Justin L-S. spent 15 years in youth ministry building relationships and growing programs, only to watch them disappear when funding ran out. “I got burnt out going from place to place, building ministries and relationships, never knowing how long they’d last,” he said. About three years ago, he made a career change.
What followed was a framework that reoriented everything. A mentor introduced him to the three levels of social work: micro, mezzo and macro. The mezzo level instantly clicked. “I knew immediately that I wanted to operate at the mezzo level; helping lead organizations and nonprofits in my community, empowering others to do the work.” That clarity led him directly to the online MPA – Nonprofit Administration Concentration at the University of Southern Indiana. “That’s when I knew I wanted to help people help people.”
Choosing USI was deliberate. Managing a full-time job at Vanderburgh County CASA and PFLAG board commitments, Justin needed a two-year timeline that fit his life. Entering his second master’s degree program, he also knew what good instruction looked like. “The first master’s paves the way for the second, and by the second one you really know what you’re looking for,” he said. “That kind of flexibility is really valuable, especially when you’re juggling as many responsibilities as I am.”
Coming from a psychology background, Justin had wrestled with imposter syndrome in the nonprofit sector. The MPA has steadily dismantled that. “Having the MPA now, I actually feel confident. I feel like I can walk into a room full of directors and speak with authority, without the ‘ums’ and without shrinking back into my chair,” he said. “In the back of my head, I used to think they were just taking pity on me. Now, with my education and experience combined, I know it’s because of me.”
The coursework has also reshaped how Justin thinks about online collaboration. A group project produced an 80-page consultation document for a local nonprofit through weekly Teams calls and shared accountability. “When most people think about online classes, they picture collaboration being difficult, tedious, or one person doing all the work. But it’s been genuinely different in this program, valuable, even,” he said. “Everyone brings different experiences and perspectives that add real depth to the discussions.”
USI’s support structure has made the balancing act manageable. Program director Trent Engbers prioritizes student success with an open-door policy and willingness to mentor students every step of the way. “If I have questions on a project, he’ll stop what he’s doing and go through it with me right then. He’ll say, ‘I love where this is going, here’s how to keep building it,’” Justin said. “The faculty are here because they want to be; they’re not just collecting a paycheck. They’re genuinely excited about teaching and excited to have you join them.”
His student retention specialist Rebecca adds another consistent layer of support. “Rebecca will call me and I haven’t even thought about my next class yet, I’m so deep in the current one. She’ll say, ‘Hey, have you signed up for your next class?’ And I’ll think, oh right, I need to do that. Thanks for the reminder, Rebecca,” Justin said. “It definitely helps to have someone in my corner.”
But the support Justin’s found through USI isn’t just helping him finish a degree — it’s helping him discover his role in his community. He and his partner have had the conversations: wouldn’t it be easier to move somewhere bigger, somewhere with more community already in place? “There are people who don’t have the privilege or the resources to move somewhere like that. This is their life; this is where they are. And if I can take what I’ve found through education and community work and give people here that sense of belonging, that’s a bigger impact than going somewhere where it’s already thriving.”
Justin volunteers with community-based organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, including a current leadership role with PFLAG of Warrick and Vanderburgh County. He has even watched a former participant return from college to join a leadership position supporting her local community. “That’s the cycle. I help someone, they help someone else, and it keeps moving. But it takes people willing to start that chain.”
His goal is a leadership role in the nonprofit or public sector, helping organizations become more effective, more equitable and more sustainable, with Evansville’s most marginalized communities at the center. “This degree gives me the confidence, the skills and the perspective to move toward that goal.”
Lead With Purpose: Earn Your Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Administration Online
The University of Southern Indiana’s online MPA – Nonprofit Administration Concentration prepares mission-driven professionals for leadership roles in nonprofit and public sector organizations. The program can be completed in as few as 12 months and is delivered 100 percent online with no campus visits required. The 36-credit-hour curriculum covers grant writing, budgeting, volunteer management, donor cultivation and strategic planning, with hands-on engagement with community organizations built directly into the coursework. Students benefit from small class sizes, accessible faculty and proactive advising support throughout the program.
A University Invested in Student Success
Located in Evansville, Indiana, University of Southern Indiana is a public institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). USI is recognized by U.S. News & World Report among the Best Regional Universities Midwest (2026), Top Performers on Social Mobility (2026) and Best Value Schools in the Midwest (2026). Niche has ranked USI among the 2026 Best Colleges in America.
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