News & Events

Board Fellows Program Welcomes Class of 2024 Students and Nonprofit Partners

Jan 31, 2023
31 MBA students partner with local nonprofits for year-long service as non-voting board members

By Lacie Blankenship

The 2023 Owen Board Fellows program kicked off in early January when 31 first-year MBA students began their fellowship term with local nonprofit partners. Led by the Turner Family Center for Social Ventures (TFC) and 100% Owen, the Vanderbilt Business community service and philanthropy club, Board Fellows is one of the many social impact opportunities for Vanderbilt MBA students.  

Kathleen Fuchs Hritz

The program launched in 2019 and matches MBA students with local nonprofits where they serve as non-voting board members for a year-long fellowship. Board Fellows is a chance for students to engage meaningfully with the community and strengthen leadership skills. Through the fellowship, students not only attend board and committee meetings but also work with executive leaders on a strategic project within their nonprofit organization.

“Owen Board Fellows connects MBA students with opportunities for community leadership and allows them to learn about nonprofit governance by giving them hands-on experience,” says Kathleen Fuchs Hritz, Assistant Director, TFC. “Our nonprofit partners provide invaluable experiences by opening the door for student learning and contribution.”

Deepa Dhore

Deepa Dhore

This year’s cohort comprises 31 participating students and 28 nonprofits (listed below). Students are selected to participate based on an application and interview process that concludes in November with matches announced each December. 

“The Owen Board Fellows Program gave me the unique opportunity to apply classroom teachings to a nonprofit setting,” says Deepa Dhore (MBA’23), Owen Board Fellow 2022 with Retrieving Independence and Owen Board Fellow VP of Internal Affairs. “The program taught me how to leverage my business experience in a community leadership role.”

2023 Owen Board Fellows Nonprofit Partners

AbleVoices

Big Brothers Big Sisters Middle Tennessee 

Book’em

Community Resource Center 

Day 7 

End Slavery Tennessee

The F.I.N.D. Design 

Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee 

Hands On Nashville 

The Heimerdinger Foundation 

Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee 

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – TN & AL 

Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee 

Nashville Ballet 

Nashville Symphony 

Nurture the Next 

Operation Stand Down Tennessee 

PENCIL Foundation

Rejoice School of Ballet 

Retrieving Independence

SaddleUp! 

Second Harvest Food Bank Middle Tennessee 

Sexual Assault Center

Special Olympics Tennessee  

Springboard Landings 

Vanderbilt Credit Union

YWCA of Middle Tennessee 

Other Stories

Which program is right for you?

x