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Spring 2020 Inaugural Cohort
Meet the inaugural cohort of Old Dominion University's Innovate Monarchs program! Click through the gallery to learn more about each student and why they want to develop a sense of entrepreneurship through design thinking.

Ashanti
Ashanti is a sophomore majoring in biology.
I am looking forward to the critical thinking and analytical aspect of this program, but I am especially looking forward to collaborating with a select few of my motivated peers who have their own goals and aspirations. I hope to gain a different perspective of success and passion because they are different for everyone. I expect for my peers and I to gain inspiration from one another, and leave in a better mindset with greater understanding of innovation as leaders of the future.
I am looking forward to the critical thinking and analytical aspect of this program, but I am especially looking forward to collaborating with a select few of my motivated peers who have their own goals and aspirations. I hope to gain a different perspective of success and passion because they are different for everyone. I expect for my peers and I to gain inspiration from one another, and leave in a better mindset with greater understanding of innovation as leaders of the future.

Brianna
Brianna is a sophomore majoring in Psychology.
I hope to gain knowledge and information that will help me to be more than successful my remaining time as a monarch.
I hope to gain knowledge and information that will help me to be more than successful my remaining time as a monarch.

Catherine
Catherine is a freshman majoring in biology.
Being a part of this program is a great way for me to get involved at ODU. Also, it will help me gain some problem solving skills.
Being a part of this program is a great way for me to get involved at ODU. Also, it will help me gain some problem solving skills.

Hannah
Hannah is a sophomore majoring in Graphic Design.
I hope to gain experience in problem solving by using and perfecting a process. I realize how much of a hard time I have enjoying and embracing the design process that leads up to the final product. I believe this experience will allow me to develop an appreciation for the process through solving real-world problems.
I hope to gain experience in problem solving by using and perfecting a process. I realize how much of a hard time I have enjoying and embracing the design process that leads up to the final product. I believe this experience will allow me to develop an appreciation for the process through solving real-world problems.

Jack
Jack is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
As a participant of Innovative Monarchs, I hope to further my problem-solving skills and develop critical engineering attributes for my future. Being a part of this exclusive organization would tremendously impact my future and hopefully benefit my peer’s as well. I intend to use this program as a platform to invest more time into engineering for my future and my community.
As a participant of Innovative Monarchs, I hope to further my problem-solving skills and develop critical engineering attributes for my future. Being a part of this exclusive organization would tremendously impact my future and hopefully benefit my peer’s as well. I intend to use this program as a platform to invest more time into engineering for my future and my community.

Jakiyla
Jakiyla is a sophomore majoring in English.
I often feel like in school settings, even on the collegiate level, that students do not have the leverage to get programs and ideas that they are interested in funded and created. There are many problems to be addressed at any school, and the same can be said at ODU. This program would allow me to be a part of my community while also belonging to a network of student leaders who are as dedicated to ODU being a great place to live an learn.
I often feel like in school settings, even on the collegiate level, that students do not have the leverage to get programs and ideas that they are interested in funded and created. There are many problems to be addressed at any school, and the same can be said at ODU. This program would allow me to be a part of my community while also belonging to a network of student leaders who are as dedicated to ODU being a great place to live an learn.

Katie
Katie is a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
As a participant of Innovate Monarchs, I hope to build and improve skills such as professionalism, collaboration, and social skills. Each skill allowing for personal growth creating a bigger and better platform for me as a whole and my prospective career.
As a participant of Innovate Monarchs, I hope to build and improve skills such as professionalism, collaboration, and social skills. Each skill allowing for personal growth creating a bigger and better platform for me as a whole and my prospective career.

Kel
Kel is a freshman majoring in Psychology.
I am interested in this program because I would like to help people like myself and meet other like-minded innovative people on campus.
I am interested in this program because I would like to help people like myself and meet other like-minded innovative people on campus.

Marj
Marj is a sophomore majoring in International Business.
I am interested in this program because I hope to network with other creative individuals and to bring my ideas to the program.
I am interested in this program because I hope to network with other creative individuals and to bring my ideas to the program.

Melvin
Melvin is a sophomore majoring in Cybersecurity.
The chance to make a change on campus sounds really promising. Also, I have been trying to develop on my leadership skills. Got a lot of that from JROTC in high school and I am now the vice president of the Cyber Security Student Association here on campus. The cybersecurity world also requires you to work in teams with people from potentially different fields and departments to come up with solutions so this kind of work interests me because of this as well.
The chance to make a change on campus sounds really promising. Also, I have been trying to develop on my leadership skills. Got a lot of that from JROTC in high school and I am now the vice president of the Cyber Security Student Association here on campus. The cybersecurity world also requires you to work in teams with people from potentially different fields and departments to come up with solutions so this kind of work interests me because of this as well.

Nicole
Nicole is a freshman majoring in Computer Science.
I am hopeful to gain a beautiful new experience. I love meeting new people and making new friends. I believe that this program will help me work better as a team.
I am hopeful to gain a beautiful new experience. I love meeting new people and making new friends. I believe that this program will help me work better as a team.

Stephonda
Stephonda is a freshman majoring in Biology.
My goal for this program is helping ODU become a better campus for its students. I know females especially do not feel safe walking alone at night, or even just doing regular tasks by themselves.
My goal for this program is helping ODU become a better campus for its students. I know females especially do not feel safe walking alone at night, or even just doing regular tasks by themselves.

Tanatswa
Tanatswa is a sophomore majoring in Biology.
I am hoping to gain skills that will last me for the rest of my work career and personal life. I'm also looking forward to meeting new people.
I am hoping to gain skills that will last me for the rest of my work career and personal life. I'm also looking forward to meeting new people.

Stratos
Stratos is a freshman majoring in Accounting.
By participating in this program, I don't only hope to enhance my innovation skills, but become a better team player as well. Communicating well with others and breathing as a unit is vital in the business world, and that imporving on that skill will definitely help me in the future. Providing solutions and working for ODU also is something that drives me.
By participating in this program, I don't only hope to enhance my innovation skills, but become a better team player as well. Communicating well with others and breathing as a unit is vital in the business world, and that imporving on that skill will definitely help me in the future. Providing solutions and working for ODU also is something that drives me.

Tiffany
Tiffany is a sophomore majoring in Biology.
I feel like this program will help me become more creative. Creativity isn't one of my weaknesses, I can be given instructions and be able to execute it just fine but trying to make up ideas is hard for me. I believe this program will help me develop new ways of thinking so I can be more creative. This program will also allow me to see different viewpoints that I wouldn't think of from different people.
I feel like this program will help me become more creative. Creativity isn't one of my weaknesses, I can be given instructions and be able to execute it just fine but trying to make up ideas is hard for me. I believe this program will help me develop new ways of thinking so I can be more creative. This program will also allow me to see different viewpoints that I wouldn't think of from different people.

Zuri
Zuri is a freshmen majoring in Communication.
I hope to gain a more effective outlook on problem solving.
I hope to gain a more effective outlook on problem solving.
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