Two N.C. A&T Students Named Stanford University Innovation Fellows

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Nov. 15, 2019) – Two students from the College of Engineering (CoE) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have been named University Innovation Fellows by Stanford University.

Dorian Holmes, junior, computer science, and Jaelyn Phillips, junior, industrial systems engineering, join nearly 400 students from 90 colleges and universities across 13 countries as change agents at their respective institutions.

Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) offers the fellowship program as a means to empower fellows executing their projects ”to ensure that all students gain the attitudes, skills and knowledge required to navigate a complex world and build the future.”

“Dorian and Jaelyn are the fourth cohort of University Innovation Fellows from North Carolina A&T,” said Bala Ram, Ph.D., CoE associate dean and faculty mentor for the fellows. “Our college’s participation in this program since 2015 has been strategically aligned with our priority to actively develop student leaders for innovation.”

Fellows are expected to work closely with campus leaders to offer hands-on activities and programs for students with various interests.

“Under the mentorship of Dr. Bala Ram, Dr. Robert Powell, Dr. Paul Stanfield and Dr. John Kelly, they will plan and complete an innovative project for the benefit of our university — adding to our innovation ecosystem and simultaneously inspire others,” said Robin Coger, CoE dean.

Phillips and Holmes are teaming up to host a weekend workshop that will kick-start creativity and entrepreneurship on campus.

“It’s truly an honor to help foster entrepreneurship on our campus,” said Holmes. “I look forward to working on this project.”

“We hope that by having this particular event, students will be inspired and realize they don’t have to be confined to their majors to be innovators,” said Phillips. “I can’t wait to meet the other fellows as well and learn what they are bringing to their campuses.”

The Silicon Valley Meetup during Spring 2020 will convene the larger group of fellows and allow them to learn from leaders at Stanford University and Google.