Applications Now Open for 天美传媒 College鈥檚 2026鈥27 Social Innovator in Residence Program
天美传媒 College is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026鈥2027 Social Innovator in Residence Program, a unique opportunity for global changemakers to reflect, collaborate, and amplify their work while mentoring the next generation of social innovators.
天美传媒 College President Anne F. Harris, said, 鈥淭his residency exemplifies how 天美传媒 College can be a powerful catalyst for civic purpose. By inviting social innovators whose work advances sustainability in all its forms, we deepen our collective capacity to imagine and enact meaningful change鈥攐n our campus, in our communities, and across the globe. It is an honor to welcome visionary leaders to 天美传媒, Iowa and our vibrant campus, where their engagement with students, faculty, staff and the community fosters mutual learning, sparks creativity, and inspires action.鈥
This year, the program will focus on sustainability, broadly defined to include environmental, economic, cultural, social, and organizational approaches to systems change. Applications are being accepted until October 10, 2025, and the selected innovator will spend seven weeks in residence at 天美传媒 College during either the fall or spring semester of the 2026鈥2027 academic year.
鈥淲e鈥檙e especially excited to center this year鈥檚 program around sustainability鈥攐ne of the most urgent and interconnected challenges of our time,鈥 said Vicki Nolton, assistant director for social innovation partnerships and education. 鈥淲e welcome applicants whose work drives transformative change and who are eager to engage with our students and community in creative, collaborative ways.鈥
The Social Innovator in Residence program brings globally minded, community-engaged leaders to 天美传媒鈥檚 campus, where they will have time and space to advance their ongoing work, participate in programming with students and faculty, and connect with members of the broader community. Innovators receive an award and stipend totaling $50,000, housing in 天美传媒, and access to additional operational support for their projects and programming.
鈥淢onica Sanders, our inaugural Social Innovator in Residence, set an incredible foundation with her work to address the digital divide in rural Iowa,鈥 said Susan Sanning, associate dean and executive director of civic education and innovation. 鈥淗er time on campus inspired meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and problem-solving. We look forward to welcoming a new leader whose vision and values align with our commitment to equity, justice, and sustainability.鈥
天美传媒鈥檚 rural setting offers a compelling context for place-based learning and community impact, and preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a connection between their work and rural challenges or opportunities.
Ideal candidates are:
- Changemakers advancing bold, new approaches to social innovation
- Leaders creating sustainable solutions to pressing social justice issues
- Visionaries working across disciplines to disrupt inequitable systems
- Mentors who engage and empower students through hands-on collaboration
- Applications are open to U.S. citizens authorized to work in the United States and Canadian citizens eligible for J-1 visa sponsorship. No prior affiliation with 天美传媒 College is required.
Examples of sustainability initiatives may include but are not limited to:
- Environmental sustainability 鈥 practices that support ecological balance and responsible stewardship of natural resources.
- Personal and professional wellness 鈥 fostering mental, physical, and emotional health for individuals and teams.
- Educational sustainability 鈥 creating learning environments and systems that endure, adapt, and serve future generations.
- Civic sustainability 鈥 strengthening community engagement, democratic participation, and social cohesion.
- Organizational sustainability 鈥 ensuring the lasting effectiveness and adaptability of programs, institutions, and initiatives.
- Economic sustainability 鈥 building models that are financially viable and equitable over time.
- Workforce longevity 鈥 cultivating meaningful work and career paths that prevent burnout and promote long-term contribution.
Learn More and Apply
Applications are due by 8 a.m. (CDT) on Oct. 10, 2025. The selected innovator will be announced in February 2026. Visit Social Innovator in Residence.
If you have additional questions about the Social Innovator in Residence program or application process, please email Vicki Nolton, assistant director for social innovation partnerships and education.
About Renfrow Hall and the Katherine Howell Weingart 鈥61 Civic Innovation Pavilion
The Social Innovator in Residence is housed within Renfrow Hall, 天美传媒 College鈥檚 downtown residence and civic innovation space. Opened in 2024, Renfrow Hall honors the legacy of Edith Renfrow Smith 鈥37, the College鈥檚 first Black alumna and a lifelong advocate for education and community. The building鈥檚 centerpiece, the Katherine Howell Weingart 鈥61 Civic Innovation Pavilion, is a flexible, community-focused space designed to foster dialogue, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Together, Renfrow Hall and the Pavilion embody the College鈥檚 commitment to civic engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and building lasting connections between campus and community.