The Swearer Center has welcomed Kelly (Ramirez) Stone, a nationally recognized leader in social enterprise and innovation, as Social Innovator in Residence. With over 25 years of experience spanning social enterprise development, international partnerships and community-engaged teaching, Stone will support students of the Social Innovation Fellowship (SIF). 

Stone, who currently serves as the inaugural director of the Ryan Incubator at Providence College and previously co-founded and led Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), brings extensive expertise in cultivating early-stage innovators and building entrepreneurial ecosystems. She has taught social entrepreneurship at Brown, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Salve Regina University and has led global initiatives at organizations including the William Davidson Institute, the Ford Foundation, USAID and the European Commission. Her career also includes diplomatic service as a political and economic officer with the U.S. Department of State and work with the Peace Corps in Slovakia.

“Kelly will be the Social Innovator in Residence through spring 2026, supporting with advising of social innovation projects and providing insight into how this fellowship works with students and partners to build students' skills and capacities as innovators and change makers,” said Joshua Rodriguez, Swearer Center’s Associate Director for Co-Curricular Learning.

Founded to support student social innovators and entrepreneurs in the earliest stages of their work, the Social Innovation Fellowship offers a developmental, two-year pathway rooted in community-engaged learning. Fellows participate in workshops, coaching and hands-on internships with Rhode Island–based organizations, gaining exposure to the skills, mindsets and partnerships required to advance meaningful social impact. In their second year, they have the option to continue their internship or begin developing their own social innovation project.

Stone shared her excitement to dive in and noted, “I am excited to double down in areas where Swearer has deep expertise, such as effective community engagement strategies, co-creation and partnership building. In our rapidly changing world, and in the face of cuts to programs that support basic human needs both in the US and abroad, preparing young people to make positive change in the world is more critical than ever.”

For the Swearer Center, Stone’s residency reflects an ongoing commitment to evidence-based, equitable and community-centered approaches to social innovation.