Student Profiles
Student Profiles
Adam Abatzis '07
"I worked for four years in the field of environmental analysis and reporting before enrolling at Boston University. This time spent in a laboratory helped me to realize that I was underutilizing my strengths and not fulfilling my growth potential. I came to understand that my goals for professional success and personal satisfaction hinged upon incorporating my passion for promoting environmental sustainability with the opportunity for regular and meaningful inter-personal interactions.
The Public and Nonprofit Program at the BU School of Management is the ideal vehicle to help me to achieve these goals. I researched a number of other schools and discovered that none were more committed to cultivating business leaders willing and able to affect positive change. The BU PNP curriculum and faculty are unique in that teachings reflect more than just the mechanisms of the private sector. Graduates emerge from the program with an important understanding of how the private, public, and nonprofit business sectors interrelate. I view this knowledge as a vital tool for myself and for every environmentally and socially conscious professional since we will all work intimately with companies, organizations, and agencies from each category."
Ashley Brown '07
"My long-term goal is to be an executive director of a nonprofit arts institution. For nine years, I have helped arts organizations connect with its audiences through development, public relations, and marketing. I enjoy working with donors, staff, volunteers, and the many others who share the common vision to help an institution thrive. I decided to go to business school because my experience indicated that art administrators to be strategic thinkers and effective managers.
I chose the Boston University Graduate School of Management for two reasons: the program and the people. In the Public and Nonprofit Management program, I was able to combine the core MBA curriculum with a concentration in courses relevant to my career goals. I also have the flexibility to take courses within other colleges at BU allowing me to focus specifically in Museum Studies. In addition, my peers within the program have enriched my experience. They provide an instant web of nonprofit knowledge and have helped broaden my perspective. BU has proved to be a rewarding experience and one that will help me achieve my career goals."
James Bornstein '08
"I spent 4 years working for a Jewish federated philanthropy in Boston.I was amazed at the level of passion and commitment that I experienced in the field, however, I often felt as if I was spinning my wheels. After working closely with two colleagues with MBAs I could see that they approached their work differently. They asked great questions and knew how to develop metrics for success. Looking to develop my own business leadership skills, I decided to apply to BU School of Management because of its strong reputation and its Public and Non-Profit concentration. Not only has the PNP network made my transition from a non-profit environment much easier, it has also broadened my knowledge of the non-profit sector. There is a diverse variety of non-profit experiences in the concentration. Most importantly, we are learning a lot from our for-profit classmates while at the same time sensitizing them to the world of philanthropy and non-profits."
Karen Cassidy '08
"After three years of experience in the international nonprofit field, I was able to recognize vast inefficiencies in the operations and management of the mission driven organizations I worked with. In order to confront the various managerial obstacles to service delivery in the developing world and thereby make an effective contribution to causes I felt strongly about, I knew I would first need to gain additional managerial skills. The Public and Nonprofit Program at the Boston University School of Management was attractive to me for its highly focused and practical core curriculum combined with the flexibility of elective choice. BU seemed to be the most appropriate choice for me, as I was looking for an education that I could customize to suit my future work needs.
My first year as a PNP student has provided me with a broad knowledge of organizational management topics and refreshed my enthusiasm for learning. The application of challenging management concepts to real life situations as part of regular course work has equipped me to think strategically about problems I will likely encounter in my profession. I am constantly impressed by the incredible quality of teaching and the level of support offered by the faculty and staff for students of all backgrounds. When the time comes to return to work as a manager in the field of international aid and development, I will have a diverse set of skills as well as a wide network of people and resources to rely upon as a graduate of BU’s Public and Nonprofit Program."
Andrew Conley '08
"Before coming to Boston University , I was a teacher at a non-profit school and worked as a labor relations consultant for public agencies. I decided to earn an MBA because I eventually want to work in education management, and that required me to add an entirely new skill set. I applied to BU because of its reputation for first-rate professors, and because the PNP program offered an opportunity to focus on skills that will translate to working in the public or non-profit sector.
Thus far my experience at B.U. has been fantastic. My professors really know their stuff and are extremely accessible, which is particularly helpful for students like myself that do not come from traditional business backgrounds. Leadership opportunities are another great aspect of this program. This year I served as a co-chair for this year's PNP "Link Day" event, a day on which MBA students and faculty are paired with a community-based non-profit to help solve an organization problem. This year we were able to help eight agencies from around the city with a range of projects that offered a chance for students to put our MBA skills to good use. So, while I am looking forward to opportunities that await after graduation, in the meantime I feel fortunate I am able to spend another year among the students and faculty here at B.U."
