Message From The Executive Director
Dear Friends of the Mandel Center,
The end of the academic year 2008-09 brought several exciting and newsworthy events to report. These include the:
- Graduation of 34 students in the Master of Nonprofit Organizations degree program, the Certificate in Nonprofit Management program, and dual-credential programs;
- Announcement of Charles 'Mel' Gray, Professor of Business Economics at the University of St. Thomas, as the new editor of Nonprofit Management and Leadership;
- Selection of the 9th cohort of fellows in the Treu-Mart Youth Development Fellowship Program, which brings the total number of fellows to 136;
- Expansion of career services for Mandel Center students and alumni with the appointment of Barbara Clemenson as the Center's new Academic and Career Advisor, as well as a very successful Idealist.org Career Fair held on campus recently;
- Election of the inaugural Steering Committee for the Mandel Center Alumni Association and the first web-based, interactive alumni annual meeting;
- Conclusion of a year of greatly expanded professional development programs that reached 275 organizations and more than 500 nonprofit leaders and professionals;
- Completion of the first phase of the Center's partnership with Community Wealth Ventures to deliver professional support services to nonprofit organizations seeking to expand earned income; and
- Hosting of close to 200 meetings of nonprofit organizations, academic partners and professional development programs in the Center's new building.
In this increasingly difficult economic environment, we are pleased that we have been able to expand our services to students, alumni and other nonprofit professionals. At the same time, we recognize that the challenges facing the nonprofit sector and the communities of which they are a part are likely to grow. One observer has noted that the current circumstances may be the "new normal." The Mandel Center is actively examining how we can best carry out our mission to strengthen the effectiveness of nonprofit leaders and managers and the organizations they serve in these complex times.
It has been an honor to have served as the Mandel Center's Executive Director for close to eight years. I am leaving this position with the conviction that the Center's mission, vision and values are more relevant and important than at any time in the Center's history.
Sincerely,
Susan L. Eagan
