March 23, 2012

Kelly Miller to serve as Drucker Net Impact’s first board fellow

Drucker Net Impact is excited to announce that MBA student Kelly Miller will serve as the chapter’s first Board Fellow.  Miller will serve as a volunteer board member at House of Ruth, a comprehensive domestic violence center in Pomona, CA.  The Board Fellows program is an international program sponsored by Net Impact that provides management students the opportunity to serve on a nonprofit board and providing service to our local community.

House of Ruth is a standout force for positive change in the Inland Empire.  Since 1977, the nonprofit has advocated for and assisted women and children victimized by domestic violence.  Serving 2000 clients annually, House of Ruth operates an emergency shelter and a transitional living program.  The organization also provides counseling, children’s programming, community services, and prevention and outreach projects for clients in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.   House of Ruth was started by Claremont Graduate University Student Kathy Hofeller as a help hotline in 1977; the organization currently employs several Drucker graduates on their management team.

“I’m thrilled to begin my work with House of Ruth’s Board,” said Miller, a native of San Mateo, CA.  “The help they provide women and children is as crucial as it is inspiring.  I’ll attend my first board meeting next month, and have already began meetings with Sue [Aebischer, House of Ruth’s Executive Director] about spearheading a project.  I’m looking forward to applying the marketing experience from my career and from my marketing and management courses at Drucker in an innovative way to help leverage House of Ruth’s work.”

“Our board is very excited about the skill set that Kelly brings to House of Ruth,” said Sue Aebischer, Executive Director at House of Ruth.  “Her background in marketing will be a huge asset to the board.  Kelly’s perspective as a young business leader will help propel House of Ruth’s work to new levels.”

As of Spring 2011, there were 42 Net Impact Board Fellows programs worldwide, including 637 Board Fellows and 397 Nonprofit Partners.  Chapters at graduate schools across the globe place members on nonprofit boards for short-term fellowships (typically one year).  Board Fellows are active participants, attending board sessions and working on committees and projects under the mentorship of a current board member.

“Kelly will be the first of many CGU students to serve as Board Fellow,” said Syd Peterson, Vice President of Drucker Net Impact.  ”I worked in the nonprofit sector for ten years before starting my MBA, so I knew I wanted to start a Board Fellows program here on day one.  I’ve initiated searches for board placements for four other management students and have already met with numerous nonprofit leaders throughout LA County and the Inland Empire.  If you’re a student with at least two semesters left before graduation and you’re interested in serving on a nonprofit board, please email me: syd.peterson@cgu.edu.”

Net Impact, the international organization working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. Based in San Francisco, Net Impact’s volunteer-led chapter network spans six continents.  There are more than 280 Net Impact chapters at the world’s top graduate business schools as well as professional chapters in cities around the globe.