Wharton Stories: Nontraditional

Learn about student programming, events, and other ways to get involved with the Wharton Social Impact Initiative for the Spring 2021 semester.

Students, Get Involved With Social Impact This Semester

“One of the things I love most about entertainment is when there’s a problem, you can figure it out, make something, or get around it.”

Media & Entertainment Industry Alums Share Creative Solutions to COVID Disruption

Matt Stephenson, WG’11, founded his nonprofit Code2College after many years of working in finance and education. He reflects on the current opportunities and challenges in the STEM field, and how the Bendheim Loan Forgiveness Program impacted his career.

How This Bendheim Awardee Is Championing More Diversity in STEM

Dr. Aman Bhullar, WG’14, came to Wharton as a physician. Today, he is also an entrepreneur, angel investor, filmmaker, actor, and philanthropist.

How Wharton’s EMBA Program Transformed this Doctor’s Career

Bioengineering PhD student Ana Peredo spent much of her academic career researching regeneration in the human body. Through WIVA (Wharton Social Impact’s impact investing program), she sought out companies that applied this concept towards addressing the climate crisis.

Why This Bioengineering PhD Student Pursued Impact Investing

Environmental advocate Brandon Nguyen, W’21, C’21, reflects on a trip to Tromsø, Norway earlier this year. He was the only undergraduate student from North America to present his research at the Arctic Frontiers Student Forum.

The Intersection of Advocacy and Academia: How Wharton Took Me to the Arctic

“Improv is a life tool that every student needs to empower them to become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Meera Menon, W’20, and Philip Chen, W’20, winners of the President’s Engagement Prize.

Empowering Philadelphia Youth with Improv Skills

Although campus programs, events, and classes were remote this semester, students stayed connected more than ever. Wharton Social Impact students reflect on how they finished the semester virtually while prioritizing impactful activities.

Why These Wharton Students Stayed Involved with Social Impact Remotely

WISE Fellows Qarina Mannaf, WG’21, and Jess Stokes, WG’21, worked with Philadelphia Zoo to help them expand a student-driven program from a local footprint to a national initiative, as well as brainstorm digital marketing strategies to engage their audiences in the realm of COVID-19.

Resiliency and Creativity: How These Wharton MBAs Helped Philadelphia Zoo Innovate during COVID-19

Rachel Prokupek’s deliciously unconventional baklava proved to be both a campus hit and a crash course in entrepreneurship.

The Business of Baking: One Student’s Take on an Old-School Treat