Recently, twelve students from the Kansas State University nonprofit leadership certificate program shadowed professionals in nine different nonprofit organizations in Manhattan, Kansas. Students worked with executive directors, volunteer managers, program coordinators, development specialists, and other diverse positions within the organizations.
Work in the nonprofit sector requires a diverse array of skill sets, with some common considerations across all organizations, regardless of mission. Students learned about the organizations and experienced a day-in-the-life o
f a local nonprofit practitioner. Experiences like this help translate the skills and theories taught in the classroom into practice that increases students’ understanding and impacts communities.
“Nonprofit work is valuable in our world because it affects so many of us daily, sometimes without us thinking about it,” said Dr. Chance Lee, Staley School of Leadership Studies assistant professor and nonprofit leadership program director. “Getting students engaged, excited, and prepared for meaningful work in the nonprofit sector is incredibly rewarding.”
Nick Edwards, freshman in biomedical engineering, participated with the Boys and Girls Club. Nick said, “Nonprofit Shadow Day provided me with the opportunity to explore the wonderful community of Manhattan. I got the unique experience to see how the concepts taught in Leadership Studies are applied in the real world”.
Students enrolled in the nonprofit leadership certificate learn to better exercise leadership within the nonprofit sector as a staff member, board member, donor, or volunteer. This certificate program can be completed as a stand-alone academic degree, meaning students can complete it with or without pursuing additional college credits. The program is available in person and online.
Grow your knowledge about the nonprofit sector with a nonprofit leadership certificate. Learn more on the website or email Chance Lee at chance@ksu.edu with questions.
Special thanks goes out to the participating local nonprofit partners, who continue to make such a difference in the Manhattan community: Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan, Meadowlark Hills, K-State Alumni Association, 4-H Foundation, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Wonder Workshop, Manhattan Arts Center and Downtown Manhattan.
