Tabitha Richmond presents at nonprofit leadership exercise in Columbus

2016 May 5

Tabitha Richmond of Austintown, Ohio, was one of three Youngstown State University students who served on the YSU presentation team at the Regional Case Student Exercise at the Center for Science and Industry in Columbus this spring.

Richmond is in the Nonprofit Leadership program at YSU.

Students were tasked with solving multiple challenge questions addressing issues that COSI was currently facing. The day consisted of a tour, Q&A with key staff people, brainstorming solutions to the challenge questions, and then presenting the solutions to members of the COSI executive team.

"It was great working with these YSU students," said Rita Deedrick, senior director for Research and Development at COSI. "The students came to Columbus well-prepared for a full day of work. They were so engaged - soaking in as much of COSI as they could, thinking critically, and asking good questions. Best of all - their ideas were creative and useful."

"We plan this regional case study exercise for our students because it gives them the opportunity to work as consultants, and collaborate with each other to provide solutions to real world challenges at a large, established nonprofit organization," said Laura Dewberry, director of the YSU Center for Nonprofit Leadership, housed in the Williamson College of Business Administration.

Nonprofit Leadership students at YSU have also participated in regional case study exercises at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Catholic Community Foundation in Cleveland, Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh and the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland.