MTSU graduate students gain nonprofit leadership training in Washington, D.C.
Two students in Middle Tennessee State University’s Master of Arts in International Affairs program, Kehinde Olomu and Sumaya Tasnim, attended The Washington Center’s Nonprofit Leadership and Advocacy Seminar in Washington, D.C., Nov. 11-16.
The weeklong program brought together students and early-career professionals from across the United States and several countries for intensive training in nonprofit management, fundraising, advocacy and leadership. The seminar included expert speakers, a team-based project and opportunities to build professional networks in the nation’s nonprofit and policy hub.
Tasnim is from Bangladesh. Olomu is from Nigeria. Both students came to MTSU with a strong interest in public service and international affairs and plan to apply what they learned to future work serving communities at home and abroad.
The seminar focused on how nonprofits translate mission into action. Participants explored governance, compliance, financial sustainability, advocacy and organizational leadership. They also worked in teams to address real challenges faced by nonprofit organizations.
In addition to coursework, the Master of Arts in International Affairs program, or MAIA, in the College of Liberal Arts at MTSU offers students broad interdisciplinary preparation and is the only program of its kind in Tennessee and allows students to specialize in international development, human security, and globalization; international security and peace studies; area studies with regional or country-specific focus; or global justice and human rights.
Olomu’s Experience
Olomu learned about the opportunity through MTSU’s Department of Political and Global Affairs, or PGA, and applied directly to the center.
“I’m deeply interested in nonprofit organizations,” Olomu said. “I want to understand how they work and how to build one so I can help people.”
Kehinde will graduate in May 2026 and plans to complete her practicum with a nonprofit organization. “This program helped me learn more about fundraising, operations, strategic planning and advocacy,” Olomu said. “It reaffirmed why I want to work in this field.”
Tasnim’s experience
Tasnim applied through PGA and received a scholarship to attend the seminar. She said hearing directly from nonprofit leaders made the experience especially valuable.
“The part I enjoyed most was hearing directly from nonprofit leaders who shared honest stories about their work, challenges and impact,” Tasnim said. “Listening to them discuss leadership, advocacy and navigating real-world organizational challenges helped me understand the nonprofit sector on a much deeper level.”
Tasnim previously worked for a nonprofit organization in Bangladesh. Her long-term goal is to work in policy, development and international affairs.
“This seminar helped me strengthen that foundation by exposing me to advocacy, fundraising, communication and leadership strategies used in the U.S. nonprofit sector,” Tasnim said. “The experience gave me practical insight into how organizations translate their mission into impact, which will help me become a stronger leader and more effective policy practitioner.”
Support from MTSU
The opportunity was coordinated through the Department of Political and Global Affairs and MTSU’s partnership with The Washington Center. Kayla McCrary, professional development coordinator for the department, said this was the first time they sent students to one of The Washington Center’s short-term seminar programs.
“Like many universities across Tennessee, we partner with TWC to facilitate semester-long internship opportunities in Washington, D.C.,” McCrary said. “This is the first time that we have sent students to their short-term seminar programs.”
