The Future is Collaborative: Inside the YCP Graham Fellows Program
What happens when you put graphic design, engineering, biology, marketing, and criminal justice majors in a room together?
Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows (Graham Fellows) call it the future. This semester, our Fellows are leading projects from designing a new makerspace on campus to cooking with middle schoolers to launching a new podcast, exemplifying what it means to collaborate at YCP.
The Graham Fellows is one of the college’s honors programs with the mission of bringing together students from all academic disciplines to work together on meaningful initiatives, build networks, and promote connections across the campus. The 2-year-long program, open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, provides micro-credentialing in leadership, collaboration, and team-building, as well as opportunities to work in teams to develop and implement unique projects and programs. These teams, referred to as Co-Labs, focus on diverse projects while strengthening students’ connections across academic disciplines, all under the mentorship of a skilled, enthusiastic team of faculty and industry professionals.
In the current semester, the Co-Labs include the Podcast Production Team, Graham Innovation Zone, Graham Fellows Marketing and Communications, and the Interdisciplinary Assistantship programs:
The Podcast Production Team currently produces two podcasts: At The Center, which features conversations about cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration with YCP faculty and community members, and Y Money Talks, which answers financial questions relevant to college students. Under the mentorship of Clout, a professional podcast production company, Co-Lab members select and engage with guests, write scripts, design promotional materials, record and edit episodes, and post them online. Rosy Shrestha, main scriptwriter for Y Money Talks, expresses, “I love learning something new every day, and Y Money Talks is a really educational experience for me.”
Working with their mentors, Dr. Brandi Binkley and Dr. Paul Ackerman, Fellows in the Graham Innovation Zone Co-Lab have been researching and preparing a proposal to establish a unique collaboration space to promote creativity and innovation, and to provide resources for students at York College to move ideas into production. This centrally located maker-space is anticipated to be available to the YCP community next academic year. The Marketing and Communications Co-Lab Fellows work together to design digital content that promotes and amplifies the voice of the program and builds community. Working with their mentor, Joe Peters, of Joe Peters Media, this team has been building their social media presence, strategizing outreach and recruitment, and celebrating the collaborative work of their peers.
Through the Interdisciplinary Assistantship program, Fellows are connected with small businesses or community-based organizations to gain professional skills and build communication across disciplines. Mentor Dr. Rachael Lattanzio, Assistant Professor of Nursing at York College, voices, “What makes the experience so powerful is not just the exposure to new fields, but the realization that no profession exists in isolation.” She continues, “Students begin to see how deeply connected disciplines truly are, and how much stronger their impact can be when those connections are embraced.” Current students have assistantships through Creative York, Cooking Up Connections, and Shadowfax, where they are supporting programming for youth and adults.
The Graham Fellows create lasting impacts for students across all disciplines. Co-director Dr. Brian K. Malcarne, Associate Professor of Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness, shares, “I am so excited to be a co-director for the Graham Fellows program! A few weeks in and I’m already seeing an awesome blend of student initiative, seasoned mentors, and meaningful projects!” Brynn Moor, a Chemistry major and Fellow says, "The Graham Fellows Program has contributed to my lifelong goal of being more active and engaging in the York Community. These impacts can be seen and will last forever in the York Community."
The Graham Fellows program anticipates adding two new Co-Labs for the Fall 2026, including a partnership with the Lifelong Learning Institute and a Lead Testing Project. If you will be a sophomore or junior in Fall 2026, don’t miss the opportunity to build your professional, collaboration, and creativity skills through the Graham Fellows program! Applications for the 2026-2027 school year are due on April 10th, 2026. For further information on the application process and programs, visit the Graham Fellows website.
