“Olivet Nazarene University’s Master of Organizational Leadership degree program was just what I needed to succeed in the field of nonprofit arts management,” says Laura Otto ’25 MOL. “Every day, I’m combining my experience as a professional violinist with my leadership skill set as I serve as director of the Suzuki School of Music at Youth Music Illinois in Peoria.”
With the philosophy of “every child can,” the Suzuki School of Music welcomes Central Illinois students from ages 4 through 18. Through private lessons, group classes and ensemble experiences for violin, viola and cello, students are immersed in a nurturing and disciplined learning environment. The focus is on musical excellence, character development and family involvement.
“Youth symphonies and orchestras continue to get smaller,” Laura says. “Many schools are no longer offering orchestra programs or string instrument education. I realized that we need a new generation of string players.” That was the beginning of Peoria’s Suzuki School of Music.
Laura holds an undergraduate degree in violin performance and works professionally as a violinist and educator. For the past 20 years, she has played with several local symphonies, played in a string quartet for hire, and taught private lessons. In 2019, she joined the board of a local nonprofit youth symphony organization and was hired to start several programs, including a Suzuki School of Music.
“I knew I had a lot to learn about leading a nonprofit organization, managing a staff and finances, community outreach, strategic planning, budgeting, scheduling,” Laura says. “When my husband, Ryan, and I began the college search with our son, Nathan, we visited Olivet for the first time. During that search process, I became very interested in everything Olivet has to offer. I was ready for the next step in my career, and I realized that Olivet’s MOL degree program with the nonprofit management focus had just what I needed.”
Attracted by Affordability
Laura appreciates the affordability of Olivet’s Master of Organizational Leadership (MOL) program. “The MOL degree, especially with the nonprofit leadership certificate, is a newer program in the master’s degree realm,” she says. “I was paying for this degree on my own, and Olivet’s program was more affordable than other programs I found.”
One of the best features of Olivet’s program for Laura was learning from other students in her cohort. “Learning from professionals who are working in other industries was exciting for me,” she says. “This is exposure I never would have gotten on my own. Seeing how they are handling on-the-job problems and how they are working to improve their companies or organizations was so valuable for me.”
Benefits Abound
Since graduating from Olivet, Laura is enjoying the additional confidence she has in meeting and relating with new people. That confidence extends to how she handles new situations and how she works to grow the Suzuki School of Music. “Because of my MOL degree program, I now understand myself better as a leader and as a person,” she says. “I have more clarity about how I’m made and how I’m gifted. I’m putting together all the pieces of my life and leadership in new ways.”
She is also thankful for the practical skills she learned in her MOL program. “I’m much more effective in coaching and mentoring our staff, as well as in finances and corporate communication,” she says. “These are things I do every day. With my MOL degree, I now have a more thorough understanding of all aspects of nonprofit leadership and more tools for my toolbox as a leader.”
Nathan Otto is now a sophomore student at Olivet, majoring in cybersecurity and a student-athlete with the Tiger Men’s Cross Country team. As a parent, Laura is thankful for the Christ-focused education he is receiving. As a student and graduate, she is also thankful for the Christian focus of her Olivet MOL degree program.
“Through Olivet, I learned how God has uniquely equipped me to lead,” Laura says. “1 Peter 4:10 is my guiding Bible verse, reminding me to use my gifts to serve others.”
Learn more about ONU’s graduate degree programs at Olivet.edu/academics/graduate-programs. For more information or to enroll, email onlineadmissions@olivet.edu or call 877-465-4838.
