Rewarding, Transformative, Life-Changing: Inside the Notre Dame Executive MNA

For many nonprofit leaders, the desire to grow professionally goes hand in hand with the desire to better serve their communities. That’s exactly what led Jen Armson-Dyer, Executive Director & Commissioner of Badger Region Volleyball, to pursue an Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration (EMNA) at the University of Notre Dame. Leading a regional branch of USA Volleyball with over 18,000 members across Wisconsin, she is deeply committed to providing safe, structured, and fun lifelong volleyball experiences. But after completing a nonprofit management certificate and realizing just how much more there was to learn, Armson-Dyer turned to Notre Dame to take their leadership and impact to the next level.

In this Q&A, she shares what it’s really like to balance a demanding career, family life, and graduate school, while reflecting on the immediate impact the EMNA has had on their organization. From forming lifelong friendships with classmates to applying classroom insights directly to board governance, fundraising, and strategic planning, she highlights how the EMNA experience is rewarding, transformative, and life-changing—not just for students, but for the communities and missions they serve.

Q&A with Jen Armson-Dyer

Q: What motivated you to pursue an Executive MNA at this stage in your career?

I’m a lifelong learner and have completed an online Nonprofit Management certification. While it was helpful, it also helped me learn that there was so much to learn! I am pursuing this degree because it not only fulfills me personally, but I’m able to better serve my organization and the board I volunteer for. With the degree coming from Notre Dame, I know the knowledge, support and connections are going to serve my community well.

Q: Have you noticed any immediate benefits to your work or leadership since starting the program?

I have used something from every one of my 10 classes that I have taken so far. We’ve been told that this program isn’t designed to make us an expert in (insert a field: lawyer, accountant, HR professional) but it’s designed to help us be able to talk to these subject-matter experts and know when something is off. Because of this, I can now explain the 990 to my board, handle our finances more confidently and better manage our by-laws, governance updates and strategic plan.

The program doesn’t just operate in theoreticals either. The class projects can have an immediate impact. I’ve used my Management Communications organizational presentation five or six times, I developed a national presentation on good governance using information from Nonprofit Legal Environment and Board Relations and Management, I used a project from Fund Development the day after I turned it in and I modified my final presentation from Intersection of Business and Nonprofit several times to work with our corporate sponsorship partners.

Being able to explore unknown areas, develop projects and gain feedback from experts before turning them into a real-world application is an incredible asset to my organization.

Q: How would you describe your experience in the EMNA program so far? 

I would describe the EMNA experience as rewarding, transformative and life-changing. Terrifying, tiring, exhilarating and stressful—but so very rewarding. I had to remember how to study and prepare, as well as learn how to take tests online via Canvas, which was an interesting experience. We didn’t do that when I was in college! But my cohort is amazing and my classmates all travel together in this journey to help each other out.

I’ve had several memorable experiences during this program so far. One of the first was bursting into tears after completing the four and a half hour accounting final my first summer. I was so proud of myself that I get emotional thinking about it right now. The most memorable experiences have come when I connect the classroom to real-life applications. There have been so many “aha moments” throughout the course of this program, and that’s what makes it all worth it. Studying with my kids has also been a great experience. I have a 5th grader and a 9th grader, and being able to demonstrate to them that I’m in this with them, working on homework, preparing for tests, etc. It has been impactful for all of us.

Your organization can’t be successful unless you have a solid foundation on which to build. The EMNA program provides that foundation. The content, the instructors, the cohort and the people involved are all in this together to truly “Grow the Good in Business,” specifically in this program. You grow in life when you do things that scare you. Make this program the next step, and you’ll transform your organization to provide the best service possible to the people you serve.

Q: What advice would you give to prospective students about managing the demands of work, family, and the EMNA program?

As head football coach Marcus Freeman says, “choose hard.” That doesn’t just apply to the football field. Balancing a job, a family and this program is hard. But anything worth doing is worth doing well, and if it were easy, everyone would do it.

However, all of the professors understand what the EMNA program is about. Several classes have a “life” clause, because sometimes you just can’t manage it all in the required amount of time. There have been family deaths, births, sicknesses, job losses and cross-country moves for several of my classmates. Open communication is the key, as is leaning on your cohort. This program will not let you fail.

Q: In what ways has the EMNA program influenced your leadership style or approach to decision-making?

Because of the EMNA program, I feel more confident in my decision making. I now have a better understanding of not only the nonprofit sector, but also the intricacies of various areas. Having the backing of a Notre Dame education provides supportive validity to this knowledge base. I can’t count the amount of times I have said, “in class I’ve learned” when helping to explain decisions or ideas. The respect that comes with being part of the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame is impactful.

Q: Have you formed any meaningful relationships or professional connections through the program?

The people in the EMNA program are one of the best parts. I have formed so many close relationships in my cohort and those above and below me. A classmate called the other day just to check on me because we aren’t in class together this semester and she hadn’t heard from me in awhile. I had dinner with five classmates recently and we were laughing so hard we were crying. The first summer, I’m not sure I would have made it were it not for my classmates. I have formed life-long friendships with people from all walks of life because of this program.

Professionally, there is such a wide variety of experiences in the program, it is wonderful to be able to send an email, text or pick up the phone and call someone who you know has the background you need. Recently, one classmate in HR helped another classmate who is an Executive Director restructure her organization. Sometimes you just need another touchpoint, and this program provides it.

Q: What would you say to someone who is considering applying to the Notre Dame Executive MNA program?

Apply now. Is it scary? Yes. Is orientation and the first day of class terrifying? Yes. Is it rewarding, transformative and life-changing? Also yes. You owe it to your organization to be the best version of yourself with the most comprehensive knowledge in all facets of nonprofit administration, and this program will give you that.