#Global Development Lab – Page 5 – Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity

September 14, 2018March 2, 2022

Andrea Dac Chau Nguyen ’20

Class of 2020

Research Analyst, Blockchain

Majors: Markets and Culture, Anthropology

Minors: History, Human Rights

Dedman College Scholar

Dean’s Scholar

Honor Roll

President of Career Development Ambassadors

Andrea graduated from Southern Methodist University with B.A. degrees in Markets and Culture and Anthropology and Minors in History and Human Rights. She was also an SMU Dedman College Scholar and President of the Career Development Ambassadors.

She lives in Allen, Texas and is passionate about how blockchain technologies are applied in social impact spaces. Andrea conducted research for the Hunt Institute on the history of blockchain technology and its cross-industry usage, with the goal of contributing vital information to Dallas nonprofits and start-ups interested in beginning their own blockchain applications.

While at SMU, she worked in various locations on- and off-campus, with experience working as an intern at the International Rescue Committee, with the SMU student newspaper, tutoring on-campus, and engaging in interdisciplinary research in sociology and political science. After graduating from SMU, she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Transportation Technology and Policy at the University of California, Davis.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

February 27, 2018August 21, 2020

The Creative Economy Matters

Silvia Rivera is the definition of a world changer. Since joining the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity as a student analyst, Rivera has conducted research on artisan entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development. Rivera recently returned from Washington, D.C. after participating in “The Creative Economy Matters,” a conference hosted by the Artisan Alliance.

For this conference, the Artisan Alliance brought individuals from around the world together to talk about the various challenges and opportunities of investing in and creating artisan businesses. For Rivera, this was the first time that her personal ties to artisan products and academic research converged.

Throughout her childhood, Rivera visited artisan markets with her mother frequently. Even now, every time Rivera goes abroad, she makes an effort to visit small markets. These experiences have led to Rivera’s personal museum of handmade goods and tangible memories.

In college, Rivera started research at the Hunt Institute on artisanal businesses. Artisinal activity is the second largest source of income for the global poor, calls upon existing skills, makes use of available raw materials, and can help preserve cultural traditions. Rivera’s research asks, “What makes artisanal businesses successful? What makes their work impactful?” Rivera often analyzes these questions under the inclusive economy framework, a model created by Dr. Eva Csaky, director of the Hunt Institute.

“I’ll never forget it,” Rivera said when discussing the conference. “Washington, D.C. is such an energizing city.” Rivera went on to talk about her favorite speaker at the conference, DolmaKyap.

DolmaKyap, an artisan entrepreneur, shared his story of creating Chamtsee, a small handicraft workshop in Tibet. After leaving his home in search of the meaning of life, DolmaKyap noticed that people were interested in Tibet and the Tibetan way of life. He had always known that there were exceptional goods and products, like textiles and cheeses, representative of nomadic Tibetan culture. After leaving Tibet, he learned that there was demand for those goods in other parts of the world. This was the critical moment: there was an amazing good and a need in the world, what could DolmaKyap do about it? The result was Chamtsee. DolmaKyap proves that successful artisan products can generate income and represent a person’s culture.

Ideally, the impact of investing in artisanal businesses benefits everyone. By purchasing a handmade good, consumers are able to empower someone in a tangible and direct way. Artisans receive support and, in most cases, a fair wage. Consumers receive a unique product, a conversation piece, and something that is completely their own.

Do you want to start supporting artisan businesses today? The Artisan Alliance’s list of member organizations is a great place to start. Some of the members, like GAIA for Women and The Citizenry, are based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Rivera acknowledges the challenges of ethical buying in general and offered this piece of advice: “A good rule of thumb I use is to just be as curious and inquisitive as possible about what you’re buying and where it came from, and to have fun with that process.”

A cursory glance at Rivera’s resume is enough to turn heads. She is a triple major in business, international studies and Spanish. She is a President’s Scholar, BBA Scholar and McLane Scholar. She has researched artisan entrepreneurship as a student analyst at the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity. It’s no surprise that Bain & Company has offered her a job following her graduation in May.

According to their website, the Artisan Alliance is a network that “works to unlock the economic value in the artisan sector.” They do this through programs with innovative financing, member networking, business coaching and other events. The Artisan Alliance brings business owners, policymakers and consumers together to enact change that no business could achieve alone.

