By Al Dickenson
In 2013 Adam Hudson, Teaching Faculty at UWM’s School of Information Studies (SOIS), was looking for ways to incorporate real-world, hands-on learning for students along with a way to better connect UWM and SOIS to the nonprofit community. Working closely with Richard Kessler, the school’s development officer, and with the help of the now shuttered Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, the Nonprof-IT program was born.
The purpose of Nonprof-IT is to deliver real world experience to information science and technology students at UWM. By partnering with local nonprofits, usually a new one each semester, alongside a variety of business mentors dedicated to helping students learn, Nonprof-IT has grown into an important program within the College of Community Engagement and Professions, one with a massive portfolio of qualitative and quantitative improvements for local organizations.
“The University of Wisconsin’s Nonprof-IT program is an invaluable gem—for both the students who participate and the non-profit organizations they serve. It creates a unique space where learning meets real-world impact, bridging the gap between education and community need,” says Sue Barthelemy, a business mentor from HSA Bank in Milwaukee.
Addressing critical needs
This sentiment was seconded by Christina Chronister, communications specialist at the Dominican Center in Milwaukee. “One pivotal contribution was a comprehensive cybersecurity initiative, complete with staff training, that has transformed how we protect data and collaborate as a team. Each project has directly addressed a critical need.”
Over the years, Nonprof-IT students have also built a website for the Dominican Center’s community association, Armani United. “The website now serves as a digital gathering space where residents can access resources, stay informed, and even watch community meetings live,” says Chronister.
Currently, Adam Hudson and Julie Walker anchor Nonprof-IT. Hudson who has taught at UWM since 2011, has commented on the pride he felt watching the program grow over the years.
“In the beginning, there were no assigned class times to the Nonprof-IT course, which made it difficult for me to manage schedules and projects,” says Hudson, Nonprof-IT’s Director and a senior lecturer in SOIS.
Grant spurs growth
In 2016, Nonprof-IT received a generous grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. That allowed Nonprof-IT to hire a graduate assistant and to expand the program. “So we grew from assisting two nonprofits with six students in Fall 2014 to the now sustainable level of 32 students and 8-10 nonprofits.”
When Walker came aboard in 2016, she immediately helped to implement the business mentors, “which have been hugely successful,” adds Hudson. Each business mentor has a handful of touchpoints with students during the semester and will eventually host the cohort at their own business for further engagement.
“Nonprof-IT allows students who are not able to participate in an off-campus internship gain real-world experience as part of their coursework,” says Walker. By hosting the students at each individual business, the mentors help students network, gain new skills, receive feedback, and brainstorm new ideas for business solutions or nonprofits to assist.
Cindy Larson, Senior Product Manager at the Crisis Prevention Institute, serves the program as a business mentor. She says that not only do students gain hand-on experience through Nonprof-IT course work, but they also end up teaching everyone involved.
“They broaden my network, and they come from such diverse backgrounds. Depending on what specifically they are studying, where they came from, or where they want to go, they help me see digital products through new and fresh lenses,” Larson says.
A big impact on students
The importance of this program is not lost on its student participants. Ryan Olow, a Fall 2024 semester participant, offered his reflection on working in the Nonprof-IT program.
“The technology sector can make all the difference in how a business is performing. When we were brought onboard to redesign the website for Ophelia Speaks, we wanted to share the nonprofit’s story in an empathetic way.” Ophelia Speaks is a local Milwaukee nonprofit working to prevent human trafficking and help survivors recover.
“The work they are doing is incredibly important, and having a website that speaks to their work can be a massive benefit. It was an incredible opportunity to share our IT expertise with those who needed it. When an organization may lack the direct knowledge to implement the technical solutions themselves, Nonprof-IT steps in and helps.”
The students completely redesigned the Ophelia Speaks website. With the advice of the business mentors, this project included a complete overhaul: replacing stock images with photos of Ophelia Speaks events, a personnel and contact page, a page dedicated to resources for those who have been trafficked, a donation page, and more.
At the end of the semester, the group presented their final product in a poster show. “The reactions to this program have been very positive,” says Hudson. “UWM’s Chancellor, Mark Mone, has been an advocate for the program and attended the end of semester showcase since 2016.” The next showcase will be Tuesday, May 6th, on UWM’s campus, and is sponsored by HSA Bank.
Ongoing impact
But Nonprof-IT’s work does not necessarily end when the semester ends. For example, Vangthy Lee, who worked with Olow on the Ophelia Speaks project, has continued to volunteer with the organization after the semester ended. “This March, I volunteered every Saturday for four weeks, developing and teaching an IT-focused curriculum for youth,” says Lee. “We covered topics like coding, web design, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and public speaking.”
“Student and alumni exit data have demonstrated great outcomes from participation in Nonprof-IT,” says Hudson. Nonprof-IT is one of only a few similar programs in the nation, according to Hudson. “Participants have reported that Nonprof-IT and the work involved have helped graduates to land first jobs out of college, teambuilding and teamwork skills, improved public speaking abilities, and much more,” reports Hudson.
“All in all, Nonprof-IT is a must-take program, especially for IST majors,” says Lee. “It equips you with both technical and interpersonal skills, and it’s a fun, community-connected experience. As someone born and raised in Milwaukee, giving back to my community through this program was incredibly fulfilling.”
