New Semester for Impact Program Launch

Launching Semester for Impact 

Since 2016, UNH has partnered with the CfSI, a Boston non-profit, to connect undergraduates to the Semester in the City program (SITC). SITC allows students to spend an entire semester in Boston while working 30+ hours per week as an intern and earning up to 16 UNH credits. 

Because of the success of SITC, the idea of expanding the program to include students who wanted to stay closer to UNH came to fruition. The goal was to offer mission-driven organizations located in New Hampshire the same help and capacity that SITC does for organizations in Boston. Through these partnerships, UNH students gain real-world work experience while still gaining credit toward their UNH degree and continuing to reside in NH. During the spring showcase, students and hosts reflected on their experiences.

"Participating in Semester for Impact gave me real world experience that I would not have gained otherwise. I learned professional development skills that helped me land a job I will start in June." - Suzanne Scharff ‘24

Semester for Impact is about igniting a spark of innovation and capacity for host organizations to take on more mission-driven projects that have been side-lined due to limited time or resources. These interns don't just bring fresh perspectives; they bring a collaborative spirit that transforms how teams operate. One host organization remarked that without their intern, their outcomes would have been smaller and less comprehensive. 

Many of the hosts expressed their willingness to participate again. For the mentors, the richest part of the experience was witnessing the personal growth of these students. SFI ensures that interns are not just a temporary addition but a catalyst for lasting change and growth within each host organization.

“I had to take one Economics class that was in person. Semester for Impact allowed me to stay in Durham, take that course, take an internship, and receive all 16 credits that I needed for the semester.” —Skye Loto ‘26 

The First Cohort Reflects & Shares Key Takeaways at the End-of-Semester Showcase 

Women's and Gender Studies and Sustainability dual major

Suzie Scarff '24

Scharff worked at Freedom Café located in downtown Durham, NH. Scharff had expressed a desire to volunteer for the organization for years, but due to a remarkably busy schedule, was unable to do so. By participating in SFI, she found the balance to keep up with her academic needs and dedicate time to helping the cafe.  

Her project consisted of educating the community about the cafe's commitment to sourcing materials and ingredients free from human trafficking and creating a conscious consumer assessment tool to grade local businesses in the Seacoast on how their sustainability and ethics.  

During the semester, Equal Exchange launched the Citizen-Consumers tool which Scharff used as a guide. She also researched many other resources, such as Good on You, the B Impact Assessment for B Corporations, Fair Trade, and more to inform the development of her assessment. Scharff’s assessment examined each organization’s quality of their work environment, community involvement, traceability of their supply chain, and transparency about their operations online. Organizations received bonus points for having certified products, being mission-locked, being worker-owned, helping their local community, and having some aspect of being charitable. 

In the future, Freedom Café plans to continue Scharff’s work into the next fall semester with a new Semester for Impact intern. The goals are to continue assessing local businesses and following up with those who have already completed the assessment to learn about their experience with it to improve and adjust the process moving forward. It would be ideal to publish the guide for the Durham community by the end of the Fall.  

This project was a terrific opportunity to learn about different challenges that arise within the professional world and teach Scharff how to be adaptable. During the outreach process, she encountered challenges such as difficulties in securing buy-in and unresponsive businesses. There were also temporal constraints and challenges with consolidating the research that complicated the already limited capacity of Freedom Café to continue the work.  

Having this professional experience allowed Scharff to learn more about herself and her working style. She learned the value of clear and open communication, mentorship, feedback, and understanding what work environments best suit her individually.  

Check out this two blog posts on the Freedom Café website: "Meet Semester For Impact Fellow, Suzie Scharff" and "Semester For Impact: Suzie's Experience, Learning's and Impact!"

Community and Environmental Planning major 

Markowski worked with the City of Manchester Office of Planning and Community Development and conducted a parking audit of downtown Manchester, studying transportation and parking patterns with the. The insights gathered through his efforts will play a crucial role in informing future projects and sustainability initiatives for the city. 

His research involved gaining a general understanding of current ordinances, assessing positive assets in Manchester, and noting that some districts already lacked minimum parking requirements. He used tables and data to identify patterns and conducted case studies from other towns and cities like Buffalo, NY, Hartford, CT, and Dover, NH. Additionally, he utilized and created maps using QGIS software. Sharing his findings and data was crucial to providing recommendations.  

