ABOUT US
Why We Built This
The BlankSlate Fellowship started with a simple belief: students and organizations deserve a better way to begin meaningful work together.
OUR MISSION
We build structured, paid opportunities for graduate students to contribute to the organizations shaping public life. The work is real, the expectations are clear, and every placement is designed to leave both the fellow and the partner stronger than before.
WHY WE STARTED
It Began With A Competition
The inaugural NYU Wagner Social Impact Venture Challenge brought proposals from New York City, Armenia, China, and rural India together with eight alumni judges and 22 alumni at pitch day.
What We Decided To Build
We saw that the strongest ideas needed more than a competition. They needed real capacity, thoughtful supervision, and a way for emerging leaders to earn their first credible body of work.
The Founding Team
Built by NYU Wagner graduates who care deeply about how public-purpose work gets done.
ARINA QIAN
CO-FOUNDER
Arina brings a systems lens to every fellowship, connecting ambitious learners with work that has tangible stakes.
EMILY PATTON
CO-FOUNDER
Emily builds the relationships that make projects possible, useful, and rooted in the needs of each partner.