Articles and Insights

I originally began the Master of Education with a concentration in Literacy program at Furman University in 2021 after taking a break from teaching in order to stay home with my daughter. Before becoming a mother, I taught 7th and 8th grade ELA and Social Studies at...Read more

Corporate entrepreneurship is often misunderstood as “being a start-up inside a big company.” The reality is simpler and more valuable: solving real organizational problems with creative thinking and a willingness to iterate.Read more

Furman’s Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (IACH) has posted explainers on its community health education programs and the Upstate Medical Legal Partnership. In “Health Happens Here,” IACH articulates the multiple ways the group is laying a foundation for wellness across the community. The group hosts “Community Health...Read more

Just because someone earns a promotion doesn’t mean they automatically have the skills to lead and manage others. Employees are often promoted because they excel in their roles and demonstrate strong technical expertise. Yet many step into leadership positions without receiving training in how to be an effective leader. It’s...Read more

Have you truly thought about the definition of sustainability? The UN World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainability as “…development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustaining Way digs deeper, stating that sustainability starts with solidarity and mutuality....Read more

Across the United States, millions of families face challenges that threaten both their health and well-being. Around 13.3% of South Carolina’s population live in poverty, including 18.3% of children under the age of 18 and 12.2% of adults over the age of 65. Many of these underserved populations face obstacles...Read more

Many people would say that the heart of Greenville is downtown, especially Falls Park. After spending this summer with Friends of the Reedy River, though, I came to see it differently. The true heart of Greenville isn’t a building or a landmark. It’s the Reedy River. From Furman University, where I study, to Travelers Rest,...Read more

A tough job market taught Abby Hope, then a new business administration graduate, an early lesson: a bachelor’s degree alone wasn’t always enough. She quickly found herself overqualified for some jobs yet underqualified for others. Then, she heard about AmeriCorps, an independent federal agency that connects Americans with local organizations....Read more

From Community Health Conversations to a new podcast and online community health courses, Furman’s Institute for the Advancement of Community Health is building a shared language around what it really means to be well together. At a recent Community Health Conversation event focused on housing insecurity, a woman in the...Read more

This well-known proverb took root during my undergraduate years at Furman and was later strengthened through my experience earning a master’s degree with a concentration in literacy. I believe that literacy is the foundation of all other content areas. Without strong literacy skills, students will struggle to find success in...Read more

“So… what is the Shi Institute?” Hi! My name is Maggie Kropf and I am the Communications and Outreach Fellow for the Shi Institute for this summer. This role combines my deep passion for sustainable lifestyles that enrich communities with my growing interest in accessible communication that connects broad audiences....Read more

Theater has always asked its audiences to see the world through someone else’s eyes. For Miriam Ragland, M’25, it became a vehicle for something more: real social change. After 25 years teaching theater at Presbyterian College (PC), she pursued Furman’s Master of Arts in Advocacy and Social...Read more

You know when you smack yourself on the side of the head and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” In the Imagination Age, leaders don’t have to be the one with all the answers. Success depends on aligning folks who see angles that might never occur to us. ...Read more

Summer is here and while that means slowing down for much of campus, the Shi Institute is alive this season with 17 student sustainability fellows. This cohort – representing 13 distinct academic majors and minors, 8 states and 2 countries – will spend the next 10 weeks pursuing diverse sustainability work...Read more

Most people don’t think of themselves as innovative. They think innovation belongs to someone else: a genius, an entrepreneur or a person with a big idea. Furman’s Master of Science in Innovation and Leadership (MSIL) is built to change that. “What the world needs is people who...Read more