Notre Dame Student Opportunities
At the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, students at every level can engage in both academic and hands-on experiences. The McKenna Center proudly supports these human development and global business opportunities open to Notre Dame students.
Academic Minor
Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Minor
Open to: undergraduate students
The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation (SEI) Minor exposes undergraduate students to an integrated approach for applying entrepreneurial principles, concepts, and tools to the world’s biggest social problems. Open to all Notre Dame undergraduates, this customizable minor offers a practical and experiential approach to making the world a better place. Students will strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset as they develop innovative solutions to global issues such as: poverty, clean water, human trafficking, racial and ethnic discrimination, domestic abuse, literacy, health care, and many others.
Study Abroad
Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa
Open to: undergraduate and graduate students
Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa (EESA) is a life-changing experience that enables students to help historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in townships around Cape Town, South Africa. Coached by four faculty members, American students work with South African students on consulting teams, assisting small businesses over a six-week period to help make their ventures sustainable. Ventures range from catering and arts & crafts businesses to community newspapers and small construction companies.
Other Opportunities
For any of the opportunities listed below or to learn more about upcoming opportunities to engage with the McKenna Center, contact us at mckennacenter@nd.edu.
- Student consulting program: runs each semester and gives undergraduate students from any major (no business background required) supervised, hands-on experience working with low-income and disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the local South Bend community. In small teams, you’ll develop practical, low-cost solutions—everything from helping clients register businesses and obtain woman- or minority-owned certifications to creating social media campaigns, simple bookkeeping systems, marketing brochures, websites, logos, or pricing strategies. The focus is on producing real deliverables and assisting with implementation so that entrepreneurs can put your ideas into action immediately. Ideal participants bring a strong work ethic, creativity, and a willingness to tackle problems in areas where they may have little prior experience. You can earn course credit or simply gain consulting experience as a volunteer while making a tangible social impact.
- Student research opportunities: subject to faculty need and availability, undergraduate and graduate students may have the opportunity to engage with our faculty on active research within their focus areas.
- McKenna Center internship: Each summer, the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business selects a group of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students—chosen for their academic performance, extracurricular achievements, and diverse life experiences—to serve as McKenna Center Interns. These interns, committed to excellence and driven to make a positive impact, work 20+ hours per week on projects in business, entrepreneurship, and development, with a primary focus on poverty alleviation. Through experiential learning, they conduct research, tackle consulting assignments, assist with program development, and contribute to various poverty-related initiatives.