Program
The Brown Social Innovation Fellowship program is designed to encourage incremental action for positive impact in the spirit of Tony’s famous teaching: “Get ready, go, get set!” The core pillars of the program mirror the core pillars of Tony’s classes: project-based learning, community collaboration, and engagement across the Duke and Durham network.
Project Development
Core curriculum working to develop student’s social change models, validate social innovation opportunities, support action-based testing and learning, and refine strategies for the sustainability and growth of their projects.
Cohort Community
Community of like-minded, entrepreneurial students across the Duke student body for ongoing support, feedback, and problem solving.
Alumni Support
Access to a unique group of alumni who are actively engaged in innovative and community-oriented work, eager to pay-forward the lessons they learned in Tony’s class.
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Bi-weekly cohort meetings to discuss social change models, action-based testing, and opportunity validation.
Alumni guest speakers discussing social entrepreneurship, personal leadership, and project development experiences
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Elective project office hours with program leadership team for ongoing support and feedback
Ad hoc pairing with alumni based on project areas and needs
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By the end of the fellowship program, fellows will have:
Problem Definition and Social Change Model
Credible Project Proposal
Get Ready, Go, Get Set - Next Steps
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On an as needed basis, fellows will have access to various resources to continue their project work. Additional resources could include:
Alumni advising & mentorship
In-kind resources
Capital resources
Spring 2026 Program Dates
The BSIF Program is an 10-week program beginning in mid-January and ending in mid-April. Program segment details below.
Get Ready
Informed Hypotheses
January 19 - 30
Go
Action-Based Testing
February 2 - March 20
Get Set
Learning and Reframing
March 23 - April 10