Reflections on the Nonprofit West Coast Data Conference

I just got back from attending the Nonprofit West Coast Data conference, (hosted by UCLA's Center for Civil Society) a small gathering of nonprofit academics, researchers, and students.

I liked the collegial atmosphere and presentation format of research ideas, methodology and/or findings. I also enjoyed meeting fellow doctoral students and professors that deeply care about nonprofit research.

Because of the small setting, presenters received feedback from senior faculty members including but not limited to: Mark Hager, Robert Ashcraft, Steven R. Smith, Joe Galaskiewicz, Robert Donmoyer, Brint Milward, Carlton Yashioka, Mary McDonald, Erna Gelles, Helmut Anheier and Zeke Hansenfeld--all VERY well known professiors in the nonprofit academic/research field.

I know I can speak on behalf of the doctoral students and other presenters when I say, we really appreciated how these senior faculty members took time out of their busy schedules to attend the conference and provide us feedback on our presentations and research ideas.

In fact, I was so impressed by the presentations and research ideas at this conference, I decided to do a follow up to my Top 50 nonprofit academics post. Here is a list of the doctoral students and junior faculty that presented at the conference. They are the *next generation of nonprofit academics*:

• Shelly Arsneault, California State University Fullerton
• Chandrasekhar Commuri, California State University Bakersfield
• Laura Deitrick, University of San Diego (San Diego Nonprofit Sector)
• Ginger Elliott-Teague, University of Oaklahoma
• Mike Erickson, Arizona State University (Nonprofits involvement in influencing policy)
• Maria Gajewski, Grand Valley State University
  
• Eve Garrow, UCLA
• Leigh Nanny Hershey, Arizona State University (Nonprofit/government relations)
• Melanie Hitchcock, University of San Diego (Nonprofit Data, Leadership)
• Katie Hoegeman, University of Arizona
• Dave Howard, UCLA
• Hee Soun Jang, California State University Fullerton
• HJ Kil, UCLA (Mapping of Nonprofit Human Service Organizations)
• Marcus Lam, UCLA
• Robin Lemaire, University of Arizona
• Lindsey McDougle, University of San Diego (Race, Class & Gender relating to the Public Confidence of nonprofits)
• Jennifer Mosley, University of Chicago (Advocacy)
• Robbie Waters Robichau, Arizona State University
  
• Rebecca Sager, Loyola Marymount University
  
• David Suarez, University of Southern California
• Marie Talnack, University of Southern California
• Lily Wang, Arizona State University
• Jessica Word, UNLV (Motivation for Nonprofit Employees)

& amazing undergraduates Joe Pettinato and Samuel Richard, Arizona State University who did two rockin presentations!!

(I know there are many more amazing next gen nonprofit academics out there, however these are the ones that I met at the Nonprofit West Coast Data conference).