ABOUT
"Organizations pursuing goals for the benefit of society face a unique set of challenges compared to those with primarily for-profit goals. Though charged with vitally important missions, nonprofits and social ventures (for-profit businesses with a social mission) are too often poorly led and managed. This course develops business-minded thinking and useful leadership skills in the future leaders of organizations with societal and nonprofit missions."
Many of us chose to take this class out of interest, future goals, or even current non-profit ambitions. Out of the 28 students, no student has the same motivations.
Get to know us!
Professor Miller
Alex Miller
Director, Consortium for Social Enterprise Effectiveness
Coming Soon!
The Students
Tiffani Hand
Marketing & Entrepeneurship
Call me Tiff. My biggest passion in life is helping people. I can lose hours in a good book but my favorite place to be is out trying new things and exploring. I believe in eating chocolate cake for breakfast, that a life lived for the Lord is a life well lived, and that you should dance every chance you have to…
Josh Tillery
Marketing
My name is Josh Tillery, I'm from Greeneville, TN. I am a senior marketing student at UT. I attend Fellowship Church here in Knoxville and serve in the high school ministry.
Mary Bertou
Business Administration Management with Entrepeneurship
I am a senior at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After graduation I would like to get involved in the abolition of human trafficking through a faith based non-profit organization.
Lauren Kataja
Sociology, Environmentalism & Sustainability
I have always had a passion for community service and volunteerism, and through organizations on campus I learned what it means to become a servant leader. To further my philanthropic education I decided to take this course, because I wanted to get some background experience in the nonprofit sector before committing myself to that path for my future. I want to help others help each other and better the sustainability of the future and their lives.
Thomas Hertz
Business Management
My name is Thomas Hertz, and I am finishing up my last year at the University of Tennessee for a bachelor's degree in business management. I am a hard-working individual with a goal of eventually owning a business that is positively impacting our world and people.
Monil Mehta
Microbiology
I am a senior currently beginning the process of matriculating into dental school. I took this class to dive deeper into the world of philanthropy and non-profits as I am the CEO of a young non-profit, Global Service Projects, that I started last year with some friends. I am passionate about addressing health disparities through preventive education and providing the underserved with increased access to care. It is my hope that one day I will be able to use my dental education and resources to work towards achieving these goals in regards to dental care both in my community and beyond.
Danielle Sapore
Sports Management & Business Administration
"Find the things you are passionate about and use them to enrich not only your life but the lives of others." This is the motto that has guided my entire life. I do everything I can to impact the lives of others through my passions, hence my being in this class. I'm majoring in sport management and business administration, and after a long journey from Phoenix, Arizona 4 years ago, will graduate this May. I run a business development consulting firm (Ashcraft Sapore Robinson), serve as the marketing director of a local non-profit (Global Service Projects), and because I'd be lost without a little sports in my life, am an Account Executive with the Knoxville Ice Bears. Please, connect with me if you need advice or just a friend!
Emma Zijlstra
Chemistry & Global Studies
While at UT, I have enjoyed being involved with organizations such as the Student Alumni Associates and Emerging Leaders, working as a preschool teacher outside of class, and studying abroad in Switzerland for a semester. My previous experience with nonprofits has been limited but with a wide range of social issues. As a college student, my main focus has been donating my time to organizations in my hometown and college town, but as I move through life I will be shifting to investing more money than time. I took this class to learn how to be better able to invest in nonprofit organizations.
Lance Taylor
Human Resource Management
I’m finishing up graduate school at UT while working full-time in fundraising for UT. This class was perfect for me as I’ve gotten to take some of the things I know and do well and learn about giving money away through a grant process which is something new for me. I hope to continue to work for UT in fundraising, but find a way to help other non-profits in the community as well through my experience.
J. August Ashcraft
Marketing & Leadership
My passion is people & helping them reach their goals to achieve success in their lives, businesses, and endeavors. I have a consulting firm (Ashcraft Sapore Robinson) and we work with businesses, new and developed, to help navigate them to success in sales, marketing, branding & general business development. I also work as a strategic account manager for Trilogy Essential Ingredients, Inc. (Baltimore, MD) – I sell natural flavors to the food and beverage industry. In addition to those responsibilities, I serve as co-founder & CFO of Global Service Projects, a non-profit with the mission of giving back to our world in the form of health and wellness projects around the globe.
