MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends of the Mandel Center,
This fall semester has been an exciting one at the Mandel Center. We began by welcoming an outstanding class of 42 new students this year coming from an array of nonprofit fields and locations around the country. For example, we have students who came from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, BP America in the Chicago area, and from City Year. We also have a student from Japan who recently received her master's in planning from Ohio State University. Read more about our new class of students and this year's orientation.
In addition to pursuing a rigorous course of study, our current students continue to do wonderful work in the community that is being recognized by nonprofit organizations and publications. For example, Melissa Bayer was recently appointed executive director of The Arc of Erie County, a national organization that advocates for individuals with mental disabilities. Will Goldstein, another MNO candidate, was featured in a 2006 article in the Continuing Education Guide published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy on June 15, 2006. The Student Highlights section of the newsletter has more information about their work and information about other students' accomplishments.
We had the pleasure of a special guest speaker this past October, Christine DeVita, president of The Wallace Foundation. Ms. DeVita spoke eloquently about the Foundation's approaches to helping youth flourish during out-of-school time. Her presentation was followed by an active discussion with policy makers, leaders of youth-serving organizations and other friends of the Mandel Center's Treu-Mart Youth Development Fellowship Program. More details about Ms. DeVita's talk, as well as an interview with Atunyese Herron, a cohort three fellow from the Treu-Mart Fellowship, can be found in this issue of Nonprofit E-Notes.
On important nonprofit management issues, faculty at the Center continue to provide leadership in the nonprofit community through their research. John Yankey, Leonard W. Mayo Professor Emeritus, recently co-edited a book with Richard Edwards entitled Effectively Managing Nonprofit Organizations, published by NASW Press. For more on the Center's faculty, turn to the Faculty Highlights section.
This fall, Mandel Center alumni and the Mandel Center launched a strategic planning process focusing on future directions of the Alumni Association. This process is being facilitated by Professor John Yankey. We expect to have a progress report in time for the winter version of E-Notes. For more information about recent accomplishments of Mandel Center alumni, please check out Alumni Class Notes.
This issue of E-Notes recognizes two members of the Mandel Center staff. We extend congratulations to Wendy Jelinek (MNO 2000). Wendy received this year's Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences' B. Lenora Benson Award of Excellence. As a 12-year employee in the area of Academic Programs and Recruitment, Wendy is known for her strong commitment to student services and exceptional work ethic. She is also the first Mandel Center staff person to receive this special award, which is given to those who demonstrate unselfish service above and beyond their job role and responsibilities. Read more about this year's presentation of the B. Lenora Benson Award. This issue of E-Notes also features an interview with Maria Sharron, assistant to the executive director. Maria, like many staff members at the Center, is an active volunteer with wide-ranging interests.
I am very pleased to report that on November 3rd Case Western Reserve University held a small reception to honor the Mandel family for their generous $6.75 million donation for our new building. The Center is honored to have the support of the Mandel Foundation for this building, as well as for ongoing operating and scholarship funding. The construction of the building is on schedule and we look forward to welcoming the Fall 2007 class in our new home. Please read more about our new building and view photos documenting the construction process and the November 3rd event.
E-Notes is a primary communication vehicle for the Mandel Center. Please contact us with any news items for future issues or any questions that you may have. All of us at the Center wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
Sincerely,
Susan Lajoie Eagan
Executive Director and Mandel Professor
