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
This Spark Session is designed to enhance the self-awareness of attendees to constructively consider
issues that emerge from diversity leading to equitable outcomes that support equal access, a sense of
belonging & benefits from tapping into the power of culture. Furthermore, attendees will develop an
appreciation for their own cultural identities & become self-reflective toward differences in the cultural
identities of others.
SPEAKERS: ALEJANDRA ENRIQUEZ GATES – Program Director, Arizona State University;
REBECCA GRIJALVA – Project Manager, Arizona State University; RUHI KHAN – Project Director,
Arizona State University
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
31DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
Multidisciplinary Approaches to Climate Change Research and Teaching
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Category: Global Challenges
Since early days of climate change research, students and faculty alike have acknowledged that such a
multidimensional problem requires a multidisciplinary approach to understand, synthesize and
implement ideas from science, engineering, social science, education and the humanities. This panel will
highlight the commitment of the Mason community to transformative, multidisciplinary
understandings of climate change that closely align with SDG-13 on taking urgent action to combat
climate change and its impacts.
SPEAKERS: LISA BREGLIA – Senior Associate Dean and Associate Prof of Global Affairs, George
Mason University; JAMIE CLARK – Assistant Professor, Anthropology, George Mason University;
EDWARD MAIBACH – Director, Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason
University; COLIN NACKERMAN – Associate Director of Policy and Operations, Medical Society
Consortium on Climate and Health, George Mason University; PADHU SESHAIYER – Associate
Dean, Academic Affairs and Prof. Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University; JENNIFER
SKLAREW - Assistant Professor, Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University
Session Resources:
Video link
Codesigning Indigenous peer mentorship with experts of the lived
experience
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Category: Students in Action
Come join us to talk about Indigenous peer mentorship! This session will highlight the exploration of
Indigenous peer mentorship for diabetes self-management within Treaty 7 Territory (Southern Alberta,
Canada) using a modified nominal group technique & the Educating for Equity care framework. Findings
including building community competency & healing in a good way will be discussed & what
possibilities are next in this strength based & capacity building topic.
SPEAKERS: Dr. Elaine Boyling – Senior Research Associate, University of Calgary; Sara Scott –
Registered Nurse, University of Calgary
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
32DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
BOOK TALK: Vision For A Change
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM Category: Book Talk
Ashoka Fellow & author, Lynn Price shares thought-provoking & problem solving relatable stories that
serve as a catalyst for change & sustainability. With laser sharp focus, she encourages ideas & inside-
preneurial skills to build business models that scale from casting the first stone to creating a ripple of
impact.
SPEAKER: LYNN PRICE – Founder & President Emeritus, Camp To Belong International
Session Resources:
Video link
Designing Cross-Campus Pathways for Equity & Social Justice
12:30PM – 1:00 PM Category Students in Action
This presentation will detail the necessity of action-based equity & social justice workshops in academic
settings, specifically using design thinking techniques. The workshops described in this presentation were
designed & facilitated by students of various identities & have lead to transformative campus impact.
Participants in this session will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge on different lived
experiences & equip themselves with tools to change biased & oppressive mindsets.
SPEAKER: SONIYAH ROBINSON – Social Justice Lead Coordinator, Center for Design Thinking at
Elon University
Session Resources:
Video link
Colleges & Universities as Sustainable Food Ecosystems
12:30PM – 1:00 PM Category: Spark
Imagine universities transformed into sustainable food ecosystems. Imagine students cooking for
students, while sharing cultures, cuisines & stories. Imagine students getting home-cooked food that's
affordable, convenient, healthy & inspiring. Imagine students with basic cooking skills earning money
through fun, flexible cooking gigs. Imagine campus landscapes transformed into edible gardens. Sparked
your interest?
www.bites.mobi IG: @bites.app
SPEAKER: ROZA FERDOWSMAKAN – Founder, Bites | Eat With Your Tribe by Warehouse Apps
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
33DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
BIG IDEA TALK: The 20% Rule for Innovation in Higher Ed
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM Category: Big Idea Talk
Innovative companies have long understood the benefit of allowing employees to allocate a
percentage of their time toward projects they are intrinsically interested in. How could such focused
free thinking help higher educational institutions as they wrestle with daunting industry challenges &
look to reimagine how they help students discover & develop their talents to have a positive impact
in the world?
