Melissa Morriss-Olson, the director of the center since its founding in 1999 and professor of nonprofit management, will begin this fall as professor of business at Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

Executive in Residence Jimmie Alford, a 1966 North Park graduate, will accept interim leadership responsibilities beginning July 1. He will chair the 2007 Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management Symposium.

Under Morriss-Olson's direction, the symposium and other center offerings have become recognized as among the premier events in nonprofit management. More than 500 people from across the country attended the recent symposium.

Morriss-Olson has a long history with North Park as an educator and administrator. Campus enrollment climbed during her tenure as vice president for enrollment management in the early to mid-1990s.

Later, as senior vice president for university relations, Morriss-Olson led the institutional fundraising effort that included successful completion of the $39 million Campaign for North Park University, development of a campus-wide integrated marketing and branding strategy, and a university-wide strategy for online learning that resulted in the establishment in 2005 of the Office of Distributed Learning.

University officials say Alford's appointment will maintain continuity of the symposium during a search process for the center's new director. Alford has been a key advisor to the center since its founding. As Executive in Residence, he has taught courses at the School of Business and Nonprofit Management.

Alford is founder and chair of The Alford Group, Inc., a nationwide organization that counsels nonprofit organizations. The Nonprofit Times twice has recognized him as "one of the 50 most influential people in the nonprofit sector."

"Melissa's crucial role in initiating and growing The Axelson Center simply cannot be overstated, and we are grateful for her pioneering and important work," says North Park Chief Executive Officer Bruce Bickner of the upcoming transition. "Because she and Jimmie worked together closely over the years, we anticipate a seamless transition in the weeks to come."