About us

The vision of B Academics is to advance the state of academic study into business as a force for good.

​B Academics is a network of educators, researchers, students and practitioners from around the world who are committed to accelerating the sustainable business movement by studying B Lab, B Corporation certification and benefit corporations. B Academics work with each other, the global B Lab network, and the B Corp community to share best practices and identify opportunities for collaboration with regard to research, teaching, and engagement.

Strategic Priorities

Curriculum / Innovation

Teaching & Curriculum Innovation

To develop, implement, and highlight relevant and engaging curricula and best practices related to B Corps, benefit corporations, and B Impact teams / experiential learning.

Blocal & Blab Engagement

B Local & B Lab Engagement

To collaborate with B Lab Global and B Locals to help them employ the full potential of the academic community for the B Corp movement and groom the next generation of Sustainable leaders.
External Relations & Partnerships

Global Engagement

To initiate contact, continue interactions, and forge partnerships with external stakeholders who support entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and others involved in business as a force for good.
Funding Structure & Opportunity

Funding Structure & Opportunity

To develop B Academics organizational and funding structure and opportunities for collaboration with existing academic and professional networks.

Events

Event Hosting

To facilitate events to advance the B Academics mission and strategic priorities and connect the global B Academic community, B Academics holds an event every quarter.
Sharing The Research

Research Collaboration

To catalyze, develop, and disseminate rigorous academic research related to Certified B Corporations, Benefit Corporations, and Impact Investing.

B Academics

Student Engagement

Establish a working subcommittee to generate ideas and execute initiatives designed to engage, connect, and learn from students.

Events

Membership Engagement

Develop a membership platform and value proposition that builds off of the B Academics strategic priorities to engage and build a global community of B Academics.

Sharing The Research

Communication Development

Contribute to the purpose of B Academics managing relationships and increasing the stakeholders engagement by creating and strengthening participation and mutual understanding through our communication strategies.

Board of Directors

Jessica Yinka Thomas

Jessica Yinka Thomas

Past President

North Carolina State University

Summer Brown

Summer Brown

President & Board Chair

DePaul University

Joel Gehman

Vice President

George Washington University

Anna Papazian

Anna Papazian

Treasurer

Loyola Marymount University

Samuele Tini

Samuele Tini

Chair, Membership Committee

University of Warwick

Michael Conger

Michael Conger

Vice Chair, Membership Committee

Miami University

Kristin Joys

Kristin Joys

Chair, Teaching and Curriculum Innovation Committee

University of Florida

Saheli Nath

Saheli Nath

Vice Chair, Teaching and Curriculum Innovation Committee

University of Central Oklahoma

Emily Landry

Emily Landry

Chair, Research Committee

Washington and Lee University

Emily Landry

Natalia Vidal

Vice Chair, Research Committee

Univeristy of New Mexico

María Belén Barroso

María Belén Barroso

Chair, Communication Committee

Universidad de Málaga

Verónica Devenin

Verónica Devenin

Chair, Global Outreach and Engagement Committee

EADA Business School

Martina Pasquini

Martina Pasquini

Chair, Events

IE University (Spain)

Nathan Stuck

Nathan Stuck

Chair, B Local Engagement Committee

Profitable Purpose Consulting

Nathan Stuck

Christine Briscoe

Vice Chair, B Local Engagement Committee

Peak Purpose Ltd

Nathan Stuck

Adrienne Hines

Chair, Student Engagement Committee

Kareem Ragab

Jake Mosley

Vice Chair, Student Engagement Committee

University of Georgia

Raiven Greenberg

Jason Yoon

Fuqua on Board

Duke University

Katie Ellison

Fuqua on Board

Duke University

Staff

Jessica Yinka Thomas

Jessica Yinka Thomas

Executive Director

North Carolina State University

Rachel Haynes

Rachel Haynes

Operations Director

North Carolina State University

Former B Academic Board Members

B Academics would like to recognize the contributions of the following former board members:

  • Rosanna Garcia, co-founder and former Treasurer, University of Denver.
  • Maria Emilia Correa, former Chair of the Global Engagement Committee, Sistema B & Academia B.
  • Garima Sharma, former Chair of Research, Georgia State University.
  • Fiona Wilson, former B Lab Engagement Chair, University of New Hampshire.
  • Calvin Chung, former Information Sharing Platform Chair, Mary Baldwin University.
  • Maria Ballesteros-Sola, former Membership Chair, California State University Channel Islands.

Get Involved

Learn more about our annual elections to get involved on the board of directors
Board Elections
Learn more about how to get engaged on one of our board committees
Committee Engagement

Institutional Supporters

NC State University
Drake University logo
University of Georgia
DePaul University
University of Maryland
Emory University
Beneficial State Bank Logo
Miami University
University of New Mexico
american university logo
Johns Hopkins University
The Japan Research Institute, Limited
University of Bradford Logo