Complex social problems in Nashville and around the world demand solutions that are only possible through collaboration and innovation. The Belmont Innovation Labs brings together students from across the university to engage in this work of social innovation through a cohort experience of learning, research, and travel in the prestigious Social Innovation Fellowship.
As a Social Innovation Fellow, you will learn from leaders in community storytelling, contribute to an ongoing project of social innovation, and develop your own research projects. Each cohort of 10 Global Honors students is selected through the college admissions process, and each cohort is designed to bring together multidisciplinary backgrounds and interests.
Learn
As a Social Innovation Fellow, you will explore what it means—and what it takes—to live an honorable life. You’ll learn to apply systems thinking for social change and develop intercultural communication skills vital for navigating the dynamic world around us.
- Freshman Year – Fall: In the course An Honorable Life, you’ll reflect deeply on your values and purpose, asking life-shaping questions like: “Who do I want to be in this life?”
- Freshman Year – Spring: You will take Transforming Systems: Design and Innovation for Social Good, where you'll explore how innovation can drive meaningful change.
- Sophomore Year: Through interactive workshops and seminars, you’ll build competencies such as empathy, cross-cultural communication, and collaborative problem-solving—all essential skills for your upcoming semester abroad.
Research
As a Fellow, you’ll conduct project-based research on pressing social issues, aligned with the Global Honors curriculum. You’ll also have the opportunity to gain paid research experience through assistantships in the Innovation Labs.
- Junior Year: Learn key research methods including qualitative and quantitative data collection, impact analysis, and how to design professional impact reports.
- Senior Year: Eligible Fellows may serve as paid research assistants, with opportunities to publish original case studies and articles on social innovation through academic and professional platforms.
Travel
Your fellowship includes immersive global learning experiences through both semester-long and short-term international travel. These experiences will allow you to study complex global issues such as conflict resolution, peacebuilding, storytelling for social change, and poverty alleviation—directly within the communities they affect.
- Freshman Year: Join your cohort for a summer study abroad experience at the end of the year.
- Sophomore Year: Choose an individual semester-long study abroad during the spring semester through Global Honors.
- Junior Year: Travel with your cohort on a short-term study abroad experience at the end of the year.
Brady Davidson
Finance
Clarksville, TN
"I always knew I wanted to do something bigger than myself, but I wasn't sure what it was. The Fellowship is helping me to learn what I can do, where I am most applicable."
Madeleine Davis
Music Business
Knoxville, TN
"I was motivated to apply for the Fellowship because it sounded like a community that I wanted to be a part of, that wanted to make social change, with an underlying Christian focus."
Amelia Witts
Songwriting
Phoenix, AZ
"Songwriting can be a force for social change, so I want to be a voice for others, telling their stories."
Annabeth Dronet
Biochemistry
Houston, TX
"Hope is a huge part of social innovation. I want to go out and give people a sense that there's something to fight for."
Emily McCowan
Nursing
Clarksville, TN
"The Fellowship has shown me that social innovation can be built into people's daily lives to improve their communities."
Application Process
The Social Innovation Fellowship is available to a select set of students in the Global Honors Program. To be considered for the fellowship, please apply to the Global Honors Program.