Richmond Innovation Fellows

Richmond Innovation Fellows

The Richmond Innovation Fellows (RIF) program is an interdisciplinary three-part academic and experiential sequence empowering students to become agents of change. Though ideas are welcome, it is not a prerequisite. Through RIF, students will identify and solve problems across a non-profit, startup, and corporate settings in both local and global contexts.

RIF Content

Richmond Innovation Fellows 

The Richmond Innovation Fellows (RIF) program is an interdisciplinary three-part academic and experiential sequence that empowers students to become agents of change. Though ideas are welcome, they are not a prerequisite. Through RIF, students will identify and solve problems in non-profit, startup, and corporate settings in both local and global contexts.

 

2024 Richmond Innovation Fellows Cohort

UR’s Creativity, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship Initiative (CIE) launched the inaugural program supported by the Joan and Morgan Massey Foundation in the spring of 2024.

  • Will Conway, Robins School of Business
  • Sophia Devlin, Robins School of Business
  • Ayush Garg, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Aubrey Haught, Robins School of Business
  • Ayah Karar, Robins School of Business
  • Bongani Mwonzora, School of Arts and Sciences

 

2025 Cohort Announced

Congratulations on the acceptance of the second cohort of Richmond Innovation Fellows!

  • Noah Tice-Kepner, Robins School of Business
  • Rocio Tenorio, Robins School of Business
  • AB (Muhammad) Abubakkar, Robins School of Business
  • Amanda Green, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Jasmine Redeemer, Undeclared
  • Julianna Cimillo, Robins School of Business
  • Emira Husovikj, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Balty (Baltasar) Urrutia, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Deven Vennera, Robins School of Business
  • Aaron Greenwood, Jepson School of Leadership
  • Khaliq Ibrahim, Undeclared
  • Minahil Mobeen, Undeclared
  • Ryan McCarroll, School of Arts and Sciences

 

RIF Phases

  1. SPRING 2025 - IDST 299: Design Thinking, 1 unit, T/Th 3-4:15 pm - CRN 21390
    1. Course Description: Are you interested in becoming a ChangeMaker?
 Do you have an idea to better the world or design a new product? This course is intended as an introduction and immersive experience for students with creative ideas who want to convert those ideas into value-driven solutions for non-profit and for-profit spaces.

  2. SUMMER 2025 - International Innovation / Entrepreneurial Mindset Intensive
    1. CIE funds travel expenses.

  3. FALL 2025 - RIF Capstone, .5 unit
    1. Students define and bring an idea to fruition in a cohort setting and present results at an end of semester showcase.

 

 

Contact

For questions, please email Somiah Lattimore
Senior Director of Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Initiative
Office of the Provost