Summer of Social Innovation for Students
A Productive Summer Break: Social Innovation Certificate Program Recap
By Prasidhika Shrestha, MS-Marketing Analytics ‘26
This past summer, Clark University School of Business (CUSB) Assistant Dean Laura Burgess kicked off year three of the Social Innovation Certificate Program (SICP) with a fantastic group of students.
As she has noted in the past, Burgess created the non-credit program as a way to further the mission of the business school, and expose students to local organizations, large and small, for- and non-profits, who are engaged in social impact initiatives that address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
The unique, hands-on, innovative learning experience for the students offered diverse experiences through company visits and volunteering opportunities. The 2025 program, focused on exploring and getting to know U.S. healthcare organizations and non-profits, culminated with students completing consulting projects for the Seven Hills Foundation.
“The Social Innovation Certification Program embodies Clark University School of Business’ mission by blending academic learning with hands-on impact, encouraging students to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and apply analytical thinking beyond the classroom.” – Darshan Jain, Master’s in Business Analytics
The program started with an orientation, with students sharing their background and expectations from the program, as well the SDGs they are most passionate about. As an icebreaker, the students had a potluck with each student bringing something special from their home country. It was a fun day of getting to know each other while enjoying delicious food from all over the world. The orientation was followed by Professor Tom Herald providing an overview of the concept of consulting.
Volunteering at Community Harvest Project:
Students got hands-on in helping address food insecurity by volunteering for the Community Harvest Project (CHP), an initiative focused on providing fresh produce to residents throughout the area to help fight food insecurity. It was a bright and sunny day, and our students tried out their farming skills by planting cabbages. Their efforts were rewarded with a hearty lunch and a session by CHP’s executive director, Tori Buerschaper, on how the non-profit organization operate sand its long-term plans.
“Volunteering at the Community Harvest Project was the most enjoyable part of the program for me. It was fulfilling to contribute to an impactful initiative addressing food insecurity.”
– Prasidhika Shrestha, Master’s in Marketing Analytics
Visit to Seven Hills Foundation:
Next stop was Seven Hills Foundation, where we were introduced to the massive and impactful organization. Students learned about the types of adult and child healthcare services provided by the foundation and were briefed about the consulting projects they would be presenting at the end of the SICP. The participants were divided into two groups and were assigned one topic each. The topics consisted of “Managed Long-term Supports and Services – Trends and Potential Impacts,” and “Identification of Potential Partnership and/or Affiliation Opportunities within MA Human Services Providers.”
“Each site we visited offered unique lessons, yet the consulting project with Seven Hills Foundation stood out. Collaborating with the Seven Hills team on real challenges showcased how data, strategy, and compassion can combine for positive impact.” –
Darshan Jain, Master’s in Business Analytics
UMass Memorial Panel Discussion:
The group was excited to listen first hand to a panel of alumni working in the healthcare industry. Alumni Brett Almquist, Alexander Wheeler, Francis M. Wanjau, and Domenica Perrone joined us to talk about their journeys and experiences in the healthcare industry. It was a great opportunity for students to connect with Clark alumni, as well as take part in an engaging and enriching discussion on ethical and community challenges in healthcare. Students also got to understand further the transferable business skills in the healthcare industry and the top soft skills they require to flourish. (What are the top soft skills? Answer: Adaptability, being inquisitive, critical thinking, patience, and being comfortable with what you know and don’t know!)
Innovation Trail Tour:
Next in the program was the chance to take part in the Innovation Trail Tour in Boston, visiting numerous innovative places in the city and learning the history behind them all. The trail tour also included a visit to the Broad Institute, where students got the chance to explore its research work in different fields of health and medicine. Students were also introduced to Danny Lewin, a pioneer in the world of the internet, through a visit to the Denny Lewin Park and got a brief introduction to Akamai. The tour ended with a visit to MIT.
A Field Trip to Morrissey Market:
It is always fulfilling to see an alumnus doing great things professionally and for the community. As part of the program, students visited Morrisey Market, co-founded by Clark and MBA alumnus, Brad McNamara. The company is determined to advance the “Food as Medicine Movement.”
The company has a partnership with multiple state-run Medicare programs and non-profit organizations to supply them nutritious produce boxes tailored to individual dietary needs. Students got a sneak peek into what goes behind forming such partnerships and inventory management, all of which were great real-life business lessons for the Clarkies.
Department of Public Health (DPH) Panel Discussion & Massachusetts State House Tour:
The people working in public health ae often unsung heroes. They are at the forefront for combating any health crisis, and they are crucial for a society, nation, and world to function smoothly. The panel discussion was an insightful look into the U.S. public health system. In this age of big data, Clarkies learned how DPH uses data to improve patient care and manage crises. Main takeaway from the panel: Data saves lives. Better data saves more lives!
There was also a surprise tour in store. After the panel discussion, Clark MBA alumna and panel member, Rumi Pavlova-Plotnik, arranged a tour of the historic Massachusetts State House for the students. All in all, it was a wonderful day of learning about public health and U.S. history.
“The Innovation Tour and visit to the Massachusetts State House in Boston was my favorite experience. It offered a glimpse into the connection between business and society and demonstrated how organizations can make a positive impact while remaining sustainable.” – Alisha Mary Thomas, MBA-Business Analytics
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) Tour:
For the final field trip of the Social Innovation Certificate program, students visited the site of the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, the longest-running life sciences incubator in Massachusetts. It has long been operating to fuel the entrepreneurs with ideas to advance biomedical sciences
Students got to experience what it takes to bring entrepreneurial ideas to life and hear real-life stories from entrepreneurs operating their business through the MBI incubator space. They had a chance to meet the founders of SauveBio and Trilogie Bioscience, who shared their key entrepreneurial skills, and noted the importance of networking and making connections with people through LinkedIn and by attending relevant events.
Consulting Project Presentation at Seven Hills Foundation:
There was no better way to end the 8-week journey than through a final presentation at Seven Hills Foundation, addressing real-world issues and applying what we had learned through our site visits and discussions. It was not only an important way for students to strengthen their analytical skills, but also a fun way to improve their team building, collaborative, and most importantly, presentation skills.
More From the Students:
“The program taught us how innovation, community engagement, and action intersect for lasting change.” – Darshan Jain, Master’s in Business Analytics
“The entire program helped us see how classroom learning can create real-world change.” – Alisha Mary Thomas, MBA-Business Analytics
“Overall, the program reflects CUSB’s commitment to community and enhancing lives. – Prasidhika Shrestha, Master’s in Marketing Analytics (article author)
Check out many more student photos below!
