The first cohort of M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise students graduated this month from Michigan State University.
Launched in Fall 2023, the M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise is a result of several years of discussions among faculty in the Department of Religious Studies who recognized the growing need to provide graduate students with coursework in nonprofit skills.
“What’s unique about this program is that it merges cultural and structural knowledge,” said Dr. Jennifer Marcy, Director of MSU’s Nonprofit Leadership Online Programs. “It’s a great combination of religious thought and ethical leadership, in addition to learning about how global cultures shape community development and nonprofit work. We also focus on building strong skillsets in grant writing, project management, marketing, and fundraising as well as understanding nonprofit governance and nonprofit law.”
In addition to the M.A. program, a graduate certificate program also is offered through the Department of Religious Studies. Both the M.A. and graduate certificate programs are fully online and asynchronous.
“This first cohort of graduate students were exceptional. They excelled in their courses and are committed to transformative cultural change through nonprofit leadership.”
Dr. Amy DeRogatis, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies
The Department of Religious Studies also offers a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership for undergraduate students and, starting in the Fall 2025 semester, will offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in Nonprofit Leadership, Religion, and Social Change. This new undergraduate major will provide students with smaller project-based courses where they will collaborate with each other and community partners to gain practical experience while making a difference through their coursework.
This spring the first four graduates of the M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise program received their degrees after two years of rigorous coursework, engagement, and dedication. Those four graduates consist of a distinct set of nonprofit leaders who are engaged in a variety of mission-driven work. They include:
- JoAnn Bastien
- Alexa Delon
- Marissa Ogea
- Andrea VanLaan
“This first cohort of graduate students were exceptional. They excelled in their courses and are committed to transformative cultural change through nonprofit leadership,” said Dr. Amy DeRogatis, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies. “We are so proud of what they have achieved and can’t wait to see what they do next.”
The Department of Religious Studies held a celebratory luncheon for the first graduation cohort on May 2.
JoAnn Bastien
Bastien is the Director of Operations at Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church in Detroit, a position she has held for almost a year. Her responsibilities include planning, directing, and coordinating the operations of the parish office and physical plant. She also serves as the liaison to the Pope Francis Center and University of Detroit Mercy Law School.
Prior to her role at Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, Bastien worked as a data entry clerk and background check coordinator for the Salvation Army and was the community director and lead pastor for Devon Aire community church of the Nazarene in Livonia, Michigan.
“What I have enjoyed about the M.A. program is the freedom that comes with it,” Bastien said. “I am a full-time employee and a full-time student, and I was able to do the assignments at my own time all while receiving support from my professors when I did encounter an obstacle.”
“The Global Cultures and Social Enterprise aspects of this degree have given me the tools to be relevant and effective in the nonprofit sector.”
JoAnn Bastien
Bastien’s newly earned M.A. degree in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise will help her move into advocacy work where she can live out her passion for helping others.
“The Global Cultures and Social Enterprise aspects of this degree have given me the tools to be relevant and effective in the nonprofit sector,” she said.
Bastien recently started a podcast, titled “Living Faith Doing Justice,” to tell the stories of nonprofits and social justice.
Alexa Delon
Delon received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities from Michigan State University in December 2022 and soon after enrolled in the M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise program at MSU.
(Photo by Ryan Frederick)
Having experienced firsthand how nonprofits can impact one’s life, she decided to enroll in the program, hoping to be the change in someone else’s life.
“I am incredibly honored to be a part of this program’s first-ever cohort and even more grateful for the unwavering support and dedication the staff and faculty has provided me throughout this journey,” Delon said. “I’d like to thank my family for being there every step of the way, my friends who have cheered me on endlessly, Dr. Jennifer Marcy, Ms. Sarah Henshaw, Dr. Morgan Shipley, Dr. Jon Keune, and countless of other amazing professors who made sure I was on the right path to success.”
“I am incredibly honored to be a part of this program’s first-ever cohort and even more grateful for the unwavering support and dedication the staff and faculty has provided me throughout this journey.”
Alexa Delon
Delon currently works as a litigation paralegal for Peck Ritchey, LLC, in Chicago and plans to continue her work there, and someday she hopes to go to law school.
Marissa Ogea
After Ogea graduated from MSU in May 2023 with a B.A. in Humanities-Prelaw, she enrolled in the Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise M.A. program.
“I was planning on applying to law school to continue my studies but instead wanted to engage more in this passion of nonprofit leadership,” she said. “When I discovered the Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise M.A. program, I knew this was an incredible path to gain more knowledge on how I can make a positive impact with the goals I am setting for my future in this sector.”
“When I discovered the Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise M.A. program, I knew this was an incredible path to gain more knowledge on how I can make a positive impact with the goals I am setting for my future in this sector.”
Marissa Ogea
Ogea now plans to continue in her current position as Development Coordinator for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. She also is considering pursuing further education in law.
“None of this would have been possible without my incredible friends and family who cheered me on and lifted me up along the way,” Ogea said. “I also would like to thank Dr. Jennifer Marcy, Ms. Sarah Henshaw, and Dr. Morgan Shipley who were such impactful instructors who truly went beyond simply educating us but constantly supported and encouraged me during my time in this program.”
Andrea VanLaan
VanLaan is driven by a deep commitment to social justice and community empowerment. Her background is primarily in foster care, working first as a domestic case manager for Samaritas, a nonprofit organization based in Detroit, and later as an unaccompanied refugee minor case worker for Bethany Christian Services.
“My academic journey has been shaped by a passion for working with refugee and immigrant communities, and I aim to continue that work through roles that allow me to advocate for dignity, equity, and access,” VanLaan said. “I am particularly interested in mission-driven organizations that serve vulnerable populations and promote systemic change.”
VanLaan earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Western Michigan University, and now that she has her M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership, Global Cultures, and Social Enterprise from MSU, she hopes to continue her work with refugee and immigrant communities.
“I am wholeheartedly appreciative for the Nonprofit Leadership Online Programs – not only for the education it provided, but also for the unwavering support and valuable connections offered by each professor throughout my academic journey.”
Andrea VanLaan
“I am wholeheartedly appreciative for the Nonprofit Leadership Online Programs – not only for the education it provided, but also for the unwavering support and valuable connections offered by each professor throughout my academic journey,” VanLaan said. “In the short term, I hope to secure a position where I can apply the skills I’ve gained in this program. Looking ahead, I am committed to continuing my work in refugee and immigration services with the aim of making a lasting impact in the field.”
By Kim Popiolek
