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The Tepper School of Business recently marked a major milestone for the Golub Capital Board Fellows Program with its , celebrating the completion of the first cohort鈥檚 15-month leadership experience working alongside nonprofit organizations.

Managed by the Accelerate Leadership Center, the Golub Capital Board Fellows Program matches each fellow with a nonprofit partner in a one-to-one placement, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with board governance, strategic decision-making, and high-impact projects.

The symposium brought together fellows, nonprofit partners, faculty, and staff to recognize the impact of the inaugural class of Golub Capital Board Fellows. Throughout the program, fellows committed an average of two to three hours per week working closely with their nonprofit partners, regularly meeting with board and organizational liaisons, visiting their organizations, and conducting research to support strategic priorities.

Through poster presentations, students showcased the projects they developed through this sustained engagement, addressing key nonprofit challenges such as growth strategy, operational improvements, community engagement, and program expansion. The event highlighted not only the outcomes of their work, but also the depth of effort, collaboration, and leadership development that defined their experience.

鈥淣onprofits are inherently mission-driven, and the mission is central, but it can sometimes get lost in transit. (This experience) reinforced for me that a strong mission isn鈥檛 enough on its own; you need a functioning operating system and consistent habits behind it,鈥� said Board Fellow Damidera David-Olusa. 鈥淢ore broadly, this experience underscored how much relationships matter. Trust, curiosity, and the humility to learn really drive effective collaboration, which in turn can make or mar the overall program experience.鈥�

Welcoming the Next Cohort of Golub Capital Board Fellows

Building on this momentum, the Tepper School is proud to announce the newest cohort of Golub Capital Board Fellows, including both incoming full-time MBA students and, for the first time, members of the Online-Hybrid MBA cohort. This expansion broadens access to the program and creates new opportunities for online hybrid students to engage in hands-on leadership development.

鈥淛oining the Film Pittsburgh board during a catalytic period, both organizationally and culturally, is an incredibly energetic and enriching experience,鈥� Alexandrea Ramnarine, a Fellow from the Online-Hybrid MBA program, shared. 鈥淓very committee discussion culminates in impactful decisions; I鈥檓 always encouraged to share my perspective, which has allowed me to quickly learn nonprofit strategy.鈥�

Across both formats and class years, the Tepper School has partnered with 38 nonprofit organizations across sectors such as education, health and wellness, community development, and social impact. Fellows will work closely with their organizations to support strategic initiatives while developing as community-engaged leaders.

鈥淕etting to know the team at Stop the Judgment Project has been one of the more grounding parts of this fellowship,鈥� said Manuel Cano. 鈥淗earing directly about the impact they are having, not just on students but on the broader community around them, reminded me why this kind of work matters. Their openness and energy made me want to bring my best, because an organization that genuinely cares about what it is building deserves work that reflects that."

Continuing a Legacy of Impact

In partnership with the , the Tepper School is helping build a pipeline of leaders who are prepared to serve nonprofit organizations throughout their careers.

Several of the Golub Capital Board Fellows, alongside the Accelerate Leadership Center team, are also using this experience to build networks and connections nationwide. They recently attended the Nonprofit Board Fellows Network Annual Symposium, where they engaged with partner schools from across the country and showcased their work during the student presentations.

With one cohort completing impactful work and another preparing to begin, the program continues to demonstrate the value of connecting business education with community impact.