Cleveland official 'incredibly impressed' by YSU student project

The Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Youngstown State University, housed in the Williamson College of Business Administration, participated in a Regional Case Study Exercise at University Circle Inc. in Cleveland earlier this spring.

A group of 10 students seeking the Nonprofit Leadership Minor and/or Certificate with majors of various disciplines traveled to University Circle to solve multiple challenge questions addressing issues the organization is currently facing. University Circle Inc is the development, service and advocacy organization responsible for the growth of University Circle as a premier urban district and world-class center of innovation in health care, education, and arts/culture.

The day consisted of a walking tour of the University Circle neighborhood, Q&A with key staff people, brainstorming solutions, and then a presentation to the UCI president and other key staff members. While 10 students participated in the Case Study Exercise, three students served as the presentation team: Tabitha Richmond of Austintown, Ohio, Jenna Roesch of Erie, Pa., and Jordan Michael Vigorito of Girard, Ohio.

“We were incredibly impressed with the level of engagement and insight the students exhibited as part of their Regional Case Study project,” said Laura Kleinman, vice president of Services for University Circle Inc. “Such diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise enabled the students to recommend not only interesting solutions to our organizational challenges, but some we would not have considered on our own. We certainly intend to explore these further.”

Laura Dewberry, director, YSU Center for Nonprofit Leadership, added: “We plan this Regional Case Study Exercise for our students studying Nonprofit Leadership because it gives them the opportunity to work as consultants, and collaborate with each other to provide solutions to real world challenges at a large, established nonprofit organization, outside the Mahoning Valley.”

Nonprofit Leadership students at YSU have participated in similar exercises at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Center for Science and Industry in Columbus, Catholic Community Foundation in Cleveland, Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

For more information on the exercise or YSU’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership, contact Dewberry at 330-941-1870 or LJDewberry@ysu.edu.