University at Buffalo School of Management

Autumn 2025 Buffalo Business 17 to the table. For the past three years, the orga- nization has welcomed School of Management students to the boardroom and benefited from their insight. "The program allows us to create mean- ingful connections with the next generation of leaders," she says. "The students bring new ideas and perspectives to our board conver- sations, including powerful ways to engage young people in our community." During the 2024-25 academic year, Larson worked with Mirka Arevalo, MBA '25, who joined the board for a daylong retreat in addi- tion to their meetings. "Mirka helped us better understand our public imprint on the community we serve," she says. "She brought unique skills to our marketing efforts, applying web scraping to extract data and show where we are reaching people and how they are responding." As fellows help their assigned organiza- tions thrive, Larson says they are tapping into another important aspect of learning. "Aer graduation, students oen ask them- selves 'how do I serve my new organization and myself ?'" she says. "This experience adds another dimension to that foundation: 'How do I serve the community I live in?' Board member- ship can allow someone to make an impact through their day-to-day occupation and by giving time and talent to a nonprofit cause." Strengthening a commitment to make a difference For Lauren Daniele, MBA '26, who previously worked at FeedMore WNY, the program offers a comprehensive view of what it takes to lead a nonprofit. "This experience has taught me nuances that I couldn't learn in the classroom," she says. "I was able to observe, in real time, nonprofit professionals and board members showing up to make an impact and embodying servant leadership by caring about the development of employees and fostering their growth." Assigned to the WNY Women's Foundation, Daniele worked with the chair of the Governance Committee on strategies to recruit future board members and build an impactful board of directors. "The board members' commitment to making a difference reinforced what leader- ship can look like," she says. "I hope to carry forward what I witnessed through the program to make meaningful change in my future career in the nonprofit sector." Like Daniele, Arevalo and Gassama, each fellow brings unique strengths to their organi- zation and carries forward Jordan A. Daniels' legacy of leading through service. And, to further honor her legacy, the 2024-25 fellows came together for a day of volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, a cause Daniels was passionate about. Through their actions — both in the boardroom and the community — her legacy lives on. To join the next cohort of Jordan A. Daniels Nonprofit Board Fellows or if your nonprofit organization would like to host a nonvoting fellow on your board, learn more at management.buffalo.edu/ nbfellowship. The 2024-25 fellows gather for a day of service with Habitat for Humanity Buffalo. Lauren Daniele, MBA '26, with WNY Women's Foundation CEO Sheri Scavone, and board member Arlene Kaukus. The students bring new ideas and perspectives to our board conversations, including powerful ways to engage young people in our community. JANICE LARSON RICH PRODUCTS CORP.

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