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Ford College Network 
TEST TRACK
2025-26

This program unites teams of students from invited FCN member institutions for a two-semester student competition addressing a pressing community challenge while partnering with a local community host organization.
Format

Virtual Experience

Session Dates
Virtual Launch: October 24th

Virtual Session: Week of January 12th

Virtual Session: Week of Februrary 9th

Virtual Session: Week of March 2nd

Virtual Session: Week of March 23rd

Virtual Pitch: Week of April 24th
Challenge Sponsored By:

Ford Philanthropy

What you are going to learn
Student teams will build skills with and apply design thinking tools and methods, as well as utilize an entrepreneurial approach, to develop an actionable solution response to their identified challenge, generating ideas and action plans that have the potential to create broad social and economic positive impact.  
Throughout this experience, you will:

  • Become fluent with design thinking tools and methods
  • Create broad social and economic positive impact
  • Interact with Ford Fund leadership,Ford Motor Company employees

INSTRUCTORS

Theodore 
LEARNING DESIGN SPECIALIST 
Theodore Kozerski guides the strategic growth of HFLI’s learning programs, while developing unique resources and experiences that help learners to think creatively, work collaboratively with others, and implement innovations. He brings a unique perspective to the role that blends a passion for socio-cultural anthropology, formal study and application of human-centered-design methods, experience as an entrepreneur, and a lens for inclusion and access. Theodore earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology from Wayne State University and identifies as a committed lifelong learner.
Deborah Parizek
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Deborah Parizek drives HFLI’s efforts to provide workshops, programs and site coaching that pair effective education and human-centered design approaches, empowering learners to lead transformational change in, with and for their community. She is known for cultivating the conversations, empathy, and capacity critical to addressing complex challenges. Prior to joining HFLI in 2005, Deborah designed and directed extensive teacher leadership development programs for multiple school systems.
Gary Tubbs
DESIGN FELLOW
At HFLI, Iffa applies Design Thinking to build individual and organizational capacity for strategy, innovation, and program development. She designs and facilitates HFLI’s fellowships and workshops, specializing in human-centered design, systems thinking, and implementation planning. With experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, Iffa previously served as Design Lead at Edward Jones, Program Manager at the El-Hibri Foundation, and Senior Development and Research Dissemination Manager at ISPU. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan–Dearborn, an MBA from Wayne State University, and a Project Management certification from Georgetown University.