About Us

The Impact Studio at the Ross School of Business is a campus hub for impact creators and innovators. Launched within the Business Impact Initiative in 2019, our mission is to bring impactful ideas to life using business knowledge, design tools, and research expertise. The Impact Studio encompasses a collaboration space, an interdisciplinary graduate course, a design lab for impact-focused ventures and projects, and workshops and events. Our model activates the vast expertise and research insights from across campus to support the development and launch of powerful, impactful concepts.

Our work is inspired and defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a sustainable future free of poverty, hunger, and inequity. While we seek to advance all facets of impact, we place priority on activities that address climate action and/or diversity, equity, inclusion & racial justice (DEIRJ). While we bring business tools and management principles to bear, we are agnostic to the vehicle that solutions may take. We welcome for-profit, nonprofit, or open source models, policy briefs, etc. Our guiding principles are learning and co-creation across disciplines, sectors, and spaces, with core values of creativity, empathy, and equity.

Studio Pillars

Equitable, Sustainable Future

Our core focus is impact in the service of creating an equitable and sustainable future. We place priority on ideas that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and racial justice as well as climate action.
Research-Powered Ideas

We put research into action and help shape evidence-based ideas through research support for ventures.
Homebase

We are a collaborative community. At the heart of our foundation, we foster trust, safety, and encouragement to help you navigate your impact journey successfully.
Building Side by Side

Our interdisciplinary coaches and fellows roll up their sleeves and work alongside founders to accomplish great things. We help founders stay accountable and empower your agency.
Growth Mindset

We focus on the process of growth, learning, and iteration. It’s safe to try things and failure is learning - we’re here for you; wabi sabi.

Jerry Davis is the Gilbert and Ruth Whitaker Professor of Business Administration at the Ross School of Business and Professor of Sociology, The University of Michigan. Davis received his PhD from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. Davis’s research is broadly concerned with the corporation as a social and economic vehicle. His current book project examines corporate power in the 21st century, and how to tame it.

Cat has developed, launched, and led social enterprises with organizations such as Ben & Jerry’s and Goodwill Industries, and led social impact initiatives in higher education. She most recently served as COO of a Detroit social enterprise internationally recognized for impactful product design innovation – a sleeping bag coat for individuals experiencing homelessness. Cat holds a BA, MBA, and MSW from the University of Michigan.

With nearly ten years of experience in higher education, Loren has held various roles in student affairs, workforce development, and corporate & community engagement. He is passionate about educational leadership, entrepreneurship, and creating action-oriented, collaborative learning environments. Loren currently leads the Impact Studio, where he oversees its operations and guides students in developing impact-focused ventures through design and entrepreneurial programming. In addition to his leadership role, Loren is an adjunct lecturer at the Ross School of Business, teaching BA 200: Businesses and Leaders - The Positive Differences. Loren's expertise spans program development and management, cross-channel marketing, operational management, and strategic leadership. He earned both his BSBA and MBA from Wayne State University, graduating with distinction. A firm believer in the role of economic development, Loren contributes to the local business ecosystem as a board member and the Chair of the Membership and Marketing Committee for the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber.

Entrepreneur-in-Residence Moses Lee (BBA’02, MA’03) is an experienced educator and social entrepreneur who is passionate about working with students to discover and take action on their passions. In 2011, Lee founded Seelio, an educational service and technology company that partners with universities to prepare students for their careers. Previously, Lee directed TechArb, the U of M student startup accelerator, where he coached and mentored students across all disciplines.

Glenn manages marketing and communications for Business+Impact. He has worked with a variety of local and national nonprofits in member services, events and marketing roles. He worked for Ross in Executive Education and Ross Marketing Communications prior to coming to the Business Impact. His work with nonprofits like the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Microsoft Healthcare Users Group, the Ann Arbor Symphony, and Ann Arbor Civic Theater has prepared him for his work with the Impact Studio. Glenn has an MFA from Purdue and a BA from the University of Michigan.

As the Business Impact Program Coordinator, Annaliese supports the planning and execution of BI events and initiatives, including the Board Fellowship program. Her experience in capacity building and strategic planning drew her to the Business+Impact program. Annaliese earned her dual B.A. in Public and Nonprofit Administration and Spanish from Central Michigan University and is a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP).