For more than 75 years, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) has carried out a mission to help build leaders who change the world. Here at Salisbury University, PACE has partnered with NLA to help students interested in nonprofits learn about those career options and earn their Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential. For the second year in a row, the NLA program at Salisbury University is the largest campus program in the country.
Some students like Romona Hardin fell in love with the nonprofit sector during the pandemic, and have stayed involved since. Graduating in December of 2022, Romona was a Psychology major with a minor in Sociology. Romona witnessed how her community had become hindered by COVID-19. After waiting in line for a COVID test from a nonprofit, she wanted to learn more about them. As she researched she found herself enrolled in nonprofit communication, kicking off her journey in the field. She then joined NLA, and attended a nonprofit conference in Houston, TX, where she ended up working with children. She said “I didn’t know I was going to be working with children, believe it or not. I never saw myself working with them”. She now works at the nonprofit at Epoch Dream Center, a free after-school and summer program serving under-resourced children in Western Wicomico County and the surrounding area. Romona likes that being in nonprofits have helped her make connections within the community.
Staring in the fall of 2024, students at Salisbury University can earn a minor in nonprofit work. This will help prepare students for jobs in one of fastest growing sectors in Maryland. The minor is interdisciplinary, with students selecting from a range of nonprofit-related courses. It can be taken from any angle, and students from all majors are welcome. Through the minor, students can also earn their Certified Nonprofit Professional certificate.
For more information, contact Dr. Carolina Bown at cdbown@salisbury.edu