Linking Public Health & Social Innovation – An Alumni Panel (with Lunch!)

 

Register on Eventbrite to attend via Zoom: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/linking-public-health-social-innovation-an-alumni-panel-with-lunch-registration-290844061417 

Meet Tom Karrel (BSPH, MPH, TU SPHTM) and Sam Fleurinor (MPH, TU SPHTM) and hear their stories about research and entrepreneurship to advance public health. Expect about 30 min of sharing by alumni followed by open Q&A with Zoom and in-person attendees. Join us to connect with alum and learn about alternative careers. This event is the first public activity of the Social Innovation Learning Lab (SILL) of the SPHTM. We are showcasing alumni who represent models of social entrepreneurship, social intrapreneurship, integration of design thinking into research, and applications of systems-change and design-thinking tools for programs and policies.

SILL is working to inspire students to learn more about social innovation tools like design-thinking, and global social innovation “ecosystem” actors, like Echoing Green, Ashoka, and Skoll. We are exploring possible directions for an SPHTM social innovation learning community that supports graduate students with their changemaking-related career and life pathways, as well as connecting and supporting with faculty and staff interested in social innovation.

We are thrilled to feature two panelists who merge social innovation and research in public health in unique ways:

Sam Fleurinor, MPH – As the Program Manager for Community and Campus Partnerships at the Taylor Center, Samantha Fleurinor manages funding opportunities available to all Taylor’s constituents, designs & leads programming that deepens campus & community partnerships, and consults on multicultural education initiatives for SISE and Taylor’s EDI capacity efforts. Fleurinor’s programs include the Community Changemaker Fund, the Changemaker Catalyst Award, Alvarez Spark Innovation Award, Taylor Sponsorship Funding, and in-kind facilitation support.

In her work, Fleurinor uses design thinking methods and social justice strategies to support learners in identifying and leveraging their skills and power to tackle social problems and support sustainable, equitable solutions in their communities. This has involved facilitating workshops on design thinking, life design, and anti-oppression. Samantha has also coordinated speaker events and experiences that connect renowned thought leaders, artists, and changemakers to community spaces for meaningful conversations, movement building, and mutual knowledge exchange.

Fleurinor holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Management in Finance with a double major in finance and classical studies from Tulane University.

 

Tom Karrel, BSPH, MPH – I like to think of myself as engaging, adaptable, and hard-working and have 5+ years experience working in international development. My current professional focus is designing cross-cultural, experiential student learning programs aimed at building strong communities, with [a] geographic focus on East Africa and the US. In my current role, I run GLI’s [Global Livingston Institute] ‘Global Classroom,’ which comprises in-person and virtual academic & experiential learning programs, collaborative courses and research internships. I also manage SLI’s 30+ academic partnerships across the US & East Africa.

I graduated from Tulane University with a Master’s in Public Health (MPH: Int’l Health and Development) and am passionate about travel, facilitating group discussions, social innovation and critical writing/research in the context of international development.

When I’m not working, you can find me doing some combination of meditation, yoga, reading, writing, travel, hiking, connecting with friends or playing the ukelele.