Led by the Center for Business, Government & Society, the Nonprofit Board Fellows program at the Tuck School of Business is an experiential learning program for second-year students who join a local Upper Valley nonprofit as a non-voting board member. Learn more and contact Hannah Payson at Hannah.K.Payson@tuck.dartmouth.edu for additional information.
I decided to attend Tuck for various reasons—two of the most important being the tight-knit student community and the location in Hanover, New Hampshire. I knew that no other top MBA program offers the same combination of small class size, collaboration, and strong bond among students; it would be in this environment that I would be able to develop a strong sense of belonging and prepare myself for future success.
When I got to campus in the Fall of 2020, I quickly began looking for ways to gain hands-on experience and contribute to the community. Through my research, I discovered the Nonprofit Board Fellows program at Tuck. I saw the program as a unique opportunity to develop a new skillset and support the community that makes Tuck so special. I applied to the program and was selected to join The Hanover Improvement Society (HIS), which is a local nonprofit dedicated to providing good works to the people of Hanover and the entire Upper Valley community. HIS owns and operates Storrs Pond Recreation Area, the Nugget Theaters, and Campion Rink—home to many of the Tuck Tripod Hockey games.
Joining HIS as a Nonprofit Board Fellow has given me the opportunity to learn how nonprofit board of directors function. While my involvement with HIS only officially began in September, I have already been able to attend various board meetings and see how the decision-making process works and how board members bring in their expertise and experiences to ensure HIS meets its mission.
Fellows relax 43-feet above the forest floor in the Spider Web, a feature of the Forest Canopy Walk at VINS.
Participating in the Nonprofit Board Fellows program has also helped me foster connections with other classmates in the program. A few weeks ago, fellows were invited to attend the program kickoff at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center in Quechee, Vermont. The kickoff included a workshop where we had the opportunity to get to know other fellows and visit the beautiful VINS Nature Center, which has various bird exhibits and a forest canopy walk.
I’m excited to continue my involvement with the Nonprofit Board Fellows program through this academic year. In addition to attending the various events designed specifically for fellows such as the seminar on "Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Sustainability" with Professor Curt Welling, I look forward to continuing to support the HIS board and helping keep the Upper Valley a special place.
Read more on the Nonprofit Board Fellows program at Tuck.
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