Ballard Center News 

Brigham Young University student Grady Call thought the motto “The world is our campus” was a little cheesy when he first arrived to campus. But when he competed in the Computers for Change Case Competition hosted by the BYU Marriott School of Business’s Whitmore Global Business Center, he realized the phrase held some truth for him. “Here we are learning about Africa from Provo,” says Call, who’s studying international relations and economics. “It’s been a really cool feeling to be able to work on things that can have a real difference there.”

Leaders at the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business know that fighting hunger requires more than compassion—it requires coordination. That’s why connecting with the people making a difference has been at the heart of the center’s hunger initiative, an ongoing series of events designed to spark dialogue and drive collective impact.

When Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III recognized a need for nutritious food among his congregation, his response was to put his hands in the Baltimore dirt and start planting. Those seeds of change took root, and Brown shared how his desire to help his congregation grew into a multi-state network of helping hands at the recent “Do Good. Better.” Conference hosted by the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

Ellie Romans Draper knew from a young age that she was interested in global development and philanthropy, and her desire to make a difference led her to the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

From running side hustles to recording podcasts, strategy student Talmage Morgan has worked to open many doors for himself. Through an on-campus internship with the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Morgan discovered an interest in social impact and gained insights that will help him achieve his lifelong goal of starting his own business.

Though she had never left the country in her life, Orem native Alyssa Minor took a leap of faith to travel alone to Africa. As a participant in the Ballard Center for Social Impact, Minor researched the humanitarian needs of the orphanages in Ghana, which propelled her to visit the country to help in her own way.

Eva Witesman believes in creating a better world, and she works toward it through her position as a professor in the BYU Marriott School of Business’s MPA program. Teaching courses on statistics, social impact, and prosocial business strategy, Witesman emphasizes to students the importance of unity with one another and the organizations they will work for.

Following the mission of the Ballard Center for Social Impact to solve global and community problems, adjunct professor Brent Goddard encourages students to do good. Although Goddard did not set out to lead social responsibility efforts, he was willing to embrace the opportunities that converted a product manager into a social impact practitioner and instructor.

The global and community impact minor teaches students how to be a positive influence not only for the nonprofit, government, impact investing, and corporate social responsibility sectors but also for whatever professions students pursue. Through taking the 17 required credits offered by the Ballard Center for Social Impact, students learn ways to solve complex social problems and uplift their communities.

A surfer, a seamstress, and a storyteller. The three Putnam siblings diverge when it comes to their passions and strengths. But their interests align through the Ballard Center for Social Impact at BYU Marriott, where they’ve each found their own way to help businesses do good.

Although millions are spent each year on entrepreneurship training that is intended to help alleviate poverty and elevate the quality of life of entrepreneurs in developing nations, these programs often fail to make an impact. BYU researchers and their colleagues have figured out at least one way to change that.

In a landscape defined by ever-evolving tech—social media, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality—it’s easy for women and men from older generations, frequently unfamiliar with those changes, to feel disconnected. Junior Emily Hooke is determined to change that.

BYU Marriott School of Business dean Brigitte C. Madrian has announced Eva Witesman as the director of the Ballard Center for Social Impact, effective July 1, 2023. She replaces Steven Fox, who had been serving as interim director since May 1, 2023, following the retirement of long-time director Todd Manwaring.

Daniel Blake always knew he was interested in starting a business. He just didn’t know his journey would start with a plate of french toast at Magleby’s Fresh and end with one of the largest food waste recycling companies in the United States. Because of Blake’s experience, he now mentors entrepreneurs and students as an adjunct professor at the Ballard Center for Social Impact to create widespread, sustainable social impact.

Passionate about garbage and eliminating solid waste pollution in the developing world, Ryan Caplin, is not wasting his time. Now an Oxford Pershing Square Scholar, Caplin credits the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business for giving him the tools to take on trash.

While it may seem risky to turn down a great job offer or leave graduate school early, Brian Hill doesn’t harbor any regrets. His drive to improve others’ lives has led him to start his own company, Edovo, with the sole purpose of helping those who are looking for a second chance—a passion he discovered through the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

Ashley Wallace's passion for service and learning has led her from the cliffs of Ireland to the people of Madagascar. Now, as a senior studying entrepreneurship at the BYU Marriott School of Business, she knows the programs at the business school have prepared her to serve better and more responsibly.

This summer, four BYU Marriott School of Business students were paired with financial literacy startup FinLit for an internship. The partnership came about through a social impact project (SIP) at BYU Marriott’s Ballard Center for Social Impact, which provides students with opportunities to develop business and personal skills while applying social impact principles in real-world settings.

At the Ballard Center for Social Impact in the BYU Marriott School of Business, students are learning how to solve the world’s most pressing social problems—tackling issues such as poverty, homelessness, environmental sustainability, and more. Jess Dansie Anderson, the center’s managing director of marketing and communications, is working hard to reach and inspire more students across campus to become changemakers.

The impact of growing up in Palestine sparked a desire in Zein Mosarsaa to work in healthcare. However, she did not decide which specific medical career to pursue until her recent student internship at the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business.