Whitney Grace '08
"For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for youth services. Before coming to BU, I did both volunteer and paid work in mentoring, tutoring, coaching, and teaching. I found my passion in this field while directing a photography mentoring program for homeless and foster youth. After BU, I plan to continue pursuing the path of youth development and art education.
I was drawn to the Public and Nonprofit Management program at BU because of its emphasis on tailoring my MBA education to my passions. Because my interests are focused and unique, especially in the business world, I wanted a program that allowed me to custom-fit a class schedule and extra-curricular program to fit my educational and professional goals. I have found this flexibility at BU.
I have also been able to take advantage of the myriad of extra-curricular opportunities offered here at the School of Management. I and some fellow first-years started an Arts Management club which offers our classmates the opportunity for direct consulting experience to local arts organizations, as well as the opportunity to attend arts-related social events based on our mutual interests.
After BU, I am considering either starting an entrepreneurial venture, going into nonprofit consulting, or continuing with direct service management. I feel that all of these options are attainable to me, given the knowledge and confidence I have gained while in this program. Resources and encouragement abound here at BU; I have been nothing but happy with my experience here thus far."
Christine Guardia '07
"After working for 12 years as a government consultant, I decided I wanted to work more directly with nonprofit organizations. Although I had volunteered with nonprofits through my company and in my personal time, I realized I did not know much about how they operated, so I started to consider going back to school. I attended an MBA fair in Boston and learned of the Public and Nonprofit Management program at Boston University.
I decided to attend BU because it combined traditional MBA classes with classes specifically for public/nonprofit students. Although my first year of core MBA classes was challenging because I did not have any formal business training, I am glad that I now have a general business background. I am interested in working at an education-related nonprofit or in cause marketing and I am taking electives this year that are relevant to my career plans.
I have been impressed by the dedication of the BU School of Management staff, the availability of our professors, and the support of my fellow classmates. I also like the practicality of the program: I learned business concepts and frameworks the first year and now as a second year, I have the opportunity to apply my business skills as well as gain hands-on experience while working with local nonprofits."
Jim Kurdek '08
"I realized that I wanted to attend business school while traveling through the remote rainforests of Costa Rica, where I discovered that there is a serious need in the space of effectively implementing responsible development initiatives. In trying to understand how to fill this void I came to understand that the majority of the problem stemmed from a lack of skilled management dedicated to social change. Therefore, it became my mission to combine my personal motivations and values with the knowledge obtained in an MBA program to appropriately affect environmentally and socially responsible development.
I knew that I would need to attend a school like BU, a place where management training is precise but open-minded and cognizant of the idea that quality leadership is required outside of the private sector. In addition to the specific attention given to Public and Non-profit management strategies BU also incorporates these relevant topics into everyday course work in the general MBA program.
BU also offers PNP students countless opportunities for personal and professional development outside of the classroom. With a dedicated faculty and amazingly diverse student population the BU community exposes students to innumerable networking prospects and a seemingly endless supply of brainpower. In an environment that establishes collaborative learning as imperative to success as much as BU does, it would be nearly impossible for students not to bring out the best in each other, something that feels refreshingly unique about the program."
Karine McClosky '08
"Before enrolling in business school, I worked for five years at an environmental nonprofit organization. My job allowed me to take on anumber of roles and in time I learned to navigate the inner-workings of the organization’s structure. I loved working with others who shared similar values, and I realized that I wanted to create positive change on a grand scale. However, the leadership positions I desired required strong quantitative and management skills. After researching and visiting a number of MBA programs, I concluded that the Public and Nonprofit Management Program at Boston University would give me the skills I needed and the environment I wanted to learn in as I worked towards realizing my dreams of bringing efficiency and excellence to the nonprofit world.
My experience at Boston University’s Graduate School of Management has exceeded all my expectations. I particularly appreciate the intimate setting of the PNP program, which has allowed me to bond with others interested in nonprofit careers while also working with students with more traditional MBA career aspirations. On a daily basis I am encouraged and challenged by my classmates and professors, who bring diverse real world experiences to the classroom and team projects. I've really enjoyed my time at BU and I highly recommend Boston University’s Public Nonprofit Management Program for anyone interested in social change and/or corporate social responsibility considering getting an MBA."
