We are inviting all NIU MPA alumni with a background in human services and/or nonprofit administration to join our Human Services Listserv so that you will be able to send and receive e-mail messages to both current MPA students (with areas of concentration in human services) as well as alumni who work in the human services field. The purpose of the listserv is to do the following:
(1) Provide mentoring to our current MPA students with concentrations in human services. Unlike city management, human services does not have a single organization and meeting where alumni and current students can mingle and network-we are scattered over a wide geographical area and among many professional organizations. Current students will be able to use the listserv to seek career advice and do networking that is crucial to their success.
(2) Provide a means for human services alumni to carry on friendships and informational exchanges (both career-oriented and social) that will be useful to them and also help to build the cohesiveness and strength of our human services concentration.
(3) Provide human services alumni with the chance to give input into the MPA program concerning the human services concentration such as changes that are needed.
Currently, our human services concentration is healthy in terms of numbers--we have several promising entry-level students who wish to enter human services. However, we need to build a network of mentors and contacts for them.