Leading with Purpose: How Notre Dame’s Executive MNA Strengthens Mission-Driven Leadership

For leaders in ministry and nonprofit work, managing an organization requires more than just passion for the mission—it demands strong financial oversight, sound governance, and effective personnel management. For Stuart Pendell, Campus Pastor at Cross Church in Fort Worth, Texas, these challenges are part of daily life, which is exactly why he turned to the Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration (EMNA) program at the University of Notre Dame.

Seeking a program that would honor both the business of nonprofit leadership and the faith-based context of his work, Pendell found Notre Dame’s EMNA to be the ideal fit. With a curriculum designed to immediately apply classroom insights to real-world scenarios, he has already introduced meaningful changes in areas like internal controls and human resources—strengthening his organization from the inside out.

Q&A with Stuart Pendell

Q: What made the Notre Dame Executive MNA stand out from other programs you looked into?

Even in the nonprofit sector, there are threats to your organization that are the same as any business. If we want to lead our organization with excellence, we can’t trip over financial, legal and personnel issues that come up along the way.

Being in ministry, I gravitated towards this program for the value it placed on both administration and faith. I wanted a program that would value my ministry context. Founded by those who understood the ministry context, I knew there was more I could learn from this program than just another business school.

Q: Describe your experience in the Executive MNA program: 

I have had a great experience in the EMNA Program. All of my professors have been experts in their field, combining academic and real world experience. This program provides almost instant application to your work in the field, you can put all of these principles to work when you arrive back home.

I think the strength of this program is the ability to meet in person during the summer. The conversations you have before and after class energize the online experience later in the year. When you genuinely know your classmates and their context, you can learn so much! I have already implemented many of the principles I’ve learned at Notre Dame. We made immediate changes to our internal controls and human resources practices, based on conversations with professors and peers at Notre Dame.

Q: Do you have advice on managing your work, life, and educational goals as an EMNA student?

Traveling to Notre Dame in the summer is a sacrifice, but it will be your favorite part of the program. There is nothing like being on campus and having time with your classmates during those weeks. The principles you learn in the classroom will benefit your organization but the relationships will benefit you. Every summer at Notre Dame provides new and better conversations with my peers, from the personal to the professional and everything in between.

To accomplish this program, you will need a dedicated part of the week to work on homework or upcoming projects. While this program will not take over your life, you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish in a semester.

Q: What would you say to someone considering the Notre Dame Executive MNA?

The EMNA experience is the best book you’ve read on business and the best conference you’ve attended on leadership - but this one comes with lifelong friendships! One day per week and a few summers to Notre Dame may just transform your organization. Your board and staff will thank you for finding better ways to lead your organization.

One failure in leadership can cost you more than the entire EMNA program; your board will thank you for doing this and leading your organization well!