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Annual Report

Message from Our Directors

About Our Center

Collaboration Events

Social Impact Fellow Overview

Impact Series

Ideas to Serve

Alumni Spotlight Study Abroad

Achievements

Program Offerings

Partnerships Spotlight

Meet Our Team / Connect with Us

Terry Blum Faculty Director

Tedd Munchak Chair in Entrepreneurship

Katie Badura Associate Faculty Director

Dori Pap Managing Director

Message from Our Directors

As we reflect on 2025, we are proud to share this report and the collective progress it represents. Across our programs and partnerships, the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact continued to foster thoughtful leadership, meaningful collaboration, and transformative learning experience

This year brought a full season of our Impact x Intersection podcast series, new collaboration events with Georgia Tech departments and community partners, and notable achievements and awards earned by members of our faculty and staff. Students also deepened their learning through hands-on problem-solving and community engagement, and our events convened voices across disciplines to explore pressing social and environmental issues.

We saw the ripple effects of this work in the organizations strengthened through our partnerships and in the many moments of student growth that remind us why our mission matters. As you move through this report, we hope you feel inspired by the individuals and organizations who shape our community. Your continued support makes these accomplishments possible, and we are truly grateful.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to empowering students and the broader Georgia Tech community to lead with purpose, innovate for the public good, and help build a more just, caring, sustainable world.

About Our Center

Mission

We are an interdisciplinary institute that promotes servant leadership and organizational practices that contribute to a more just, caring, and sustainable world.

Themes

• Leadership Development

• Experiential Learning

• Social Innovation

Collaboration Events

Earth Day Panel

“Has the Economy Outgrown the Planet?”

In collaboration with the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, ACM SIGCHI, Central European University, Cargonomia, the Degrowth Institute, Purdue University, and DegrowUS, this year’s Earth Day panel at Georgia Tech, “Has the Economy Outgrown the Planet?”, invited participants to rethink growth, technology, and how we live with purpose in a world shaped by increasing consumption and complexity.

Featuring perspectives from urban carbon strategy, agroecological farming, and community organizing, the panel reframed sustainability not as a checklist, but as a way of living rooted in care, reflection, and connection. Speakers emphasized mindset over metrics, encouraging participants to reflect on how everyday choices influence broader environmental and social outcomes.

A key takeaway was a set of three guiding questions for intentional living: Is it meaningful? Is there a positive benefit? Am I around people I enjoy being around? These questions challenged assumptions of constant connectivity and highlighted how energy reduction can begin with more mindful digital engagement.

The discussion also explored the role of AI and automation, underscoring that technological innovation is not neutral but reflects collective values. Panelists called for technologies that are accessible, adaptable, repairable, and community-centered, and introduced degrowth as frugal abundance, an approach focused on meeting real needs while strengthening community and environmental relationships.

Tech for Change

Housing Access and Stability Mini-Hackathon

In collaboration with Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and supported by the Public Interest Technology University Network, Georgia Tech and Georgia State students came together for the Tech for Change: Housing Access and Stability Mini-Hackathon, using data and technology to address housing challenges in Metro Atlanta. Hosted by Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business Law, Data, and Design Lab and the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, the one-day event brought together 32 students across six interdisciplinary teams.

In partnership with local government and nonprofit organizations, participants explored innovative ways to make housing more accessible and stable for all. Guided by problem briefings from housing and court system experts, teams spent the day brainstorming, coding, and analyzing data to develop actionable solutions, including data-driven mapping tools and predictive models for policy decision-making. The event highlighted the power of collaboration across universities, government, and nonprofits to advance meaningful social change.

Social Impact Fellows

Overview 2025

Reflecting on my time with WheelChariot, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to gain first hand experience at the intersection of entrepreneurship, social impact, and accessibility. It was so insightful and inspiring to learn how a startup operates from the inside out, especially one with a mission as powerful and community-driven as WheelChariot’s. Throughout this experience, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to build and grow a startup in a mission-oriented space. From learning the nuances of community engagement and relationship-building to understanding the fundamentals of sales and business strategy, it’s been an enriching learning journey.”

Vaishnavi Vuyyuru Wheel Chariot

I applied because I love working with children and seeing them express themselves and learn about the world during such a fun stage of life, and I was excited for the chance to help inspire these young girls to see what’s possible for their futures. Most weeks, I’m designing new lesson plans or adapting existing ones to support 3D Girls, Inc.’s updated curriculum, and on Fridays I come on site to visit Kindezi schools, lead lessons, refine curriculum, and collaborate with the team. Through this experience, I’ve learned how to design student-focused curriculum, break down complex STEAM concepts for younger learners, and confidently share ideas within a collaborative nonprofit environment. As my first official role in the nonprofit sector, being a Social Impact Fellow has been truly meaningful.

