Read the Q&A below with current Certificate in Nonprofit Management student, Asiyah Bhallo. See how her certificate is being put into action in her current career in the nonproffit sector!

Can you tell us about your background and current role?

I graduated from Temple in May 2021 with my bachelors in Tourism and Hospitality Management, and a minor in Global Studies. I loved my major, I learned so much and made so many great connections, but I realized that I really wanted to work in the nonprofit industry, and use my skills to be able to help those who may not have the resources to help themselves. I was required to do 2 internships to graduate, and I was lucky enough to do both with nonprofits, the Gift of Life Family House and the Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative. After I graduated, I got a job at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), where I currently work as a Program Assistant and help plan their scientific conferences, education workshops, and other events. I hit my one-year anniversary at the AACR on the 13th!

What made you decide to pursue the Certificate in Nonprofit Management at Temple?

I knew that I wanted to go back to school to learn more about nonprofits, because while my major taught me great transferrable skills, I needed to learn more about the nonprofit industry to be able to keep working for them. My friend, Jackie Golden (a graduate of the MPP program!) sent me the details for this program so I applied, and the rest is history.

What makes you passionate about nonprofit work?

I've been lucky to work for 3 nonprofits now, and I love how every day is always different. There is a new challenge, or a new problem that needs to be solved, and I enjoy working to create solutions and making sure that we're successful in reaching our goals and objectives. Nonprofit work is truly rewarding, for almost any reason you want to help people, there's almost always a nonprofit that exists for that reason, and it makes me excited to continue my journey in this industry.