As noted in the previous post, Fuqua offers scholarships each year to individuals with nonprofit backgrounds who are looking to acquire business skills for use in their pursuit of social impact. In addition to Michelle Kirby, we are proud to announce our second CASE Scholar, Jennifer Fluder!
Jennifer comes to Fuqua with eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She began her career working for theLeukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training program. Following her time at LLS, Jennifer worked at Edelman PR, the world’s largest independent public relations firm, for two years. There she worked in the Brand Experience department, where she focused on building and supporting CSR initiatives for some of Edelman’s major consumer brand clients, including Unilever’s Dove Self Esteem Fund project.
A year following college Jennifer founded a nonprofit, Cocktails With a Twist (CWT), with the support of eight of her friends. This NPO focused on supporting two of New York City’s largest pediatric wards. Over the course of 3+ years CWT hosted twenty fundraising events and cumulatively volunteered thousands of hours.
Most recently, Jennifer served as the Director of Development at the American Liver Foundation’s New England Division. There she was challenged to develop an aggressive strategy focused on financial growth and increased community awareness. Jennifer quadrupled local brand awareness by co-founding one of New England’s now most popular half marathons. Additionally her focused development and branding efforts generated a 25% increase in annual revenue for ALFNE’s endurance events. Jennifer was awarded the American Liver Foundation’s Ox Award in 2012, the national organization’s highest honor. This award is given annually to the individual who has had the most significant impact on awareness, profitability, and relationship development across the national ALF within the year.
Having worked in the social sector for nearly a decade, Jennifer has experienced firsthand how others’ complacency can derail or extinguish the efforts of the most innovative and passionate in many nonprofit environments. Because of this experience Jennifer’s drive to change the way that nonprofits select and maintain their employee base has become a part of her overarching career mission to shift the way nonprofits are viewed and therefore function.
Before Jennifer arrived on campus she spent some time in Kenya working as a development volunteer with Comfort the Children International. She is excited to be involved with both CASE and the Business in Africa Club at Fuqua. Jennifer graduated from Lehigh University with a B.A. in English.
“The first time I walked onto Fuqua’s campus I felt like I’d arrived home. Fuqua’s do-gooders are not just tucked away in CASE, every student you meet appreciates and feels committed to making a difference at Duke and beyond. Duke’s approach to the social sector, in terms of class offerings and extracurricular activities, reshaped the expectations I had for myself in coming back to school. I had created a finite scope for what I would reap from an MBA: practical business skills, but in the Fuqua environment I saw the potential for so much more than that. With the opportunity to connect with hundreds of peers from around the world every day, access professors who are conducting the research that is sure to change the way nonprofits are viewed tomorrow, and be a part of something as inspiring and motivating as Team Fuqua – I can’t imagine having chosen to be anywhere but here!”
Welcome to Team Fuqua, Jennifer!