Students from over 50 diverse disciplines—including computer science, international relations, cinema, green technology, and cognitive science—have come together to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges.
"From finance to prototyping, leadership to negotiation, cultural sensitivity to psychology, and from design to understanding materials like fabrics and heat transfer, this program has been a comprehensive, all-encompassing educational odyssey."
JOSHUA NEUTEL
‘19 B.S. Chemical Engineering, Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar, Co-founder of Firefly
"Every aspect of our innovation is a result of direct conversations with potential users, ensuring that each feature genuinely aligns with their aspirations. This approach has led to a product that's not just useful, but life-chaning and deeply connected to real-world pain points."
ISHA SANGHVI
‘23 B.S. Neuroscience, USC Valedictorian, Co-founder of Remedy
"This program empowered me to address real-life challenges. Now, my friends often seek my guidance, and I mentor them. While the life of a refugee is fraught with unique and often unfair challenges, I choose to view my journey as both a blessing and an invaluable experience."
OMAR AZIZI
‘21 B.A. Business Administration, U.S President's Volunteer Service, Co-founder of Safar
"Coming from a journalism background, I had no experience in entrepreneurship or designing products. Despite this uncertainty, I quickly learned that not only is any skill beneficial to innovation, but as an innovator, you have to learn how to do everything."
JACK WATERMAN
`24 B.A Journalism, `26 M.S Social Enterpreneurship, Co-Founder of SkyGuard
"Lives Not Grades is how college education should be. It prepared me for the real world and creating real changes more than any other classes. It’s also a tough class. Students aren’t sheltered from failure and coddled to feel good about themselves."
RIA (YUWEI) XI
`22 B.S Computer Science, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Frontida Records
Cohort 1
Innovating Solutions for the Global Refugee Crisis 2018-2019
Frederico Dubini
Business Administration
Jonathon Shen
Computer Science (Security)
Joshua Neutel
Chemical Engineering
Linnea Engstrom
Environmental Engineering
Lucas Hu
Computer Science
Michael Ceasar
International Relations
Monique Manaloto
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Nina Shah
Biomedical Engineering
Omar Azizi
Entrepreneurship
Raghav Maheshwari
Computer Science
Rhys Richmond
Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering
Sabine Saldanha
Journalism
Sabrina Albrecht
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Siena Applebaum
Mechanical Engineering and Human Rights
Sipporah Negash
Chemical Engineering
Sofia Tavella
Mechanical Engineering
Spence Blood
Business Administration
Jack Washer
Business Administration
Alexandra Koops
Human Biology
Sahit Menon
Biomedical Engineering
Erna Redzepagic
Social Entrepreneurship
Sinjun Astani
Construction Management
Ariana Kim
Communication and Cognitive Science
Alya Rehman
Cinematic Arts
Camila Salomon
Building Science
Vanessa Karkoutly
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Mia Poynor
International health
Arya Bhatia
Business Analytics
Abigail Africa
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Tamzin Astani
International Finance
Drew Poulter
Construction Management
Adnan Solanki
Civil Engineering
Cohort 2
Engineering Resilience in the Global Refugee Crisis
2019-2020
Anubhav Garg
Computer Science
Anya Nutakki
Computer Science
Asmaa Zantout
Social Enterpreneurship
Autumn Gupta
GeoDesign
Ayeshna Desai
Health and Human Sciences
Benjamin Hahn
Computer Science
Blake Ackerman
Business Administration and Management
Chelsea Medina
Civil Engineering
Gianna Morena
Mechanical Engineering
Isaac McSherry
Biomedical Engineering
Jacob Totaro
Environmental Engineering
James Wagner
Business Administration
Jessica Williams
Neuroscience and Business
Jack Tenney
Business Administration
Laura Roed
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Lauren Yen
Biology
Nikki Bisarya
Computational Neuroscience with a Minor in Health Care Studies
Rui Lim
Computer Science and Business Administration
Sean Lissner
Computer Science
Stephanie Van Sickel
Business Administration
Rithika Srivathsa
Economics and Mathematics
Tim Guiteras
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
JoePaul Luikart
Architecture
Cohort 3
Tackling Global Health Challenges: The COVID-19 Pandemic Response 2021-2022
Amartya Ranganathan
