Serena Hawtin Leveled Up Her Nonprofit Career with the MS in Nonprofit Administration from LSU Shreveport

Meet Serena Hawtin

What initially made you apply to the online MS in Nonprofit Administration program from LSUS?

I think, like most prospective students, I spent several months researching advanced nonprofit degree programs nationwide. As an active-duty military spouse, I was tethered to Hawaii, so either a local or an online degree was a must, which narrowed my search to fewer than a dozen programs. The online MS in Nonprofit Administration from LSUS checked off everything I was looking for: fully remote, accredited by the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC), a compelling curriculum, high-quality professors, great reviews from former students, a very recognizable institution name, and amazing tuition rates.

What moment during your journey made you realize this program was the right choice for you?

I had several moments when I felt a "YES! I'm so glad" about the decision to pursue my master's at LSUS. One was my first semester, when I was immediately challenged and began to see gaps in my understanding of nonprofit administration. I applied strategies from the program on multiple occasions during my time as a Communications Specialist at The Greater Sum. I offered more meaningful suggestions to the Executive Director, co-workers, and even to other nonprofits we work with.

How did you balance life, work, and studies?

I structured my day to start with my day job, and evenings were dedicated entirely to working towards the MSNPA. This was tough at times because of my geographic location. Living in Hawaii meant there was generally a five-hour difference between CST and HST, and my assignments were often due at 7 PM on various days of the week. I did have to make extracurricular sacrifices along the way to put my energy into my coursework and maintain a 4.0 GPA, but I think it was worth extracting as much as I could from each course while I was enrolled.

What was your favorite course or topic? Why?

I don't think I had a "favorite" course or professor, even though some courses were more enjoyable, such as "Social Institutions," which felt like a cool history lesson about institutions. NPA 708: Nonprofit Organization Administration Theory and Research was especially challenging, but I learned so much that I now use many of Dr. Carpenter's suggestions when I do deeper dives into research at work. Each course, from the most difficult to the simplest, taught me so much about history, research, and writing, and it deepened my understanding of my role in supporting early-stage nonprofits.

How did being an online student shape the way you engage with classmates and instructors?

I've been a remote worker for the past decade, and learning online has not presented any major challenges for me. I would say that interactions with other students were generally limited to class discussions, but they were interesting exchanges. Most of my exchanges with schoolmates happened through my involvement in online club meetings and Facebook groups for the school.

How did your personal experiences shape how you showed up in your coursework?

Being already employed in the nonprofit sector was a major help, as I was able to relate to many of the subjects discussed. Being older, more mature, and focused on my "why" for the MSNPA also influenced how I responded to coursework and what I needed to "equip me" to do better at work.

How do you see yourself building on what you learned in your program?

It's all applicable! Halfway through the degree program, I was promoted to Program Director at work. This enabled me to take on more responsibility and apply many of the learned "best practices" from HR, legal, evaluation, board development, marketing, and research methods to develop better suggestions for the organization. Recently, I've begun pursuing a cybersecurity certification to better understand the modern risks nonprofits face when using cloud-based platforms to exchange and store data. Using all of the skills I've learned, I want to keep working to protect and support early-stage nonprofits from closing their doors.

Is there anything else you want us to know?

I would say "It's absolutely worth it," to anyone on the fence about pursuing an online MS in Nonprofit Administration from LSUS.

Learn from Anywhere in the World with LSU Online

Serena’s story is a testament to the fact that professional growth doesn't have to stop just because life moves you across the globe. Through LSU Online, students gain access to flexible, high-quality programs designed for the modern professional, like the fully online MS in Nonprofit Administration. This nonprofit administration degree blends theoretical knowledge and practical application to help students get to the next step in their careers. Learn more about the online MS in Nonprofit Administration from LSUS, and apply today!