The Nonprofit Administration Program is excited to announce that L. Danielle Drake and Collin Ries are the winners of the 2020 Nonprofit Leader of Tomorrow Award. Danielle and Collin will both graduate this May and were selected because of their demonstration of academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community.
Danielle Drake is currently completing a Graduate Fellowship in Kathmandu, Nepal with The Accountability Lab, a DC-based international NGO whose mission is “to make governance work for people through supporting active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions.” Before this fellowship, Danielle has spent her career working with refugee populations at multiple nonprofit organizations. At John Carroll, Danielle has been an actively engaged in the NPA Program community, serving as the Secretary for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) JCU Chapter, representing the program at community events, and by recruiting multiple students to join the program. One of Danielle’s former professors had this to say: “Danielle thinks deeply about the ethical and human dimensions of her work, always striving to frame her goals and accomplishments in terms of equity and justice. She is well-known and respected among her peers as truly collaborative, someone who can and does work with a wide and diverse group of people to get things done.”
Collin Ries serves as the Graduate Assistant for the Nonprofit Administration program, supporting the program’s operations, the Director, and program faculty. Additionally, he has served in various capacities at Ohio State University, the Ohio Environmental Council, and CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra. Collin has served our community as President of the AFP JCU Chapter and as a student representative on a variety of University committees and working groups. When asked about how his experiences have shaped him into a Nonprofit Leader of Tomorrow, Collin stated, “I am grateful for the opportunities afforded to me as a graduate student in the Nonprofit Administration Program. The experiences I have had have not only allowed me to grow as a leader, but I have identified and cultivated skills to sustain this growth and continue to grow throughout my career…. I have gained both knowledge and practical tools to set me up for success in a nonprofit leadership role.”
Dani Robbins, Director of the Nonprofit Administration Program, had this to say of the recipients: We could not be more proud of Collin and Danielle and cannot wait to see their impact on our sector. They truly are “unapologetic social justice leaders!”
We once again congratulate Danielle and Collin on their outstanding achievements and wish them luck as they graduate and move forward in their careers!