Meet the Program Director
“This is an exciting time to be in the nonprofit and fundraising field,” states Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson. “In the last decade, the growth in the number of nonprofits and people working in this critical sector, coupled with the increased presence of these organizations on the public’s radar, has elevated the importance of effective leadership, fiscal stewardship, and professionalism in these organizations. With the College’s Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy and graduate certificates, we provide people with the skills and knowledge to thrive and succeed. We give them the tools to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Dr. Morriss-Olson finds Bay Path’s academic environment and tradition of community service a perfect fit for these programs. “At Bay Path, there’s a unique synergy between the traditional undergraduate program for women and the coed graduate programs for nonprofits. Typically, women play a significant role in this sector: 70% of people employed in this field are women and 60% of higher level positions are held by women. And historically, women’s colleges have been powerful forces in urging their students to become involved in their community. Consequently, Bay Path brings a wealth of perspective, tradition and experience to the classroom."
For most of her career, Dr. Morriss-Olson has been connected to the nonprofit field both as a fundraising leader and as an educator. Previously a professor for nonprofit management at North Park University in Chicago, she was also the Founding Director for the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park. Dr. Morriss-Olson has a bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University in Minnesota, a master’s from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. from Loyola University of Chicago.
