Benjamin Lough

Benjamin Lough is a Professor of Business Administration and Director of Social Innovation at the Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis, and B.A. and MSW degrees from Brigham Young University. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Researcher at the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in Bonn, Germany. His research focuses on transnational voluntary organizations, community development, and social innovation, with particular emphasis on gender equity, nonprofit management, and global volunteer practices. Professor Lough teaches courses on nonprofit management, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise. His work bridges academia and practice, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and systemic approaches to social challenges. Recent research highlights include analyzing funding disparities in startups, the role of international volunteers in fostering gender equality, and the impact of volunteering on community resilience.