SPEAKER: YUSUF DAHL – Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Lafayette College
Session Resources:
Video link
34DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
Community Engagement & Research to Address Homelessness
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Category: Global Challenges
Homelessness is one of the most important issues in many communities, & universities have a role in
studying & addressing the issue. We will provide examples & best practices for action-oriented,
community-based research on homelessness & housing insecurity with multiple partners—government,
nonprofit, faith-based, policymakers, people with lived experience—and with deep engagement from
students. We will also provide examples & models for establishing research programs with a strong racial
equity lens.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Understand how homelessness is defined & estimated in the United States as well as recognize &
dispel common myths & stereotypes around homelessness
› Understand approaches to embed racial equity & lived experience as key principles & practices in
university research centers & projects
› Develop community partnerships that benefit the partner, students, & faculty, with a focus on
reciprocity & mutuality
SPEAKERS: JACEN GREENE – Assistant Director, Portland State University Homelessness
Research & Action Collaborative; JENNIFER LEE-ANDERSON – Ph.D. Student, Portland State
University; MIKE WILLIAMS – Professor, Political Science, University of San Diego
FACILITATOR: KATE DECONINCK – Teaching Professor, Theology & Religious Studies, University
of San Diego
Session Resources:
Presentation link
COVID-19 Rapid Response: Deploying Student Changemakers
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Category: Co-Curricular Offerings
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple cascading crises involving public health, housing,
unemployment, & domestic violence. Each required organizations to rapidly respond both in terms of
remote operations & provision of services to meet the crisis. This session will unpack the experience of
the Northeastern University School of Law Unemployment Rapid Response project, which assembled a
team of nearly 90 law students to assist nearly 500 people file for unemployment.
SPEAKERS: DAN JACKSON – Executive Director, NuLawLab, Northeastern University School of
Law; EMILY LAW – Law Student Project Manager, Northeastern University School of Law
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
35DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
Designing Programs for Access, Excellence and Engagement: Three
Sustainable and Replicable Models of High Impact Practice
2:00 PM– 3:15 PM Category: Equipping Changemakers
In this time of disruption, leaders of the higher education ecosystem continue to search for ways to
leverage resources and build new partnerships aimed at increasing access, excellence, and engagement
for all students. In this presentation principal leaders from George Mason and entrepreneurial
community partners will share three multi stakeholder models rooted in partnerships and grounded in
a deep commitment to supporting all students in reaching their potential as changemakers.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Be inspired to collaborate in new ways to increase access, opportunity, and learning for our neediest
students.
› Learn details of campus-wide collaboration efforts aimed at deepening inclusion and interaction
amongst diverse student populations.
› Connect with leaders of programs who are innovating on the leading edge of higher education.
SPEAKERS: GABRIEL BENN; RICK DAVIS – George Mason University; KARYN KESSLER –
George Mason University; AMY LEWIS – George Mason University; JANETTE MUIR – George
Mason University; SHERI ROBERTSON; PAUL ROGERS – George Mason University; BEV
SHAKLEE – George Mason University
The Success Factor Framework for Understanding & Initiating Social
Change
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Category: Best Practice
The Success Factors are eight critical tactics that may be used to explore the success or failure of any
social change strategy. This session will explain how the Success Factors were developed, how they can
be used to examine why a given intervention was successful, & how agents for social change might
leverage them for new efforts; we will also overview best practices for introducing the framework to
learners.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Understand the Success Factor framework as a tool for assessing social change campaigns
› Incorporate Success Factors into existing courses to improve student learning
SPEAKER: ALANE PRESSWOOD – Higher Education Program Specialist, Solutions Journalism
Network
Session Resources:
Video link
Presentation link
36DAY 2: Wednesday, March 17
Collaboration & DEI Leadership: Beyond the Chief Diversity Officer
Position
2:00 PM– 3:15 PM Category: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
The CDO model has been used with success across higher education. However, it is not always a viable
model for smaller schools with limited resources. At Wheaton College in Massachusetts, the Diversity,
Equity, & Access Leadership (DEAL) structure, consisting of 3 co-equal leaders drawn from faculty &
administration, is an innovative example of how higher education institutions can advance inclusion &
address the challenges associated with leadership in this area.
SESSION OUTCOMES:
› Present Wheaton College (MA)'s DEAL (Diversity, Equity, & Access Leadership) model, an EDI-
related innovation based on a collaborative organizing structure
› Explain how DEAL works in practice, including the day-to-day interactions & collaborations which
create opportunities for innovative diversity work
› Highlight how the DEAL structure coordinates leadership efforts across campus, including in areas
such as social entrepreneurship & innovation
SPEAKERS: STEPHANIE BURLINGTON DANIELS – Associate Professor of Theatre; Co-Chair,
Diversity, Equity, & Access Leadership (DEAL) , Wheaton College (MA); SHAYA GREGORY POKU –
Diana Davis Spencer Chair of Social Entrepreneurship; Associate Professor of Business & Management,
Wheaton College (MA); RAQUEL RAMOS – Dean, Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning; Co-
Chair, Diversity, Equity & Access Leadership (DEAL), Wheaton College (MA); ERVIN WILLIAMS –
Student,Wheaton College (MA); CEO, Psi 7
FACILITATOR: IMRAN G. CHOWDHURY – Diana Davis Spencer Chair of Social
Entrepreneurship;Associate Professor of Business & Management,Wheaton College (MA)
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