LEADERSHIP PRACTICUM

Learning to lead by example

Students may choose to participate in a mutual matching process the summer prior to the start of the academic year or they may identify their own mentor/placement organization. Practicum experiences can be in-person, hybrid, or virtual.

Most students worked with community organizations, consulting firms, and research centers.

Most commonly served populations include students who worked with organizations that supported families, adults, children 0-12, and LGBTQ+ adults.

Through hands-on projects and strategic initiatives, practicum students have made significant contributions to education, social impact, and philanthropy, driving real-world change.

36% completed their placement experience with a national organization.

32% completed their placement experience with an international NGO.

32% completed their placement experience with a local organization.

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41% completed a placement experience; 59% completed a mentorship experience.

56% of mentor-only students paired with a mentor through the mutual matching process. 44% of mentor-only students identified their own mentor.

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40% of mentor-only mentors were Penn alumni.

Placement

Placement

The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning process. It builds on the core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom and encompasses:

  • a supervised mentoring and leadership development experience with an executive director or senior level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
  • a partnership with the goal of understanding the organization and providing student support on various levels. These can include strategic planning, succession planning, branding or marketing, development and philanthropy, or other targeted projects; and
  • a commitment of a minimum of 250 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization (virtually, hybrid, or fully in-person) during the academic year beginning in September and ending in April.

Many full-time on-campus and full-time online students complete a placement experience, but those who are working while enrolled in the NPL program are eligible to complete a mentor-only experience.

Mentor-Only

Mentor-Only

A modified Leadership Practicum is an opportunity for students to build on core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom.

Students have the opportunity to work with a mentor to bolster the mentorship portion of the practicum. This option facilitates:

  • a mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior-level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
  • a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization.

Students who are currently working while enrolled at Penn are eligible to complete a mentor-only experience; most part-time online and part-time on-campus students complete a mentor-only experience.

Placement for Submatriculation Students

Placement for Submatriculation Students

The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning for all submatriculation NPL students. It builds on core competencies and leadership principles developed in the classroom and encompasses:

  • a supervised mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
  • a partnership with the goal of understanding the organization and providing student support on various levels. These can include strategic planning, succession planning, branding or marketing, development and philanthropy, or other targeted projects; and
  • a commitment of a minimum of 250 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization (virtually, hybrid, or fully in-person). This typically takes place during the summer between earning an undergraduate degree and the fall semester of the master’s degree, or during the academic year of senior year, as long as at least two NPL Core Courses have been taken prior to the practicum.

Events

10/14

Community and Values Restorative Circle

Penn Employees/Affiliates Click Here for PennKey Login and Full Site Access

Events

10/16

SP2 Staff and Faculty Mixer

An SP2 Staff and Faculty Mixer will be held at The Board and Brew. Please register here.

News

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Directory from SP2’s Field Center aims to help foster youth pursue higher education

For youth who have experienced foster care, the process of pursuing a post-secondary degree may pose particular challenges. The 2024 Campus Programming Directory produced by The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at SP2 aims to address this issue.


Contact Us

Sue Perls, MSEd

Associate Director, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program

215 573 2390

sueperls@upenn.edu