Brynn Yeager
Community Based Mindfulness, Meditation, and Creativity
I am very excited to be participating in this project, and further connect to the non-profit community in Knoxville. I am involved with a number of nonprofits in Knoxville, including Momentum Dance Lab and the American Meditation Society. I am hoping that the skills I learn here will help me be make a difference in my community.
Meghan Jackson
Management
I am a junior at the University of Tennessee who is majoring in management. I'm intending to use my degree for a nonprofit that focuses on education or international relations and development. In my free time, I love to travel and experiencing new cultures.
Arpan Chakraborty
Biochemistry & Psychology
My name is Arpan Chakraborty and I am a senior studying Biochemistry and Psychology. I currently intern for Remote Area Medical as well as serving as the community service chair for a few organizations here on campus. I have also cofounded a nonprofit called Global Service Projects, which aims to raise awareness and alleviate health disparities. In my future, I hope to work in nonprofit healthcare.
Daniel Lee
Psychology
Dedicated to a life of virtue and love. Giving my all for the Vols brick by brick. Doing my best to make the world around me better each day.
Colbe Earles
Community Health & Development
I plan on attending medical school and am interested in primary and preventative care medicine. Eventually, I hope to work with a ministry/nonprofit in providing healthcare to those in the United States who do not have health insurance and access to care. I love to hike and climb and would love to serve with doctors without borders one day to travel the world and provide medical care.
Kelsey Brown
MBA
My name is Kelsey Brown, and I am currently a second-year MBA student at the University of Tennessee, concentrating in Marketing. I have been involved with non-profits virtually since I was born, and I took this class to learn more about how to effectively lead non-profit organizations and give more strategically. I’ve really enjoyed the Learning By Giving course, and am certain that it will impact how I make philanthropic decisions in the future.
Aaliyah Johnson
Resource Management
Hope to one day work with nonprofits that strive to help and encourage young people in need.
Go Vols!
Alex Buccelli
Psychology, Italian & Anthropology
My name is Alex Buccelli and I am a Junior Psychology Major with minors in Italian and Anthropology. I aspire to go to graduate school in order to gain a PhD in clinical or social psychology with the intention of helping people internationally understand the importance of mental health. By taking this course, I hope to explore a potential avenue of career that could get me involved with this area of interest. I enjoy traveling to different places, experiencing different cultures, and trying new foods.
Kimberly Smith
MBA
Claire Easterling
Business & Entrepreneurship
I spent 3 ½ years working for a low income nonprofit where I developed a passion for sustainability practices and energy conservation. So I returned to UT to obtain my MBA with concentrations in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. I want to help society transition to a more environmental cognizant community.
I'm a Senior at UT and have a passion for helping people and volunteering. I'm from Franklin, TN and would love to work for a professional sports team in Nashville when I graduate. I love dogs, traveling, and exploring the outdoors whenever I get the chance.
Guru Venkatesan
PhD, Biomedical Engineering
I am currently gaining research experience in engineering that I would like to apply in ways that will help make world a better place at some scale.
The Student Ambassadors
Savannah Dixon
Architecture & Spanish
After visiting Guatemala before college, I knew I wanted to create real change in social issues. Studying Spanish & Architecture gives me the skills to work in international housing impact. This class will help me understand how to more effectively do that.
Hayley Pennessi
Marketing
I am a Senior at UT majoring in Marketing. I currently work for the Tennessee Athletics Department as a student photographer and cover 14 varsity sporting teams. I have a love for animals, people, and all things food, and I have a heart for non-profit organizations and a constant desire to learn more about their missions.
Ty Murray
Public Relations
I'm very passionate about art, culture, education, and social action. I recently started an org at UT called Culture Shock Society that's dedicated to fostering awareness, development, leadership, and expression for students. In addition to this, I dream of starting my own spiritual lifestyle company that works with and spreads awareness about the issues I care about.