USD Magazine, Fall 2003

Allie Jones reads to a group of children as part of an after-school program that strives to include kids with disabilities.

business, it's just where the money goes that is different. " The program teaches a blend of skills unique to nonprofits, such as fund raising, recruiting and dealing with volunteers, and familiarity with IRS tax laws. "What we are giving (nonprofits) is some– one who has specialized training that they can use when they are employed there, " VanHorn says. "Even students who take the certificate program and never work as a paid employee of a nonprofit might serve on a nonprofit board and utilize their training to make chem a better board member." Students who complete the 11-credic pro– gram have at least 300 hours of internship

Allie Jones, 25, says she learned skills like fund raising and event planning, which she uses for her job as the resource development director for Kids Included Together. The 6- year-old San Diego nonprofit group teams up with community-based youth organiza– tions like the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs and teaches them how to make their facilities and programs accessible to children with disabilities. KIT also provides financial support to the organizations so they can hire staff aides. "You learn things about tax-exempt status and about boards that you don't learn any– where else," says Jones, who graduated in 2000 with a certificate and a bachelor's

Kelley Mitchell at Mission Bay with members of USD's women's crew team, which competes in the annual San Diego Crew Classic regatta. and on," says Libby, who's worked in the nonprofit sector for 25 years. "I chink young people are idealistic, and they see the non– profit world as a place chat is more grounded and has stronger ethics. That's not to say there aren't lapses in the nonprofits. But mis– takes in nonprofits are more often due to

mismanagement, and not to poor ethics." Bad decisions by inexperienced managers are just what the School of Education hopes to prevent through the nonprofit specializa– tion introduced last year into its leadership studies program. "Companies and individuals chat support nonprofits are saying to them that they need to look to business for best practices," says Paula Cordeiro, dean of education, who cre– ated the program in response to requests from the nonprofit community. "They want to make sure there are sound management practices in nonprofits. "We train executive directors and upper management," adds Cordeiro, who notes that the program operates in cooperation with the schools of Business Administration and Law, as well as local nonprofit practi– tioners. "They are able to cake the strengths chat the business and legal profession can offer back to their organizations." The vast majority of students entering the master's program are from mid- and senior-

degree in sociology. "I always refer to American Humanics as a business minor for the nonprofit sector." Ocher students find American Humanics coursework to be a plus in careers outside the nonprofit realm. "The program emphasizes taking risks and being able to help people through leadership and motivation" says Eric Velazquez '01 , a U.S. Customs agent who plans to become a high school counselor when he retires from law enforcement. "Those qualities are good, regardless of what career field you are in ." Masters of Management Pat Libby, coordinator for USD's fledgling master's degree in nonprofit leadership and management, chinks people are fed up with corporate shenanigans. "People are pretty disgusted with what has been happening in corporate America in terms of the level of deception going on with organizations like Enron, Tyco, Arthur Andersen, WorldCom - the list goes on

Khalid Maxie espouses the merits of a college education to at-risk high school students. experience by the time they cake their first jobs. Yoder says American Humanics gave her a head start after graduation wi ch her fi rst job, at Goodwill Industries. "I felt more confidence supervising peo– ple," says Yoder, who earned a bachelor's degree with a double major in psychology and sociology and a minor in leadership. "I felt I had more skiJls in working for a nonprofit than most people."

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