Story Contributors

Written by: Anna Grace Carey

Edited by: Maggie Inhofe

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Silvia Rivera ’18

Silvia Rivera ’18

Student Analyst

Senior, SMU Class of 2018
Cox School of Business, General Business
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, International Studies and Spanish
President’s Scholar
Cox BBA Scholar
McLane Scholar
Research on artisan entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development

“My motivation is closely tied to my personal beliefs and life experiences. Like a perfectly functioning ecosystem, I believe that everyone and everything in this life is (somehow) connected. Growing up, a string of small opportunities opened up the world for me. The idea of giving back by creating even the smallest opportunity for someone else to improve their life, and thereby the lives of others through those they touch, is what drives me.” – Silvia Rivera

Silvia graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.B.A in General Business and B.A.s in International Studies and Spanish. She was also an SMU President’s Scholar and Cox BBA Scholar. As a child, she immigrated to the U.S. with her family from Chiapas, Mexico and is passionate about breaking down complex issues and empowering underrepresented individuals.

At the Hunt Institute, Sylvia conducted research on artisanal entrepreneurship and empowering female artisans and assisted with the Hunt Institute’s Inclusive Economy Consortium.

While at SMY, Silvia build professional experience and developed her business acumen through case competitions, leadership workshops and summer internships, most recently serving as an Advisory intern for global professional service firm EY in Dallas, TX and Bogotá, Colombia.

Currently, Sylvia is attending Boston College where she is pursuing a Masters in Education in Early Childhood Education.

Contributors to this blog post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Silvia Rivera & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Maggie Inhofe ’18

Maggie Inhofe ’18

Student Fellow

Masters in Design & Innovation, SMU 2018
- Student Senate Scholar, 2018
- Maguire Public Service Fellowship, 2017
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Yale University, 2015
- Harvey Geiger Fellowship, 2015
- William F. Buckley, Jr. Fellowship, 2014
- Duncan Robinson Scholar of British Art, 2013

“I came to the Hunt Institute because I believe in design that is beautiful, helpful and accessible. There are pockets in our world, both here in Dallas and across the globe, that lack design fueled by intentionality and integrity. My hope is that the work done here can inspire solutions that can be adopted anywhere, by anyone, to make this world as it ought to be.” – Maggie Inhofe

Maggie studied Design + Innovation at SMU, a new degree that aims to teach human-centered design to students from every discipline. She first fell in love with the field of design through studying the built environment, but now enjoys studying systems and using iterative design processes on all types of projects. She came to the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity because of their commitment to disrupt patterns of local and global poverty.

Maggie was a part of the Evie team in 2016 and also worked on a student housing project in Taos, NM. She was awarded the Maguire Public Service Fellowship to study modular building systems for compressed earth block houses.

After graduating from SMU, Maggie has been working as a Design Strategist for Fidelity Investments.

Contributors to this blog post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Alejandro Dominguez ’20

Alejandro Dominguez Garcia ’20

Solar Energy Project Lead

SMU Class of ’20
Mechanical Engineer major
Business Administration and French minor
Engineering intern at Quantum Utility Generation
SMU Multicultural Award of Excellence
Honor Roll
Second Century Scholar
National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Hilltop Scholar
President of National Society of Hispanic Engineers

“As a mechanical engineering student of the 21st century, technology seems to be growing exponentially; however, most engineers focus on the advancements of technology and not of the human race. I am motivated to help fill this gap and make technological advancements affordable so that humanity as a whole can grow and everyone can live better lives.” – Alejandro Dominguez Garcia

Alejandro graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Minor in Business Administration and French. He was also an SMU Hilltop Scholar, Second Century Scholar, and President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

He was born in Mexico City, Mexico and moved to the United States with his family as a child. He is passionate about the aerospace and energy industry and how to use these fields to help the progression of humanity. Alejandro conducted research for the Hunt Institute on 3D printed Hydroponic and Aeroponic systems that increased efficiency and lowered the cost of Urban Farming.

While at SMU, he built professional experience through summer internships, most recently serving as an Mechanical Engineering Intern for the energy and utilities company Quantum Utility Generation in Houston, TX.

After graduating from SMU, Alejandro has been working as a Mechanical Engineer at BP.

Contributors to this post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Alejandro Dominguez Garcia & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 9, 2018August 11, 2021

Meet Adri

Adrienn Santa ’18

asanta@smu.edu

Senior Design Team Leader

Mechanical Engineering & Mathematics Major
Engaged Learning Fellow 2017-2018
Lyle Research Fellow 2017 Summer
Full Athletic Scholarhip
Athletic Director’s Honor Roll
Varsity Letter Winner
All Conference Honor – American Athletic Conference
Best Newcomer Award – Women’s Swimming and Diving (2014-2015)

“My parents have always encouraged me to help people in need. The Hunt Institute gives me the opportunity to work on problems which could help people, who does not have enough resources or knowledge, to find solutions to their problems which affects their everyday life. I am also very passionate about the field of renewable energies, which is an environmentally friendly way to produce energy. They have a great potential to replace other non-renewable energy sources in the future.”

