Cultivating the next generation of nonprofit leaders is one of the goals in our Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) program at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Our current and former students within the MPSA program are striving to make the world a better place through their daily work. By focusing their education on the nonprofit sector, they are able to access the most relevant information in their field and apply it to their organizations to create the most impact for their constituents.
The Bush School provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students need to succeed in their careers. As the Systems Coordinator at Project Unity, Patrick Doucette ‘20 had always known that he wanted to work in the nonprofit industry and turned to the Bush School for his education because he believed the program offered the best curriculum for nonprofit management in the state of Texas. While at the Bush School, Patrick served as a Graduate Assistant Non-Teaching (GANT) for the Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy, where he helped manage the Bush Board Fellows program and learned about the breadth of organizations in the nonprofit sector. He also previously served as an AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteer.
Patrick believes that the most worthwhile aspect of his career is “working to help service providers work together to provide client-focused, rather than agency-focused, services,” meaning those in need feel more impact on their lives with the work that’s being done in his community. His involvement with organizations such as the Vickery Meadow After-School program (under Catholic Charities of Dallas), Jubilee Park and Community Center, Project Transformation, Communities In Schools, OneStar Foundation, and Project Unity have continually impacted both his academic and professional career. As a participant in the Bush Board Fellows program, Patrick was placed as a non-voting board member at Project Unity. During his year on the board, the CEO’s unique vision for improving interagency collaboration within the Brazos Valley inspired him to write a grant for the organization as part of his Grants and Project Management class with Dr. Angela Seaworth. In the end, the connections Patrick made through his education at the Bush School and his involvement with the Board Fellows program resulted in his securing a job with Project Unity after graduation.
The staff at the Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy are exceptionally proud of the commitment our former students bring to their work, and it is exciting to see them making a difference in the nonprofit sector.
