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Powell, Emma

FACULTY

Biography

Director, Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Development at Central Michigan University.

Dr. Powell joined the Department of Political Science & Public Administration in the Fall of 2015. Her primary scholarly focus is nonprofit leadership and management; specifically the organizational design and behavior of staff and volunteers. Dr. Powell earned her PhD in Public Administration from Western Michigan University and earned her Master of Management degree from Aquinas College. Prior to her faculty position she served in executive director and administrative roles at national nonprofit organizations including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association of Michigan.

Emma is the advisor for the Nonprofit Leadership Student Alliance (NLSA) of Central Michigan University and the campus director for the Certified Nonprofit Professional credential (CNP). She is the internship coordinator for Political Science and Public Administration. Emma is also the campus co-liaison for The Washington Center (TWC) Internship Program. 

Dr. Powell was awarded as a Rising Star for Community Impact in Mount Pleasant (2021).  In 2020, she received the Certified Nonprofit Professional of the Year - Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. In 2019, Emma received the Programming Excellence Award - Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. And in 2018, she earned the Student Organization Recognition Award & Outstanding Advisor Award - Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.

More about Emma Powell

Pinter, A.N., Powell, E.A., English, K., Poley, L., & Dilg, E. (2023). Credentialing the nonprofit professional: A focused look at the campus partner track of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, 13(2), 1-10.

Powell, E.A. & Raggo, P. (2023). Teaching cases in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. Sagamore Publishing.

Powell, E.A. (2020). Next steps for social impact bonds: Moving from an economic tool to atrust-based collaboration. In D. Cepiku, S. Jeon, & D.K. Jesuit (Eds.), Collaborative Governance for Regional Development: Global Lessons for Local Economies (p. 49-64). Routledge.

Powell, E.A., Winfield, G., Schatteman, A.M., & Trusty, K. (2018). Collaboration between practitioners and academics: Defining the pracademic experience. Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, 8(1), 62-79.

  • Ph.D., Western Michigan University, Public Administration (2017)
  • M.M., Aquinas College, Organizational Behavior & Management (2009)
  • B.S., Aquinas College, Business Administration and Communication (2001)
  • Organization Theory and Design
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Nonprofit Leadership and Management
  • Qualitative Methods

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Courses

  • PAD 210WI Introduction to Public Administration
  • PAD 211WI Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership
  • PSC 395 Internship on Government and Politics
  • PSC 398B Special Topics: Nonprofits & the Public Interest
  • PAD 399 CNP Internship for the Nonprofit Sector
  • PAD 412WI Nonprofit Administration
  • PAD 413 Organizational Leadership & Behavior

Graduate Courses

  • PSC 513 Citizen Engagement in Public Life
  • PAD 523 WI Grant Writing & Management
  • PAD 620 Nonprofit Management
  • PAD 621 Board Governance & Exec Leadership
  • PAD 622 Strategic Planning Public & Nonprofit
  • PAD 775 Organization Theory & Behavior
  • PSC 790S Seoul, South Korea - Study Abroad
  • MSA 646 Foundations of Philanthropic Orgs