Adrienn Santa is a senior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. Her studies in engineering have prompted interest in energy generation, because of this she is considering pursuing a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy.

Adrienn was working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with the Hunt Institute and as a Lyle Research Fellow over the summer which helped her realize the importance of development of urban farming and gardening. Her future goals are to be able to design sustainable solutions for low-income communities and people who do not have access to fresh heathy food.

One potential solution would be to use the vacant lots and buildings for food production. An innovative low-cost heating and cooling system, efficient irrigation system, and vertical gardening would also make urban farming more accessible for communities in need.

Adrienn grew up in a very sustainable family in Hungary, where everything is homemade and all vegetables and fruits are grown in her grandparents’ garden. This also motivates her to help other people who do not have access to these resources. The reason Adrienn likes working at the Hunt Institute is because it gives her the opportunity to utilize her passion towards creating these solutions.

Adrienn’s favorite free time activity, swimming, took her overseas as she was granted with a full athletic scholarship at SMU in 2014. Other interests of hers include traveling to different places, countries and getting to know other cultures, as well as participating in different extreme sports.

Contributors to this post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Adrienn Santa & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 10, 2017March 7, 2022

Corrie A. Harris, MA, MBA

Corrie A. Harris joined the Hunter & Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity in 2016. Harris has significant experience in strategic operational and programmatic excellence for organizations focused on poverty alleviation through economic development, both locally and globally. Harris has also worked across various sectors, including academia, international government relations, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurial ventures, and for-profit institutions.

In 2017, she founded the Hunt Institute Digest where she still functions as the Editor-in-Chief collaborating with student-workers who contribute to the Digest. By 2018, Harris co-founded the Global Development Lab (GDL) with the Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Eva Csaky, to foster innovative solutions for a resilient humanity where she functions as the Portfolio Manager. Harris used the GDL to develop the student-worker program within the Institute to embody the Institute’s mission through projects with Affiliates, industry, and in-country partners. She also took the lead on a communication and marketing strategy for the Institute by redesigning social media campaigns for impact and creating the Hunt Institute Friday Update, a weekly newsletter summarizing the past week’s work in the Institute. In 2020, she is directing the Social Enterprise program in the Hunt Institute that integrates the GDL with social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs where she functions as a product manager and developer.

When asked about her motivation working at the Institute, she said, “Our work goes beyond theoretical to actually addressing real-world issues. This work brings with it a unique satisfaction when I see student workers go through the program working on their projects, demonstrating teamwork, and contributing in an impactful way. I enjoy watching them develop and sharpen their professional skills for that important transition between being a college student and a professional that contributes to making the world a better place, each in their various walks of life. I am highly motivated to build, market, and grow programs that shape people in a positive way.”

In 2006, Harris was the director of Villa Familia Nicaragua (VFN), an orphanage for children in crisis in Nicaragua for three years. She directed the day-to-day operations as well as all of its strategic programs, including initiating a Coalition of Directors for collaboration in Managua, Nicaragua. With the collective knowledge of the coalition, Harris created an economic development strategy for retrofitting and expanding VFN. After this, she recruited nationally and internationally for the implementation of the development strategy. This effort was highly successful and received the highest governmental recognition from the Department of Mi Familia as the standard by which all other centers for children in crisis should be modeled.

In 2021, Harris received an MBA from Cox School of Business with a concentration in Strategy and Entrepreneurship and a focus in Marketing. In 2015, she earned a Master of Arts in Sustainability and Development from SMU’s Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering. Her master’s thesis is titled Resilient Sustainable Development: Localized Transformational Impact to Alleviate Poverty. In 2013, Harris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington with concentrations in Economics, Sustainability, Management, and Cultural Studies as a Presidential Scholar. Her honors thesis was titled Growing global economies: An interdisciplinary perspective on sustainable economic development. She holds the level of Black Belt in the World Taekwondo Federation.

Harris volunteers at St. Andrews Methodist Church in Plano, Texas as a Sunday school liaison, was a contributing member of the Lyle Task Force and Project Llama Initiatives in 2019, a member in the SMU Women Organization & Staff Association Member, a member in the Women in Business Cox Student Organization, the co-Founder and Portfolio Manager of the Global Development Lab, income Fitness Committee Chair at Gleneagles Country Club, and serves on the SMU Faculty Club Board. Corrie and her husband Chris Harris live in Plano, Texas. They are proud parents of two children.

To read more about Hunter & Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate to the work, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.