Master’s in Social Sector Leadership and Nonprofit Management (SSL)
Lead with Purpose. Drive Social Change.
The UChicago Crown Family School’s 12-course AM in Social Sector Leadership and Nonprofit Management (SSL) is designed to equip you with the skills to lead and transform organizations across the social sector. Whether you're advancing your career, making a professional shift, or newly graduated and just beginning your career, this program empowers you to create real-world impact in nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, corporate social responsibility, and international NGOs—helping build a more just and humane society.
Choose from full-time or part-time options.
- Full-time students can complete their degree in as little as nine months, taking four courses each quarter during one academic year. Click Here for the Full-Time Curriculum Map
- Part-time students can complete their degree in two years, taking two courses each quarter. Click Here for the Part-Time Curriculum Map
Gain both the conceptual foundation and practical skills you need to drive social impact and lead change.
Learn from world-class faculty conducting cutting-edge research and working at the forefront of social sector issues.
Build lifelong relationships with a diverse cohort, Chicago’s vibrant social sector, and UChicago alumni
Marwell's research examines a range of questions about urban governance, with a focus on the diverse intersections between nonprofit organizations, government bureaucracies, communities, and politics.
Dr. T.J. Niño is not your run-of-the-mill academic—she’s a powerhouse in organizational leadership, with a knack for transforming businesses and inspiring people to think bigger and bolder. With more than 16 years of experience in the trenches, she’s a strategic disruptor (in the best way).
Laura Thrall brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector to her consulting engagements and roles as both a corporate and nonprofit board director and lecturer. A four-time CEO, Thrall previously served as CEO for D.C.-based Epilepsy Foundation of America, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
Jessyca Dudley is reimagining the role of wealth in society, creating pathways where capital actively supports community-driven progress and equitable systems. A 2024 Crain's Chicago Business Notable Black Leader and prestigious Just Economy Institute Fellow, she is recognized as a leader in economic systems change and equitable wealth distribution.
Elizabeth has supported government agencies, non-profits, and philanthropy to accelerate and expand social impact. She specializes in long term projects to design, launch, and scale promising efforts – conducting critical, ongoing functions like research, community engagement, program design & evaluation, data capacity building, and partner engagement.
Kate is a certified professional coach and accomplished strategy consultant; for 25 years she has honed her expertise in strategy, executive leadership, and entrepreneurship. She consults high-performing foundation and nonprofit leaders on growth strategy, management, and implementation planning.
Zarychta's research focuses on the politics of social services in Central and South America, especially in the areas of public health and environmental policy. Most broadly, he investigates the sources and effects of institutional reforms aiming to improve local service delivery—how public sector reforms are targeted, the contextual conditions that shape their effectiveness, and whether such reforms can fundamentally alter local governance systems.
Mosely researches the role of nonprofit organizations as political actors, specifically the role human service organizations, community-based nonprofits, and philanthropic foundations play in advocating for or implementing policy change that affects underrepresented populations.
Grisel Maldonado is a social impact strategist and educator committed to advancing equitable systems and empowering organizations to achieve transformative change. With a career rooted in addressing systemic inequities, Grisel has established multiple postsecondary success initiatives that equip youth of color with the tools to achieve their highest aspirations.
Build foundational knowledge on social sector governance, organizational theory, and policy formulation for social sector leaders with these three required conceptual courses.
Develop expertise in leadership, strategy, finance, and operations. There are two required courses —Inclusive Leadership and Social Sector Strategy—and you can choose three additional management courses to customize your learning.
Customize your learning with electives from the Crown Family School and across the University.