What I Learned From Joining a Nonprofit Board

My name is Kathryn Short (she/her), and I’m a recent graduate of the Master of Public Health program at the University of Alberta, and a 2024-2025 board intern with the Nonprofit Board Internship (NPBI) program. 

Getting Matched With interVivos

The NPBI program is structured around three core components: board placement, learning sessions, and a final project. Students are matched with nonprofit boards based on their goals and interests. I was paired with interVivos, an as someone who values mentorship and community-building, I immediately felt aligned with their mission! Through my board placement with interVivos, I was able to directly participate in board meetings, contribute to strategic planning sessions, and help with the organization and facilitation of a community engagement event. The learning sessions, led by the Alberta Board Development Program, provided valuable training on board governance topics like financial responsibilities and policy development. The project component allowed me to work closely with the board on a real community engagement initiative, reinforcing my understanding of how governance connects to impact. This kind of hands-on learning was incredibly valuable, as I was able to gain real-world experience on how to lead, collaborate, and contribute meaningfully in a nonprofit setting.

A Federal Affair

As part of my NPBI project, I supported interVivos’ “Federal Affair” event. A Federal Affair is a nonpartisan community engagement initiative designed to help Edmontonians explore and discuss key issues ahead of the federal election. The purpose of this event is to foster meaningful, informed conversations between community members and local experts about the topics shaping our country’s future by creating a casual and dialogue-based environment where participants can learn from one another and share their thoughts in a respectful, welcoming space.

To help support this event, I conducted research using public opinion polling data to identify the top five issues that mattered most to Canadians during this election cycle: cost of living, housing, trade, the environment, and immigration. I then reviewed the major political party platforms and developed backgrounder documents on each of these topics. These documents were used to brief facilitators and guide small group discussions at the event to ensure that participants had a quick snapshot summary of each party’s stance on key issues.

In addition to creating these materials, I also completed facilitation training alongside the rest of the interVivos board. On the day of the event, I co-led table discussions with community members, helping to keep the conversation flowing and making space for diverse perspectives. It was incredibly rewarding to see my research come to life, and to hear the positive feedback from many of the event attendees about how they found the backgrounders helpful in informing themselves and fostering community dialogue. 

Contributing to this project allowed me to combine several core public health skills such as knowledge translation, community facilitation, and evidence-based analysis. It was a powerful reminder of how research and community engagement can come together to promote informed, inclusive decision-making in our communities.

InterVivos Mentorship Program 

Another one of the highlights of my internship was participating in interVivos’ mentorship program. I was paired with an experienced public health professional who also completed their master's education in Public Health at the University of Alberta! This mentorship opportunity also came at a perfect time as I was currently completing my MPH practicum and truly appreciated the guidance and encouragement I received as I began to navigate my career in public health. 

This is Public Health Conference

My board experience also inspired my presentation at the School of Public Health’s “This is Public Health” Conference, where I presented a poster titled “This is Public Health: Board Governance.” 

In my poster, I focused on:

1. Youth underrepresentation on nonprofit boards and how programs like NPBI create space for younger voices.

2. The transferable value of board governance skills for public health professionals, such as leadership, collaboration, and cross-sector communication.

3. My experience with interVivos, highlighting how it enhanced my abilities in mentorship, strategic planning, and community engagement.

I was honoured (and surprised!) to win the award for Best MPH Poster at the conference. It was incredibly validating to see my work and perspective recognized by peers and faculty, and it confirmed how vital these nontraditional public health experiences can be.

What This Internship Taught Me

One of the most meaningful lessons I took away is the value of stepping outside your comfort zone. Whether it was presenting at a conference, facilitating community discussions, or writing this blog post (encouraged by my wonderful mentor, Zohreh!), I’ve learned that growth often comes from saying yes to unfamiliar challenges.

Beyond the technical skills I’ve gained from this experience such as strategic planning, research, and group facilitation, I’ve also developed a deeper sense of confidence, community connection, and commitment to collaborative leadership. 

To any public health student considering a nonprofit board experience, I can’t recommend it enough. I was one of several MPH students who joined the NPBI program in 2024–2025, and I think our representation speaks volumes about how valuable board governance can be for emerging public health leaders.

I’m incredibly grateful to interVivos for welcoming me so warmly into their board, and I’m thrilled to share that they’ve offered me the opportunity to continue serving with them beyond my internship. I’m excited to carry forward the work we’ve started together and continue contributing to their mission of building strong, inclusive, and engaged communities.