Leadership Practicum
The Leadership Practicum has exposed me to the current mission-critical issues facing non-profit leaders, and allowed me to explore theoretical, innovative and proven approaches to tackle these issues.
- Rajiv Lajmi
Brief Program Overview:
The Leadership Practicum is an important part of the experiential learning for students in the Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organization Leadership Program (NPL Program). The practicum consists of two themes:
- a supervised mentoring experience with either an executive director or senior level leader at an area nonprofit organization or foundation; and
- a placement with the same organization with the goal of learning about the organization and providing a level of support on various levels that can include strategic planning; succession planning; branding or marketing; development; governance or other targeted projects.
Goals for the Leadership Practicum:
The primary goal of the Leadership Practicum is to engage the student in a learning process which enhances the student’s understanding of how leadership roles are carried out in nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia region. This is an opportunity for each student to be assigned to a particular nonprofit organization to witness leadership in action.
Each candidate for the masters degree in nonprofit/NGO leadership will have the opportunity to be assigned a mentor. The goal is that the mentor will be either an executive director or senior level leader at a local nonprofit organization or foundation. The “mentoring experience” will consist of spending time with the assigned student. We ask that each mentor agree to commit two (2) hours a week to meet with the student. The Leadership Practicum is designed to start in October and continue into the next year ending around mid March.
What is mentoring? Mentoring is the process in which an experienced leader in the field of nonprofit provides advise, support, and encouragement to a less experienced individual. A mentor is a teacher or friendly advisor who leads through guidance and example. We think of the mentors as “leadership coaches” and they share their professional growth and struggles with the student and serve as another professional role model for career contacts and career development.
The mentoring experience will allow an NPL student to meet, interact, engage, and learn from a seasoned leader in the field of nonprofit. The mentor will share their experiences and allow the student to be a participant/observer in a number of key processes in his/her organization. The goal is to provide an environment for organic learning and opportunities to witness events in which leadership skills are demonstrated in real time. In many cases, the relationship can serve as a professional networking opportunity for both parties.
Objectives:
Through the Leadership Practicum, the student will become aware of the social and political skills and knowledge base which is desirable for success as a transformative leader in a nonprofit organization or nongovernmental organization (NGO).
It is our wish that all of the mentors will become a part of a new and developing cadre of local nonprofit leaders who will play a critical role in guiding the Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program. This personal and professional interaction for the students combined with their classroom course work will serve as a resource for their further development as a nonprofit leader.