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Program prepares students for careers with nonprofits

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By Stephanie Rodriguez

While public and private sector employment rates are sagging, the job outlook is healthy in the nonprofit sector, and a program at Fresno State can help people land those jobs.

Now in its second year of accreditation, Fresno State's American Humanics Certificate Program offers professional training and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. The program is affiliated with American Humanics, Inc., a strategic alliance of 85 colleges and universities plus professional organizations and nonprofit agencies nationwide. President John Welty is chair of the American Humanics Association.

American Humanics assists in recruiting, training and placing students in management and leadership positions with youth and human service agencies.

Dr. Matthew Jendian, Fresno State director of the American Humanics program, says there is an abundance of job opportunities with local nonprofit agencies.

"In general, the job prospects are very good in this area," said Jendian.

Fresno State affiliated with the national organization in 1998 and started offering classes toward a certificate in 1999. Last fall, the program received accreditation.

Students seeking the AH certificate come from a variety of majors, but most are psychology majors, Jendian said. There are 25 students in the program.

In May, the first two students with AH certificates graduated from Fresno State. One of them, David Aston (Business Management), was one of 21 students in the CSU system to receive the STARS Award (Students That Are Recognized for Service).

AH students learn about grant writing and nonprofit management, as well as how to build community coalitions. The interdisciplinary certificate requires a minimum of 12 units and a maximum of 24, along with 300 hours of supervised experience with a nonprofit, community-based service provider. Each student's program is individually designed to fit the student's interests.

Jendian said the nonprofit sector is experiencing rapid growth and a fundamental shift towards social entrepreneurship, so programs such as American Humanics create a pool of qualified employees for local agencies. American Humanics also provides students with management tools to run a successful nonprofit organization.

American Humanics collaborates with the Fresno State's Kauffman Social Entrepreneur Internship Program, which helps students obtain on-the-job experience by placing them in start-up or established nonprofit organizations. Dr. Skip Sherwood, coordinator for Kauffman, said the programs complement each other.

"Since the Kauffman program is aimed at assisting nonprofit organizations at the managerial level, it is a perfect fit with the American Humanics Program," said Sherwood.

The Fresno State AH Program is also part of a consortium of nine California State University campuses to facilitate collaboration, resource sharing and joint planning in the system. Jendian is director of communications for the consortium.

Fabi Valdez, a senior in Sociology at Fresno State, feels fortunate to be part of the American Humanics program.

"I consider myself very lucky to be part of a program that is preparing me to be a leader in the nonprofit sector," said Valdez.

The students believe that the experience they are gaining will help them secure jobs with nonprofit organizations.

"There are so many levels of nonprofit work ... you just have to look for what you want and not be afraid to ask questions," said Manndie Pennel, a senior.

(Stephanie Rodriguez is a University Relations student intern.)

Back to University Journal, 12/10/01 Issue