University of San Diego Nonprofit Governance Symposium Rocks

During the 5th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium at the University of San Diego, area nonprofits will be able to discover the “melody” of their organization. They will learn how to stay in tune with the needs of their clients and stakeholders. The two-day symposium, called “Governance Rocks: When you Know the Score,” has a musical theme that relates to the ideology that nonprofits should operate with the “agility and adaptability” of a jazz ensemble.

The conference is designed to inspire and educate boards of directors of nonprofit organizations to their purpose, function, role and history in leadership. It will be held from Friday-Saturday, January 9-10 at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice.

“What people will get from symposium is that exceptional governance has never been more important,” said Liz Shear, conference coordinator. “With our economy in the tank, the pressure to think strategically and to be prudent stewards is immense. Board members and key staff will explore ways to improve nonprofit governance and to cope with tough times with their peers and an expert faculty.”

Dr. Mary Lyons, president of USD, will be joined by fellow keynote speakers Keith Johnson, vice-chairman of the Fieldstone Foundation and a USD Trustee, and Luz A. Vega-Marquis, president and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation.  USD faculty and colleagues in this field will also present during this unique conference that will include large group conversations, seminars, a comprehensive resource manual, and exposure to business resources. It’s open to board members and key staff from nonprofit organizations. The purpose of this conference is to inspire, educate and honor the rich and diverse nonprofit community. 

One of the highlights of the conference will be the presentation of the Third Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance. Last year’s recipients were the Chicano Federation of San Diego, Inc. and San Diego Hospice/The Institute for Palliative Medicine.  The award recipient will share how they have stayed true to the social change mission while adapting their services to meet the needs and the mood of the times. 

Each of the symposium seminars has been designed to meet the special needs of organizations and the people who steward them, at all stages of their development. For more information, go to: www.sandiego.edu/nonprofit/events. 

About the University of San Diego

The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning chartered in 1949; the school enrolls approximately 7,500 students and is known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and community service. The inauguration of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies brings the university’s total number of schools and colleges to six. Other academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business Administration, Law, Leadership and Education Sciences, and Nursing and Health Science.

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About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is among the Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact according to The Princeton Review. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.