Change Leaders: Impact Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship

July 20-24, 2026 Rose Hill

Non-Credit Course

Immerse yourself in a transformative five-day workshop this summer designed and taught by an award-winning social entrepreneur, where you'll master the art of crafting (social) entrepreneurial solutions to confront contemporary global challenges. Tailored for anyone driven by a desire to learn the mindsets and skill sets for enacting positive change, this course is a unique opportunity.

Cultivate and refine your impact innovation/ changemaking mindset while acquiring crucial skills in collaborative problem-solving, creative thinking, global citizenship, empathy, adaptive leadership, and more. 

Guided by dynamic instructors, you'll progress systematically—from delving into Sustainable Development Goals to pinpointing the specific issue you wish to address, designing your innovation concept, to making strategic marketing and financial decisions. The course culminates in the presentation of your innovation concept to a panel of experts, providing invaluable feedback and coaching.

Skills/Learning Outcomes

  • Gain a foundational understanding of key concepts related to entrepreneurship, innovation and social, economic and environmental impact
  • Learn how to collaborate effectively to diagnose problems and design solutions
  • Learn and practice a variety of practical tools and resources for changemaking
  • Learn entrepreneurship strategies based on the experiences of leaders, communities, and organizations from around the world
  • Learn how to present innovations to potential collaborators and/or investors
  • Learn how to get feedback and further develop ideas

Instructor Bio

Greg Van Kirk

Greg is a practicing social entrepreneur, educator, facilitator, and consultant. He’s a World Economic Forum "Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2012)" and an Ashoka Fellow. He's a former Ashoka Leadership Group Member where he led the Changemaker Schools initiative.

Over the course of over 20+ years, Greg’s founded, led, and/or consulted for dozens organizations in 20+ countries. He's designed (social) entrepreneurial experiences, taught courses, and led workshops for thousands of high school students, university students, and professionals. Apart from Fordham, he’s designed and taught social innovation courses at Columbia University, New York University, University of Maryland, Miami University, University of Wisconsin, and University of New Hampshire. Greg's led partnerships with universities including Cornell University, Duke University, University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University, and Stanford University. He's designed and led professional development/ experiential learning programs for organizations including Deloitte, Levi Strauss & Co., and Warby Parker. Greg recently published It’s What You Set in Motion: A Toolbox for Collaborative Changemaking. 

Course Details

Change Leaders: Impact Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
July 20-24, 2026, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Rose Hill Campus
Instructor: Van Kirk, Greg

Course Number: SULA 0111 RN3
CRN: 16472

This non-credit course is open to high school students only.

Tuition

Residential: $2,086.00
Tuition for the residential program includes the course, course materials, housing, meals, and excursions in and outside of class. Move-in is Sunday afternoon, the day before classes begin. Please click here for a more detailed calendar of important dates.

Commuter: $1,418.00
Tuition for commuters includes the course, course materials, lunches, and excursions in and outside of class. Additional meals are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Students may wish to bring funds for incidentals, shopping at the Fordham Bookstore, souvenirs, and any personal items they wish to purchase.

 

Apply

Application deadlines:

Course and housing: May 1, 2026; course only: May 15, 2026. Please note that admission decisions are rolling until the class is full, and course caps are around 20 students. Apply by April 1, 2026 to be considered for a limited number of need-based discounts. We recommend early application.

Application Requirements: this non-credit course is open to high school students who have completed their first year. The course is recommended for those with a 3.0 or better. No prior experience with the subject matter is required.

To apply, you will need a copy of your high school transcript and your fall report card if the grades are not reflected on your transcript.

Please make note of the course details above because you will select your course as part of your application.

There is a $75 fee to apply and a $300 deposit to secure your seat. Housing requires a $50 deposit. All payments will be treated as deposits toward your final bill.

Apply

If you are not ready to apply, you can sign up to stay informed about the Fordham Summer Leaders Academy too, or email us with questions!

Immersion 3 Resident Move-In/Move-Out

Date  Resident Information
June 26 All medical forms and consents due
July 19 Move-in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., all Immersion 2 students 
July 25 Move-out between 6 and 9 p.m., Immersion 2 One-Week students
July 31 Move-out before 10 a.m., Immersion 2 Two-Week students

Courses by Subject Area