Venya Gunjal 3D Girls, Inc

My experience working with Restore More through this fellowship has been both insightful and inspiring. My role mainly focused on contributing to social media strategy, but I had to learn about the ins and outs of the company first. I worked very closely with the CEO, Claudine Miles, who was such a delight and made me feel so welcome. She perfectly represents her brand, which focuses on restorative practices and implementing them in schools and school districts. I learned a lot about internal branding alignment using tools like Canva to post on platforms like Instagram. It was really rewarding to see awareness and engagement improve as we implemented some of my recommendations. I loved contributing to such a wonderful community of educators, and I learned a lot of transferable skills in the process.”

Working with students in the Social Impact Program at Georgia Tech has helped us to grow and expand our reach, and for that we’re immensely grateful! Our experience over the last couple of years has been one of mutual benefit, and we believe supporting these students in their desire to use their skills for good, helps empower the next generation of leaders, and to be a part of that is a gift.”

Anushri Mohan Restore More

Claudine Miles Restore More

Impact Series

This year marked the first full cycle of our Impact x Intersection podcast, the new evolution of our long-running Impact Speaker Series. Moving to a podcast format has allowed us to share meaningful conversations more widely and make our content accessible to listeners wherever they are—while staying true to our mission of highlighting leaders and change makers across sectors.

We began the year by hearing from our own directors, Terry Blum and Dori Pap. They reflected on the origins of the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, our commitment to developing servant leaders, and key programs like the Social Impact Fellowship and the Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program.

For Earth Day 2025, Dori hosted a special conversation with sustainability experts John Mulrow and Joe Bozeman, where they explored the social context of degrowth and what a more sustainable future might wrequire.

Later in the year, host and Full-time MBA student Analisa Wade spoke with Rohit Malhotra, founder of the Center for Civic Innovation, to unpack how CCI works to elevate community voices and strengthen civic engagement in Atlanta.

We also featured an inspiring discussion with Georgia Works CEO Darlene Schultz, who joined Analisa to share how Georgia Works transforms lives through structure, accountability, and adaptive leadership. Her perspective offered a powerful look at the organization’s unique spproach to success.

Across all episodes, the Impact x Intersection Podcast allowed us to amplify diverse perspectives, explore pressing issues, and continue our commitment to storytelling that inspires positive change.

Ideas to Serve

2025 Ideas to Serve Poster Showcase: Student Projects Explore Mental Health, Environmental Justice, and Affordable Housing

Thirteen Georgia Tech students participated in the 2025 Ideas to Serve (I2S) Poster Showcase, the culminating event of the MGT 4189 Social Impact course. Over the semester, students took a deep dive into complex local issues, including food equity, safety and justice, youth development, mental health, environmental justice, and affordable housing, and translated their research into compelling visual presentations that highlight both challenges and potential pathways for change.

This year, the top two projects were presented by Sophie Hollowell, a finance major, and Veronica Sills, a biochemistry major. Hollowell received the People’s Choice Award for her project analyzing the growing prevalence of youth mental health concerns. Her work examined the social, environmental, and systemic factors contributing to these trends and emphasized the urgency of developing more coordinated approaches to support young people.

Sills was named Best Poster for her research on Atlanta’s affordable housing landscape. Her project explored the policy and economic forces driving the city’s housing shortage, including zoning practices, market dynamics, and development incentives, and highlighted opportunities for local leaders to improve housing access across the region.

Study Abroad

The Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program in Central and Eastern Europe offers students a transformative learning experience grounded in cultural immersion, collaboration, and real-world impact. Each summer, the program invites Georgia Tech students to step beyond the classroom and engage directly with civil society organizations in Budapest, developing the leadership, empathy, and problem-solving skills essential for high-impact work. In 2025, 19 students from across campus carried with them not only passports and power adapters, but a shared commitment to purposeful global engagement.

This year, Audrey Paikeday (BSBA ‘27) and Caleb Harris (ME ‘26) partnered with Cargonomia, a sustainability-focused social enterprise promoting environmental justice and community-based food systems. Their work centered on Zsámboki Biokert, a regenerative organic farm operating a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that delivers fresh produce directly from farmers to city pickup locations. Charged with strengthening the farm’s outreach, Audrey and Caleb researched successful marketing strategies used by small and mid-sized U.S. farms and developed social media approaches to elevate the farm’s digital presence and deepen consumer engagement.

Their on-site visit to Zsámboki Biokert—interviewing trainees, observing daily operations, and gathering digital content—offered immersive insight into seasonal farming rhythms, regenerative agriculture practices, and the challenges facing sustainable food producers. Under the mentorship of Logan Strenchock, they also explored the role of storytelling in building community trust and communicating impact.

Reflecting on her experience, Audrey shared, “Interning with Zsámboki Biokert has broadened my perspective on food systems, degrowth, and sustainability.” Her words capture the essence of the program: meaningful growth through collaboration, cultural immersion, and hands-on engagement with organizations driving change.

