Blog

Welcome to the Office of University Initiatives Blog, an online journal that allows our office to share and reflect on our work at ASU.

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Civility and the Spirit of Service

Submitted by Terah Crews on January 10, 2013 - 12:00am

Over the past several weeks I have been contemplating the meaning of public service in America. It’s a hot topic to be sure. Prominent political and thought leaders from Hillary Clinton to Tom Brokaw have made passionate pleas for a renewed commitment to civilian service. Exactly what public service means though, depends on who are talking to.

The Process of Innovation

Submitted by Melanie Reilly on January 7, 2013 - 12:00am

During the final days of 2012, I had the pleasure of reviewing applications to the ASU Innovation Challenge, an entrepreneurial competition for undergraduate and graduate students. As the competition’s name suggests, judges evaluate each application’s innovativeness. Throughout the judging process, I wondered whether we all have a common, identical definition of what is innovative. As an Innovation Fellow, I have gained valuable insight on the meaning of innovation.

Making the Connection: Economic Development and Civic Engagement

Submitted by Terah Crews on January 4, 2013 - 12:00am

Last October I had the honor of speaking at Campus Compact’s 2012 Presidents’ Leadership Summit. The Summit is the second such event for Campus Compact – a national network of 1,200 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. The Summit brought together leading presidents from all over the nation to discuss key issues in higher education.

Devil Success

Submitted by Terah Crews on December 20, 2012 - 12:00am

Recently, I was interviewed for an article at my undergraduate alma mater. During the interview I was asked: If I could pass on one piece of advice to current student what would it be? My response was, “don’t give up, but also don’t be afraid to pivot.” This philosophy is at the core of a new program at ASU, Sun Devil Success.

Frank Rhodes Lecture Featuring Arden Bement

Submitted by Janelle Knapp on October 15, 2012 - 12:00am

The Frank Rhodes Lecture series is a lecture series that began in Fall 2011 at the direction of President Crow to help advance his vision for a New American University and the need to redefine the role of higher education in society. Each semester an individual with a commitment to institutional innovation will visit Arizona State University to deliver a lecture, attended by hundreds of people, as well as meet with ASU students, faculty, staff and community members.

– Open to the public

Students Unite to End Hunger

Submitted by Melanie Reilly on October 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Picture 82,000 households. That’s more families than ASU has students. Now imagine that all 82,000 of these households are hungry—they do not know where their next meal will come from. Maybe you’re picturing a developing country or a distant land. However, this statistic represents our own Maricopa County; families and individuals in our communities struggle to put food on the table.

Learning for the Sake of Serving

Submitted by Melanie Reilly on July 19, 2012 - 12:00am

Some people hoard objects. Some may collect mounds of figurines, clothes, or dishes. I, however, hoard information—any tidbits I can grasp. So during my first weeks at the office of University Initiatives, I basked in the whirlwind of new faces, new names, new facts, and new details. Like a contestant in a cash cube, I collected as many valuable pieces as possible. I may not have captured everything thrown at me, but I was thrilled to catch what I could.

My Journey

Submitted by Terah Crews on July 13, 2012 - 12:00am

Just a month ago, I was sitting on the floor of a small apartment in Cambridge, Ma. The lights were dim and the atmosphere was blissful but somber (despite Lady Gaga blaring in the background).  I was surrounded by my classmates, my friends, my comrades.  We had all just turned in our final paper of graduate school, and we were reveling in the accomplishment of having completed a Masters at Harvard in less than nine months.

 

Innovation + Relevance = Impact

Submitted by Hayfa Aboukier on July 11, 2012 - 12:00am

In a time where things are changing rapidly and technology is running full force, we are in a place where the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship will dictate our future and quality of life. Across the world, innovation and entrepreneurship centers are sprouting up, serving as the seeds to our future.  As a continuation of the i6 Challenge innovation calls, Dr.

Premier co-working spaces, incubators and accelerator spaces throughout the Valley

Submitted by Hayfa Aboukier on July 11, 2012 - 12:00am

A few weeks ago, ASU entrepreneurs and innovators joined the Edson team on a party bus and tour all of the premier co-working spaces, incubators, and accelerator spaces throughout the Valley.  In one day we toured greater metro Phoenix in an attempt to learn about all the exciting spaces looking to support innovation and entrepreneurship in a variety of ways.

Innovative Strategies to Develop Award-winning Proof of Concept Centers

Submitted by Hayfa Aboukier on June 18, 2012 - 12:00am

What do you believe it takes to establish an award winning innovation and entrepreneurship center? In anticipation for the start of the 3rd annual i6 Challenge, the U.S. Economic Development Administration has organized a series of conference calls focused on answering this question and exploring how to create and develop award-winning proof of concept innovation and entrepreneurship centers.

Solutions to Solutions? Just maybe...

Submitted by Nikki Gusz on May 29, 2012 - 12:00am

In providing an environment where individuals can showcase or interact with ideas, the 10,000 Solutions Project is part of a growing community of challenge platforms. Since its inception, 10,000 Solutions has also prompted many valuable debates regarding the design of an initiative that aims to be accessible and impactful. For instance, is it better to ask broad challenge questions—or specific ones? Or, how can ideas or individuals with solutions be connected to people who can help make them happen?

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