AAMU Students Join Faculty for Stanford University’s Innovation Fellowship Program

Two Alabama A&M University students recently traveled to Europe to join peers from across the globe at a prestigious international gathering of innovation leaders in Netherlands. Seniors Jaylen Ware, an elementary education major, and Jaeveon Jordan, an accounting major, were selected as University Innovation Fellows (UIF) through Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school). As part of this highly competitive fellowship program, Ware and Jordan traveled to Enschede, Netherlands, to participate in the University Innovation Fellows Meetup hosted by the University of Twente.

The UIF program at Stanford University empowers students to become change agents on their campuses by equipping them with the mindset, tools, and global network to drive innovation, design thinking, and entrepreneurship. Since its inception, the program has trained more than 3,300 fellows worldwide. Participants are selected for their leadership potential and commitment to fostering creative problem-solving within their university communities.

Accompanying them were Dr. Samantha L. Strachan, Associate Dean of the College of Education, Humanities, and Behavioral Sciences, and Dr. Lena Walton, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program in Curriculum and Instruction. Both faculty members have supported student participation in the UIF program and continue to integrate innovation principles into academic initiatives at Alabama A&M.

Strachan also played a significant role in the faculty component of the Stanford d.school initiative. Two years ago, she was selected as a candidate for the Faculty Innovation Fellows (FIF) Program, a parallel effort designed to support faculty in applying design thinking to higher education challenges. During the UIF Meetup in Enschede, Strachan presented the culmination of her two-year candidacy: a project titled “The Teacher Ambassador Program,” which aims to address critical issues in teacher recruitment and retention. Her updated initiative emphasizes STEM education and targets future educators in high-need areas. At the conclusion of the event, Strachan was formally recognized and inducted as a full Stanford University Faculty Innovation Fellow.

This marks the second cohort of Alabama A&M University students to attend the UIF Meetup in Netherlands.

Students interested in participating can contact Drs. Strachan and Walton.

(Photo L-R) Dr. Lena Walton, Jaylen Ware, Jaeveon Jordan, Dr. Samantha L. Strachan