Innovation Springs Interview 4: Nieves Fernandez

• College of Business: https://business.uccs.edu/
• UCCS Women's Soccer: https://gomountainlions.com/sports/womens-soccer
• Mountain Lion Strong Program: https://gomountainlions.com/news/2022/8/4/uccs-athletics-uccs-receives-ncaa-innovations-in-research-and-practice-grant-for-mountain-lion-strong-program.aspx
• UCCS Farm: https://sustain.uccs.edu/sustainability-office
• Exponential Impact: https://www.exponentialimpact.com/ 

📺 Viewers can access the full transcript or captions on the YouTube video for a deeper dive into the conversation.

https://youtu.be/UYjSlJv5X8s 

🎧 International Student Innovation & Sustainability at UCCS

What challenges do international students face—and how can innovation turn those challenges into impactful solutions?

In this episode of Innovation Springs, host Hayley Blackburn sits down with Nieves Fernandez, an international graduate student from Spain, MBA student, and assistant coach for UCCS women’s soccer, to explore how global perspectives shape innovation on campus.

Nieves shares her experience transitioning to life in the U.S., highlighting the unique challenges international students face when moving on and off campus—from limited resources to sustainability concerns. What begins as a personal experience evolves into an innovative project aimed at reducing waste and improving access to essential items for students during major transition periods.

The conversation dives into how lived experience can spark meaningful innovation, especially when it comes to community needs, sustainability, and student support systems. Nieves reflects on balancing academics, athletics, and entrepreneurship, while building a solution that benefits both students and the broader campus community.

This episode offers an example of how innovation often begins with real-world problems and the drive to make things better.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How international student experiences can inspire innovation
• The sustainability challenges of moving on and off campus
• How students can turn personal challenges into impactful projects
• What it’s like balancing academics, athletics, and projects
• How campus communities can better support student-driven solutions

🔑 Key Quotes

“We come with nothing… just a bag or two suitcases and nothing else.”

“It’s a challenge when you arrive and when you leave… what do you do with everything?”

“I wanted to create something that helps students and also helps the environment.”

🎯 Why Students & Faculty Should Listen

This episode answers questions like “How can students create real impact through innovation?” and “What sustainability challenges exist in higher education?”—making it especially relevant for students looking to launch projects and faculty supporting experiential, problem-based learning.

It also highlights the value of global perspectives in innovation and how universities can better support international students while advancing sustainability goals.