Alumni Spotlight

Growing up right outside of Atlanta, graduating from Georgia Tech, and now still living in the city, Atlanta and its people truly have my heart. My favorite thing about the work I do is connecting employees with the community and seeing the lasting impact these experiences create—not only for the nonprofits we serve, but for the neighborhoods and families who benefit from these efforts. Every volunteer hour helps strengthen local organizations, expand their reach, and ultimately make Atlanta a better place for everyone.”

Reagan Donelly BSBA ’23

Reagan Donnelly is a proud Georgia Tech Scheller alumna (BSBA ’23) with a concentration in IT Management and a minor in Leadership and Organizational Change. She also participated in the 2022 Leadership for Social Good study abroad program, interning with Domino Tanoda to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in southern Budapest.

Currently, Reagan works on the Corporate Social Responsibility team at Cox Enterprises, focusing on community impact. She manages volunteer engagement for Cox’s Atlanta headquarters, overseeing relationships with more than 20 nonprofit partners. In this role, she coordinates the full lifecycle of volunteer programming—from private team-building events to weekly community opportunities and virtual engagements.

Achievements

Katie Badura

Best Reviewer Award at Organizational Bheavior and Human Decision Processes

These awards are designed to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the journal, through their scholarship and service.

Terry Blum

Pathway of Progress

Installed in March, Pathway of Progress: Celebrating Georgia Tech Women honors Georgia Tech alumnae, students, faculty, and staff through storytelling tiles. Terry Blum is featured as the Institute’s first woman appointed to an endowed chair.

Nicole Little

Ernest

Scheller, Jr. Award

This award recognizes a Scheller College of Business faculty or staff member who exemplifies service excellence by going above and beyond their role to support others, foster trust, and treat all members of the Georgia Tech community with respect and accountability.

Dori Pap

Doctorate & Community Impact Award

The 2025 Community Impact Award honors the partnership between 3D Girls, Inc. and a community partner, recognizing a collaboration that expanded organizational capacity, engaged students in meaningful service, and created lasting impact for girls and young women across Atlanta.

Robert Thomas

Fulbright Specialist Award

Robert Thomas, Professor of the Practice at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business, received a Fulbright Specialist Award to advance peace engineering initiatives at the Technical University of Košice in Slovakia, supporting collaborative efforts to address humanitarian needs stemming from the Ukrainian conflict and promote long-term, sustainable recovery through cross-sector partnership.

Program Offerings Impact Series

The Impact Speaker Series fosters insightful discussions featuring esteemed leaders from corporate and social realms. This initiative serves as a valuable resource, empowering students, faculty, staff, and the wider Atlanta community to engage in meaningful conversation on topics that matter.

Study Abroad

The Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program in Central and Eastern Europe offers interested students the opportunity to gain insight into global civil society, learn about the challenges of creating and leading effective and sustainable social enterprises, and make a positive impact by working closely with a nonprofit organization in Budapest, Hungary.

Ideas to Serve

Through workshops and conversations with community leaders and change makers, students explore complex social and environmental issues and develop an understanding of their role in improving the human condition for all.

Social Impact Fellows

The Social Impact fellowship provides students with a stipend and a high-impact learning experience by connecting them with Atlanta’s leading nonprofits and social enterprises. Through semester-long internships, students gain first-hand knowledge about the social sector, work closely with civic innovators, and develop leadership skills.

Leadership Studies Minor

The minor in Leadership Studies is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge of leadership theory, skills, and practical experience through a rigorous, multi-disciplinary program of study.

Pro-Bono Consulting

Pro-Bono Consulting is a premier partnership between Scheller MBA students and Atlanta-based nonprofit organizations. MBA teams work closely with partner organizations’ leadership every semester to address critical strategic challenges.

EXCEL Alumni

The EXCEL Alumni Program values the relationships adults with intellectual disabilities gain in an inclusive environment and promotes continued inclusion through inviting alumni mentors and community partners to participate in events and contribute to the program.

Emerging Leaders Program

The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) started in 2016 and is a collaboration between the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty. Over the course of six months, participants take part in several activities — workshops, small-group work, and coaching — to contribute to leadership development. Eligibility for the program consists of faculty with the following ranks: associate or full professor, senior or principal lecturer, senior or principal academic professional, and librarian or archivist III or IV.

Research Award

In an effort to strengthen the impact of the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact (ILSI), several competitive research grants are being offered. These awards aim to enhance the professional journey of faculty members or PhD students by supporting significant opportunities in the leadership and/or social impact space that are consistent with the mission of ILSI. Activities supported by this research award may include, but are not limited to: research expenses, bringing researchers, graduate students, or postdoctoral students to campus to collaborate, or research-related travel.