Economics, Applied Mathematics
Ashton Tu
Media Arts and Practice
Beryl Zhou
Biological Sciences
Cami Grandjean
Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering
Chloe Keywell
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Dea Kurti
Industrial and Systems Engineering, Political Science
Elina Xie
Business Administration
Elisa James
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Emily Lee
Business Administration and Management
Emily Yin
Global Health
G Bajaj
Health and Human Sciences
Gauri Madhok
Computer Science
Hannah Lee
Human Biology
Isabel Bluml
Environmental Engineering
Isha Sanghvi
Neuroscience
Jay Krishnakumar
Business Administration
Jena Tran
Quantitative Biology
Jessica Au
Computer Science
Jordan Palmer
Business Administration
Kristof Osswald
Computer Science
Louis Cheng
Health Innovation
Maansi Manchanda
Computer Science
Mallika Jain
Business Administration
Michel Faliski
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Neha Parvathala
Biological Sciences
Nick Nuccio
Chemical Engineering
Nika Shroff
Biomedical/Electrical Engineering
Quincy Guenther
Neuroscience and International Relations
Samantha Devapiriam
Mechanical Engineering
Sahil Kothari
Business and Applied Analytics
Sophia Nguyen
Cognitive Science
Tatiana Vaz
Economics
Vivianna Camarillo
Neuroscience
Zasca Ristianto
Neuroscience
Ziyi Xu
Economics and Data Science
Cohort 4
Sustainable Innovations for Remote Regions in America 2022-2023
Aashish Suresh
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Alexander Balansky
Computer Science
Andy Wood
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Anna Pendleton
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Ashwan Kadam
Mechanical Engineering
Ben Brooks
Computer Science
Brenna Chen
Computer Science
Claire Kemble
Chemical Engineering
Kayla Bucci
Biomedical Engineering (Mechanical)
Kevin Lu
Public Relations
Colin Duffy
Mechanical Engineering
Diego Jácome
Construction Management
Erina Widjaja
Business Administration and Innovation
Joshua Jacobs
Chemical Engineering
Kali Lee
Civil Engineering with Environmental Engineering Emphasis
Ilan Tenenbaum
Civil Engineering
Javier Calleja Erdmann
International Relations Global Business
Jd Leroy
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation
Jocelyn Liu
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Josh Weadick
Computer Science
Yenni Ha
Electrical Engineering
Michael Murray
International Relations and Global Economy
Prateek Kaushik
Cognitive Science
Mitchell Yeh
Entrepreneurship/Enterprenerial Studies
Phillip Inglis
Business Administration
Raj Ajudia
Economics and Natural Sciences
Ria (Yuwei) Xi
Computer Science
Rohan Palla
Film and TV Production
Sarah Gutierrez
Product Development
Serena Allen
Public Policy, International Development and Policy
Thomas Mercer
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Tiffany Wang
Gerontology
Cohort 5
Rebuilding Hope Amidst Conflict: The War in Ukraine 2023-2024
Gitika Pahwa
Arts, Technology and Business of Innovation
Joe Jocas
International Relations and Affairs
Hanin Almodaweb
Public Health
Olivia Glick
Arts, Technology and Business of Innovation
Helena Getayalew
Business Administration and Device Engineering
Kamila Fomin
International Relations
Kristian Vu Bostic
Biomedical Engineering
Sasha Hussain
Premedical Track
Aisha Yamamoto
Biomedical Engineering
Alexandra Stanczak
Human Biology
Bridget Duffy
Accounting and Finance
Misha Kuznetsov
Mechanical Engineering
Ceydan Kaya
Industrial Engineering
Emily Briscoe
Environmental Engineering
Neha Yadav
Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering
Mellissa Zhang
Computer Science andBusiness Administration
Safiya Adatia
Business Administration
Nick Conner
Business Administration
Ryan Kilcoin
Mechanical Engineering
Cohort 6
Innovating in the Face of Adversity: Responses to the War in Ukraine 2024-2025
Humon Moeen
Mechanical Engineering
Jack Waterman
Journalism and Social Entrepreneurship
Jackie Franco
Integrated Design, Business and Technology
Ahsan Bari
Integrated Design, Business and Technology - Online
Juan Estrada
Business Administration
Julius Lee
Integrated Design, Business and Technology
Kristin Garner
Architecture - American Architecture and Urbanism
Heidi (Xinyi) Chen
Integrated Design, Business and Technology - Online
Mark Rayant
Green Technologies
Mira Bhatt
Business Administration Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Nam Nguyen
Political Science
Noy Chatoyan
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation, Marketing