In 2024, Quinn Littlefield stepped into an unfamiliar role: local business consultant for Notre Dame’s Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation (SEI) minor. Although he studied accounting, he had never used his business knowledge in a service-learning setting, and he wasn’t sure what value he could offer to Rhonda Douglas, owner of the Jumpoff Trolley in South Bend. By the end of the semester, he had a clearer understanding of how business tools support local entrepreneurs and their communities.
Quinn Littlefield ’26
“My biggest takeaway from the course was that consulting goes beyond simply solving problems—it’s about building strong relationships with clients and working together to find efficient, collaborative solutions,” Littlefield said. “Considering my background in accounting, I certainly didn't have the right answers right away. However, consistent time and effort spent with the entrepreneurs allowed us to succeed!”
The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor, facilitated by the McKenna Center, seeks to address social problems by creatively applying business principles, concepts, and tools. Rooted in the belief that entrepreneurial thinking can drive meaningful change, SEI equips students to tackle complex global issues with sustainable and scalable solutions. With students enrolled in 14 distinct majors, the program’s demonstrated popularity across 12 academic disciplines reflects a growing desire among students to use entrepreneurial strategies when fostering sociocultural change. The minor prepares them to create social impact across nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors, no matter their major. Launched in 2021, the program quickly gained a foothold among students looking to marry an interest in entrepreneurial thinking with a commitment to social change.
Ashlin Meyercord ’27
“As a sophomore studying Film, Television and Theatre, I first learned about the SEI minor when I took the Intro to Social Entrepreneurship class. Through that class, I realized the SEI minor was the perfect way to combine my passions and academic goals. The SEI minor enhances my FTT major by giving me the tools to think about how media platforms impact change. Through my FTT courses, I have learned how television can be one of the most powerful ways to shape culture and spark conversations. With my SEI minor, I can approach storytelling through a socially conscious lens. It helps me think critically about how content can be used to amplify underrepresented voices or address different social issues.”
Similarly to Meyercord, Díaz found her way to the minor through an introductory course.
Andrea Pérez Díaz ‘28
“After taking Innovation and Design Thinking with Professor Wendy Angst, I became really interested in how entrepreneurship could be connected to healthcare. As a neuroscience major on the pre-med track, I’m passionate about healthcare and equity. The SEI minor gives me tools to think beyond the science—to design innovative, community-centered solutions that address health disparities and systemic inequalities. Entrepreneurship can go beyond business to address social challenges like inequality and access to care.”
Offering a variety of opportunities to apply classroom principles in real-world contexts, the SEI minor is experiential at its core. Through the study-abroad program Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa (EESA), students travel to Cape Town, South Africa, to receive guidance and hands-on opportunities in local venture development. Led by Dr. Michael Morris, EESA encourages students to be agents of change by partnering with disadvantaged entrepreneurs. For five weeks, participants assist small business owners to make their ventures sustainable.
Taylor Thigpen '28
“By integrating design thinking and social entrepreneurship, I can develop innovative responses to global challenges such as sustainability, inequality, and community resilience. Through the SEI minor on campus, I have engaged in needed background information on various topics. As an EESA participant, that furthered my action on the ground in South Africa. These topics have ranged from entrepreneurship, social good, human-centered design and real-world case studies. Overall, through practicing with case studies utilizing an SEI lens, I was ready to tackle the real-world challenge in front of me daily in South Africa.”
One of the minor’s capstone options, “Consulting and Development” with Dr. Morris, invites students to apply what they’ve learned to In this course, students work with the South Bend Entrepreneurship & Adversity Program (SBEAP) by providing local consulting services to low-income and disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Paired with two entrepreneurs for the semester, students support venture development by providing their clients with technical, marketing, operational and administrative support. Whether students design bookkeeping systems or produce creative marketing materials, they apply foundational knowledge of social entrepreneurship while gaining professional experience.
Dr. Michael Morris
Professor of the Practice
"It is such a joy working with the SEI minors. They come from across the campus, but share a common desire to make the world a better place. Creating opportunities for them to learn theory and concepts and then apply this knowledge to address real-world problems is the essence of what the minor is all about."
Students interested in supporting social entrepreneurship locally can serve as consultants at the Collaboration Hub, a business center supported by Notre Dame that provides SBEAP alumni with tailored business assistance. Currently, 33 Notre Dame students act as business consultants for past SBEAP participants.
Co-Director and Academic Coordinator for SEI
The program is distinctive due to its blend of classroom learning with hands-on experiences (SBEAP, EESA) where students see the real-world impact of their work. The Hub anchors this experience in our own community, creating a space where hyper-local partnerships fuel meaningful innovation and collaboration.
Paulsen firmly believes that the program’s hyperlocal learning opportunities greatly benefit and appeal to students.
“Managing the SEI minor has been an incredible opportunity to see students engage with complex problems through multiple lenses—bringing together global affairs, business, social sciences, and humanities.”