希望之家

作为一家提供信仰联系和心理健康服务的非营利组织的执行董事，艾米·瓜尔达多（Amy Guardado）在很多方面都是攻读研究生学位的不二之选。

In addition to her alignment with Mount Mercy’s mission statement and values—providing service to those in need—Amy had already become familiar with the school through campus events such as the Women in Leadership Speaker Series. 此外，她姐姐在Mount Mercy获得了本科学位。

“Multiple reasons have brought Mount Mercy back into my focus at various times in my life and I have a lot of respect for the school,” Amy said. “So, when I decided to pursue my master’s, I immediately thought about Mount Mercy. They have a great system with their master’s program that works well with my work schedule and my life.”

她在锡达拉皮兹的“希望之家”（希望之家）担任执行董事，该机构为男性、女性和家庭提供治疗服务。 希望之家运营了20多年，每周通过治疗、课程和女性住院治疗项目为大约120人提供服务。

Amy saw Mount Mercy’s 战略领导硕士（MSL） program as the perfect fit for her to refine and grow her leadership skills at a pace that would not disrupt her life. 她于2023年8月开始该项目，计划于2024年8月完成。

“The master’s program at Mount Mercy directly connects with my role here not only in leadership but also in seeking out opportunities for our organization to grow within the community,” Amy said. “Nonprofit work relies on community connections, partnerships, and the growth of my leadership, so I need to understand how to go about that the best way that I can.”

Mount Mercy’s MSL program has helped foster that understanding. 艾米说，一旦她投入到这个项目中，她就在课堂上建立了联系，并对如何最大限度地发挥自己的领导潜力有了更多的认识。

“I have enjoyed how I’m able to mix in my work experience with the opportunities that the instructors have offered,” Amy said. “I’ve had a couple of classes where I’ve been exposed to several guest speakers. 它不仅提供了与我的工作和学位相关的联系，而且还拓宽了我对需要发展的技能的看法。 If I had not been in the master’s program, I wouldn’t have been exposed to any of this.”

“The master’s program at Mount Mercy directly connects with my role here not only in leadership but also in seeking out opportunities for our organization to grow within the community.”
– Amy Guardado '24 MSL

艾米认为仁慈山帮助她取得了学业上的成功。

“The graduate center staff at Mount Mercy has really gone over and above to make my experience a positive one,” she added. “Clearly, they did everything that they could to make the process as smooth as possible.”

艾米说她是那种喜欢挑战的人，在与研究生工作相关的要求下茁壮成长。 她说，她在Mount Mercy的经历对职业生涯任何阶段的专业人士都很有用。

“Whether you’re looking at the MBA program or the MSL, it’s a great way to continue your education and still fit it into a busy schedule,” Amy added. “This includes whether you are a senior executive or considering an industry shift.”