Georgia State University’s Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) students April Piplica (M.P.A. ’15) and Pascale Nicoleau (B.S. in Public Policy ’16) won the first place award in the Poster Presentation Best Practice category at NLA’s annual Alliance Management Institute (AMI) in Houston, in January. The poster presentation was on the group’s Social Media Clinic that was held for local Atlanta nonprofits last fall.
In addition to their winning poster presentation, Piplica, Nicoleau and seven other Georgia State University NLA students spent three days immersed in a myriad of nonprofit sector activities at AMI, the only national conference expressly designed to annually prepare college students for a career in the social sector. Accompanied by GSU-NLA executive director Marcia Jones Cross and faculty advisor, John O’Kane, the students attend this capstone experience to ultimately receive their Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential.
The conference was packed with educational workshops, networking with undergraduate and graduate students from around the United States, national speakers from the nonprofit sector, and a day-long case study experience where teams of students consulted with Houston nonprofit organizations on an area of identified need or challenge. Additionally, Georgia State NLA students and advisors fellowshipped with NLA students from Kennesaw State University and Georgia College and State University during a dinner at a local restaurant.
In addition to the poster presentation award, Piplica and fellow GSU-NLAer Naif Alruali (M.P.A. ’15) were awarded their CNPs at the Institute. Also attending AMI and now eligible to earn their CNPs were: Shari Baskin, Carlon Chambers, David Garcia, Lori Jouty, Pascale Nicoleau, Alan Tipert and Travis Williams.
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance exists to strengthen the leadership of the social sector and to sustain the ability of nonprofits to fulfill their missions with a talented and prepared workforce. There are more than 45 NLA chapters on campuses across the United States.