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Ballard Center

BYU Marriott’s Ballard Center for Social Impact is the world’s largest university program focused on social impact.
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Student Spotlight

Gone to Ghana

March 11, 2024
As a participant in the Ballard Center for Social Impact, Alyssa Minor researched the humanitarian needs of the orphanages in Ghana—and then took a leap of faith and traveled there.
3 Min Read
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Employee Spotlight

People Over Products

October 25, 2023
Adjunct Professor Brent Goddard teaches students in the Ballard Center the principles that converted him from a product manager into a social impact practitioner.
3 Min Read
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Center News

A Minor No Matter the Major

September 12, 2023
The global and community impact minor helps students from any major make an impact for good.
2 Min Read
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Student Experiences

Three Siblings Serving

August 23, 2023
A surfer, a seamstress, and a storyteller. Despite having different interests, the Putnam siblings have each found their own way to help businesses do good through the Ballard Center.
4 Min Read
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Faculty Research

BYU researchers: How a switch to a 'growth mindset' is helping empower entrepreneurs in developing nations

August 10, 2023
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.
4 Min Read
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Center News

Ballard Center Student Wins National Business Ideation Competition

August 08, 2023
Hooke was recently named a grand prize winner in Duke University’s annual New Ideas competition. The competition invites undergraduates from across the nation to submit business ideas aimed at “[contributing] to civil discourse and reducing polarization in society.”
4 Min Read
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School News

BYU Marriott Names Eva Witesman as New Director of Ballard Center

July 10, 2023
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.
2 Min Read
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Employee Spotlight

French Toast and Food Waste

July 05, 2023
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.
3 Min Read
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Alumni Spotlight

Waste Not, Want Not

May 25, 2023
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 at BYU Marriott for giving him the tools to take on trash.
2 Min Read
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Alumni Spotlight

Social Impact and Second Chances

February 01, 2023
While it seems risky to turn down a great job offer or leave graduate school early, Brian Hill's journey led him to start his own company that helps give others a second chance.
3 Min Read
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Student Experiences

Cashing in on Opportunity

November 08, 2022
This summer, four BYU Marriott students were paired with financial literacy startup FinLit, allowing the students an opportunity to develop business and personal skills.
3 Min Read
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Employee Spotlight

A Storyteller and a Strategist

October 26, 2022
Jess Dansie Anderson works hard to reach and inspire more students across campus to become changemakers.
3 Min Read
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Student Spotlight

Conflict, Consulting, and Change

October 07, 2022
The impact of growing up in Palestine sparked a desire in Zein Mosarsaa to work in healthcare.
3 Min Read
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Employee Spotlight

The Practitioner Professor

September 08, 2022
An idea from a business trip in Shanghai blossomed into Kurt Brown's latest\ impact investing venture, a topic he also teaches as a BYU Marriott adjunct professor.
3 Min Read
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Student Spotlight

Full STEAM Ahead

May 30, 2022
Transfer student Alyssa Asplund found a way to continue making a difference for those in need through the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business.
3 Min Read
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Student Spotlight

From SIP to Full-Time Job

May 14, 2022
Meeting refugees during his church mission solidified Cade Hyde's desire to have a career in social impact, which he pursued through the Ballard Center.
3 Min Read
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Employee Spotlight

From a Closet to 3,000 Students a Year

April 15, 2022
As the associate managing director of the BYU Marriott Ballard Center for Social Impact, Aaron Miller has nearly two decades of experience in encouraging and supporting students as they "Do Good Better."
3 Min Read
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School News

Ballard Center employee wins Student Employee of the Year

March 22, 2022
Ballard Center employee Hannah Koford was recently honored as the 2022 BYU Student Employee of the Year.
1 Min Read
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