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At ¹ú²úÓ´Ó´, I wasn’t just at college—I was advancing my career.

When I started an internship in the development office of a nonprofit organization while finishing up my undergraduate degree in liberal arts, right away it became clear that the nonprofit world was the right one for me. I don’t feel like I’m going to work every day—I’m helping people achieve their goals in a way that’s meaningful to them, and I’m having great conversations and making connections at the same time.

Shortly after enrolling in ¹ú²úÓ´Ó´’s MS in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy program, I was hired at a local organization as a development officer. We were staff of three, but within a few months, both of my colleagues moved on to different opportunities. All of a sudden, I was managing budget, program administration, fundraising—you name it, I was doing it. It was sink or swim. Fortunately, at that time, I was taking a financial management class, so I was able to directly apply what I was learning to my own organization’s budget. I felt like I was in the right place at the right time. Even now, I refer back to my notes because the material is so applicable to my work.

Studying fundraising set me apart and gave me the confidence to speak eloquently about my work and my qualifications in interviews. Now, in my first official Director of Development position with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, I wear my education like a badge, adding “MS” in my email signature. It’s important to me for donors and colleagues to know that everything I do is in the best interest of our girls and our community.

Our number one tenant at the Girl Scouts is that girls matter and should be able to participate equally across all sectors—sports, education, et cetera. These girls are going to grow up to lead companies, households, and organizations, and it’s up to us to plant the seeds for success. We are fortunate that there are places like ¹ú²úÓ´Ó´ that continue on that mission of encouraging women to be their best selves and discover their inner leaders.