Organizational leadership graduates are leaders in change management

OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) graduates are leading change in their organizations.

Graduates recently earned change management certificate, a new offering in the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) program that equips graduates with the strategies and expertise to lead successful, sustainable changes in organizations.

“Change is no longer occasional, it is constant. Yet many professionals are placed in leadership roles without ever being taught how to lead change well. This course gives them that foundation,” said Beth Minton, director of the MSOL program. “The course integrates theory, application and alignment with CCMP standards. Students don’t just study change—they learn how to lead it in real organizational contexts.”

The MSOL program’s capstone course, Culture and Organizational Change, is a Qualified Education Provider, which allows students to become Certified Change Management Professionals (CCMP) by the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP).

“I utilize skills from my MSOL courses every day in my professional and personal lives. Having the certification has provided more tools for me to use daily,” said MSOL graduate Amy Reiner, a clinical pharmacist from Ceresco, Neb. “As a member of a multidisciplinary team undergoing rapid growth, understanding what it takes to make changes for success and communicate effectively is crucial.”

Erin Finke, an MSOL graduate and director of professional development at a rehabilitation company in Kearney, Neb., is using the skills she gained in the course to help her company contract with rural hospitals.  

“The course has shown me that change affects many different levels of an organization and involves complex interpersonal dynamics,” said Finke. “I have gained a strong understanding of the process and information necessary to effectively lead change. The change management process is detailed and robust, with many important steps that must be followed.”

Joseph Daniel-Hoste, an MSOL graduate, adjunct faculty member at CSM and executive director of Crossroads of Michigan in Detroit, has been navigating change in his organization for many years, but CSM’s course helped him understand the formal processes of enacting cultural change within an organization.

“CCMP reflects a commitment to continued learning, mastery of change processes and concepts, and a model for others looking to enrich their change management ability,” he said. “I believe my MSOL and my CCMP work show my commitment to the formal study of leadership and my desire to further develop the unique skills and knowledge within change management.”

When students take CSM’s Culture and Organizational Change course, they create a change management plan that they can implement within their organization.

“The magic happens when practicality and academics meet,” said Minton, who earned her CCMP before bringing the opportunity to campus.

CSM’s MSOL program is online, open to women and men, and can be completed in 12 months, making it ideal for working professionals. In the program, students gain practical leadership and change management skills that align with global best practices.