STUDENT CENTER:
Student Spotlight: Meran Chang, MNO Candidate
Q. You just finished your first year in the MNO program. What have you enjoyed so far about your time here, and what are you looking forward to as you finish up your degree?
What I’ve enjoyed most from my time in the MNO program so far are the friendships I’ve made with my classmates; it has been refreshing to be surrounded by others with the same interests and passions about working in the nonprofit sector. Guidance and support from advisors at the Mandel Center and professors have also made my first year a positive experience. For the upcoming year, I am looking forward to getting into the nitty-gritty of the MNO program, the yearlong strategic planning class, to further develop my nonprofit management skills.
Q. What influenced you to enroll at the Mandel Center, and how do you hope your degree will have an impact on your future career goals?
What drew me to enroll into the MNO program was its commitment to nonprofit organizations and the relevant course work the program offers for obtaining the skills and character needed to be successful in the sector.
Q. You have a particular interest in international work. How do you hope to pursue this interest?
I have been able to pursue this interest through the MNO program’s offer of a wide range of opportunities to customize your degree. To emphasize my international focus, I spent two weeks in India on a study tour with MSASS to learn about social innovation, I spent two weeks in South Africa as part of an independent study I constructed to learn about social responsibility, and took several preapproved electives outside of the Mandel Center focusing on international issues. I was also partnered up with a great mentor of an international nonprofit based in Cleveland through the Mandel Center’s Mentorship Program.
Q. How do you think your participation in the Mandel Center's Mentor Program benefited you, and would you recommend the program to other students?
Being enrolled in the mentor program has opened a lot of doors for me: internships, networking, job opportunities, and new friendships. I would definitely recommend this program to other students that are interested in working in the nonprofit sector, whether it is to make a difference locally or internationally.
Q. What advice do you have for potential students considering enrolling at the Center?
The MNO program is excellent and provides many opportunities to pursue whatever your specific interests are through independent study, study abroad trips, preapproved courses outside of the Mandel Center, the Mentorship Program, volunteer opportunities, and student groups. My advice for students considering enrolling at the Center is to learn about all the opportunities the program provides and taking advantage of them.
Q. What are your summer plans - and what other interests, hobbies, etc are you currently involved in?
This summer I am in Washington, D.C. interning at Save the Children’s Program Development Unit, an international nonprofit. I am also working on my application for a Fulbright research grant to spend a year in Kenya studying nonprofits providing child services.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself?