His suggested recommendations included considering a train, especially with talk of expanding the train from Boston and investing in parking surveys. He also urged citizens to support a bus rapid transit system, highlighting his dedication to forward-thinking urban planning solutions. 

Dan came to understand that experiences are what shape us into who we are. Immersed in the role of a city planner, he encountered numerous individuals, each offering a unique perspective that has broadened his worldview.  

This journey was not only about discovering the intricacies of city planning but also about self-discovery. He realized that he may not be passionate about city planning as a career path, and he considers himself fortunate to have made this realization early on. After exploring this career path, he also gained valuable technical and soft skills for future professional opportunities. 

This experience pushed him to think in new ways, viewing everything as a learning opportunity. It prompted him to reconsider how he wants to apply his major and has led to significant professional development and growth. He has honed his presentation skills and thoroughly enjoyed his time in Manchester, viewing the entire experience as immensely valuable and enriching. 

Analytical Economics & Political Sciences major 

Skye Loto '26

Loto valued working with an organization that makes a difference in her community. NHBSR  is a nonprofit organization created to nurture and encourage socially and environmentally responsible businesses within our state. 

Loto was given the independent project to conduct NHBSR’s “Measure What Matters” survey to assess local impacts that socially responsible businesses can have on their communities. The survey examined the sustainability of companies that do not want to or are unable to get B Corp Certified, but still want feedback and recommendations for improving their social and environmental impact.  

She distributed the NHBSR assessment, a condensed version of the B Impact Assessment, and created individualized reports and recommendations for 13 companies. She generated graphs and visual diagrams within the report, allowing companies to see how their impact compared to similar companies within their industry.   

This internship fit Loto’s needs perfectly, as she could work remotely, remain living on campus, and count the experience for her internship requirement within her Analytical Economics program. She gained practical experience and built an amazing network of people who value mission-driven work. The program initially was a resume builder for her, and now it has changed her view of the world. 

Her biggest takeaway was exploring her identity and professional goals. She learned about her work habits and preferences, such as knowing when she is most productive and when she needs breaks. She appreciated the flexibility of NHBSR’s work hours and the ability to meet her needs. 

This experience also allowed her to explore her interest in B Corps which she can take with her when she participates in our B Impact Clinic in the Fall. She enjoyed meeting people and learning about organizations that are mission-driven and good to work for in New Hampshire. Overall, this experience gave her perspective on how she envisions her career after college. She's confident that she is on the right path. 

Check out this article on UNH Today: "Skye Loto finds flexibility with Semester for Impact"

Environmental and Resource Economics major 

Gilbert worked to help launch a small business incubator, organize events, design materials, and collaborate with various city departments. She worked with Cocheco commercial incubator spaces and focused on creating an implementation plan to support up-and-coming businesses. These small spaces provide educational opportunities and break barriers for new businesses. She conducted research by visiting a different space and discussing their recommendations and challenges. 

Her goals were to prepare small business owners for sustainable growth using a cohort model, offering small spaces at low cost. She also aimed to contribute to downtown vibrancy. She provided three key deliverables: a presentation to the Cocheco Waterfront Development Advisory Committee on water development, an implementation plan for a five-year plan to track timelines and status, and an educational panel event in collaboration with the NH Small Business Development Center, serving as a pilot for future incubator tenants. 

This internship allowed her to develop project management skills, understand project processes, enhance networking abilities, and refine her presentation skills. She also developed the next steps to further enhance the impact of the incubator spaces and continue supporting small businesses in their growth and success.  

At first, she felt a mix of nerves and excitement, unsure if she could truly make an impact. To her surprise, she was not expected to know all the answers but rather was encouraged to embrace the opportunity to learn. She found herself asking, "When else am I going to be in a position like this, and how can I take advantage of it?" This mindset shift allowed her to embrace asking questions as a sign of growth, not weakness.  

In the fast-paced environment, she realized that learning does not stop once established in a career; those in the department often collaborated and asked for help from one another. From this example, she understood that learning is never-ending and extends far beyond the classroom.  

This real-world experience allowed her to explore her values and work ethic, providing insight into what she wants in the workplace moving forward. She is grateful for the invaluable lessons learned, both professionally and personally.