Articles and Insights

Ask any Master of Science in Innovation and Leadership student about “Fridays in the Field,” and they’ll light up, sharing stories from recent visits to Michelin Innovation Lab, Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery and Soteria At Work. They’ll describe...Read more

Many institutions believe they have a strong data strategy—until the numbers don’t add up. In reality, many colleges and universities are stuck in outdated systems, manual reporting, and gut-based decisions that no longer serve them. This article lays out why most higher ed institutions are flying blind—and offers a clear...Read more

Early in my teaching career, I was certain I would spend my entire professional life in my own classroom. Even after nineteen years, what I cherish most are the relationships I build with students, especially the moments when they begin to see themselves as confident readers. Those breakthrough moments still...Read more

Aruzhan Sakhariyanova ’26 grew up immersed in sustainability topics. In her hometown of Astana, Kazakhstan, Sakhariyanova volunteered to clean up parks as a teen and started making videos and blog posts about conserving the natural beauty of her homeland. Even before becoming a Paladin, that work landed her a role...Read more

In a complex, rapidly changing world, traditional problem-solving often falls short. Design Thinking offers a human-centered, creative approach to help organizations tackle challenges with curiosity and clear outcomes.Read more

Shaniece Criss didn’t stumble into public service. It’s something she’s been growing into her entire life. As a child in Greenville, South Carolina, Shaniece’s grandmother told her she would become a public servant. From those early days to global experiences with the Peace Corps and advanced study at Harvard, her...Read more

Camden Johnson ’28 presents during the Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition in Timmons Arena on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University. Sophomore Camden Johnson ’28 and his company Toy Aisle claimed the top prize at Furman University’s...Read more

Grace Van Rij remembers the moment she first heard about the Master of Arts in Strategic Design (MASD). The program first caught her eye during her undergraduate years at Furman. Even without an art background, she immediately knew it was the right fit.   Anne Heaton Sanders knew from an early age that she loved art and wanted to pursue it....Read more

Tara Weese has spent her career pouring into others. As a leadership development consultant, business owner, mentor, facilitator, wife, and mom, she showed up fully for everyone around her, which left little room to be intentional about her own growth. That changed when she discovered Furman University’s...Read more

Dipak Bahadur Malla ’26 brings more than a presentation to the stage of Furman Engaged. He brings a story shaped by curiosity, resilience and a willingness to step into the unknown. A business administration major on the finance track, Malla will join a panel discussion highlighting last year’sRead more

One of the things I most believe in is that literacy opens doors to opportunities and fulfillment in life in ways that few other skills can. It’s true that good reading, writing and speaking are marketable skills highly desired by employers. Beyond this, however, they are paths to a more...Read more

Six days before most of her coworkers at Prisma Health even knew what had happened, Sierra Burns M’29 was back at work answering referrals, checking patients in and out and settling into a routine that looked remarkably normal for someone who had just spent an evening at the State of...Read more

When Julia Sellers finished her first year with AmeriCorps, she knew she wanted to keep learning and growing as a professional. But she wasn’t sure she was ready to commit to graduate school. A professional certificate—an academic credit-bearing course offered through Furman University's Innovation Lab—gave Julia...Read more

Have you ever asked, ‘Why am I doing this?’ while doing a task that someone else could do? Leaders who carry it all become bottlenecks – slowing decisions, limiting innovation and exhausting themselves and their teams. So, what can we do? Delegate....Read more

Ashley Dickson-Ellison’s journey into podcasting began as a way to have thoughtful conversations about books. After 17 years in the classroom, most of them spent teaching high school English, Ashley and two fellow teachers launched a podcast to share their love of literature with a broader audience....Read more