Communications major Amy Jackson experienced the real-world ofmanaging a nonprofit organization.
Jackson, president of The University of Memphis AmericanHumanics Student Association lead a competition-winning team lastmonth at the annual American Humanics Management Institutesymposium in Kansas City. Jackson represented The U of M with threeother students and U of M faculty.
The symposium is a tradition for U of M students majoring innonprofit management, said Susan Schmidt, campus executivedirector.
The three-day seminar themed "Strengthening All Families," wasattended by more than 700 students, faculty and nonprofitorganizations.
This year over 80 colleges and universities were present, aswell as 30 corporations.
The symposium gives juniors, seniors and graduate studentsinterested in nonprofit management a chance to participate inworkshops and exercises concerning issues in the nonprofitindustry.
One of the best things about the event was that it was gearedtoward students instead of professors and executives, Schmidtsaid.
"It's much more exciting for students than your usual academicconference," Schmidt said. "It's much more fun."
A key event during the symposium was the Case Study Competition,which presents students with an opportunity to role play what theymight do in actual situations, Schmidt said.
Each team was given a situation based on real problemsencountered by an organization having management issues. Studentsfrom different institutions were randomly selected to form teams.Event organizers wanted to promote students working togetherinstead of schools competing against each other.
"I think the networking with national students is huge forthem," Schmidt said.
All of the teams had to think up a plan to merge two nonprofitorganizations providing services to the elderly.
Nadia Logan, a graduate student in public administration, saidshe enjoyed participating in the event.
"It was a lot of fun and very interactive," Logan said.
"I got a feel for what real managers do when they face thesesituations," Logan said.
The American Humanics Nonprofit Studies program is under theDivision of Public and Nonprofit Administration at The U of M andalso part of the Mid-South American Humanics Collaborative, whichinvolves 22 local nonprofit organizations as well as Lemoyne-OwenCollege and Crichton College, in addition to this campus.
Schmidt said the thinks the seminar is a helpful experience forstudents.
"It gives students a better perspective of our field, what theyare doing and how it applies to the real world," Schmidt said.
