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Faculty Role in Student
Nonprofit leadership studies
student takes Our House by
storm
OCTOBER 16, 2015
Sarah Runion is a senior
psychology major with a
minor in the nonprofit
leadership studies program
(NPLS). This summer,
Sarah had an internship
though VISTA at Our
House, a nonprofit in Little
Rock that serves the
homeless population. Sarah
was encouraged to work at
Our House by the Executive
Director, Georgia Mjartan, when she took the
Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership class
taught by Mjartan. Sarah has been in love with
the organization ever since, stating that she
enjoys the fact they, “empower people to come
out of a bad situation.” This summer as a VISTA
(Volunteers In Service To America), she was
responsible for the children’s programming and
she interacted directly with clients. After
having such a positive experience working at
Our House, she was asked to come back as a
full time VISTA this fall. Her responsibilities at
Our House currently include recruiting
volunteers, supervising volunteers and grant
tracking.
Sarah chose the NPLS program as her minor
because of her experience working in nonprofit
organizations. Before becoming a student at
UALR, Sarah helped start an afterschool
program at the YMCA in Indianapolis. Sarah
hopes to one day become an Executive Director
at an organization that serves people in the
community.
Sarah feels thankful for the opportunities to
build relationship with those working in the
nonprofit sector. Without the NPLS program at
UALR, she would not have been given this
amazing opportunity. She appreciates that Our
House offers skills training to empower
individuals to improve their situations.
Although she has a hectic schedule working
full time and taking 18 hours of coursework,
Sarah would not trade the experience for the
world and is excited to see where her journey
UALR COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND
COMMUNICATION
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in the world of nonprofits will take her after she
graduates in May of 2016.
The NPLS program is an 18 credit hour course
of study that offers the option of becoming
certified in nonprofit leadership. Students
develop cultural competencies, marketing and
communication skills, and leaderships that help
put them ahead of the pack in the nonprofit
world. As Sarah’s story highlights, one of the
most valuable take aways is the relationships
students build with those doing work in
nonprofits.
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