The 2025 fellows are:
- Carli Boggess, an accounting and marketing major in the Class of 2027
- Ashley Ferguson, a public relations and advertising major in the Class of 2026, and
- Zoe Leunissen, an accounting major in the Class of 2026.
These students will represent Marshall University as part of the global University Innovation Fellows (UIF) network, a prestigious program originally founded by Stanford University’s d.school (the university’s hub for innovators) and now hosted by the DesignLab at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
The program provides a rigorous six-week training experience that equips students with the tools and mindset to lead positive change. Fellows analyze campus ecosystems, identify opportunities for innovation and develop creative solutions to strengthen the student experience using design thinking — a human-centered approach to problem-solving.
As part of their fellowship, Boggess, Ferguson and Leunissen will implement innovation projects at Marshall aimed at enhancing collaboration, creativity and student engagement.
“We’re incredibly proud to have a third cohort of Marshall students launched as University Innovation Fellows,” said Tricia Ball, executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter). “Through the UIF program, our students gain the tools to transform ideas into impact. Their creativity and passion for improving the student experience reflect the growing culture of innovation on our campus.”
The iCenter sponsors the UIF program, advancing the university’s mission to cultivate an engaged, entrepreneurial mindset and nurture a vibrant culture of innovation across campus.
For more information about the University Innovation Fellows program at Marshall University, contact the iCenter at icenter@marshall.edu. To learn more about the iCenter, visit www.marshall.edu/icenter.
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Photo: Left to right: Ashley Ferguson, Carli Boggess, Zoe Leunissen will represent Marshall University in the global University Innovation Fellows network.