News Release
August 2006
Bethlehem, Pa., August 9, 2006— Dr. Santo D. Marabella, associate
professor and chair and Economics and Business Department at Moravian College, has
written and published The
ENGAGED® Model of Board Orientation, a best practices guide for not-for-profit
organizations. The guidelines are based on Marabella’s research and his experience
working with more than 70 not-for-profit boards over the past 15 years.
The purpose of the instructional manual, which also comes with an
interactive CD-ROM, is to provide not-for-profit organizations a process and materials
on effectively orienting newly elected board members. According to Marabella, the ENGAGED® model includes
NFP-specific and general board training content that one would expect to find in an orientation
program for new board members. In addition, he says, “It includes three factors
which may make it distinct: teaching a board member the “universal truths” that
can enhance their perceived ability to govern; creating a dialogue through which a board
member can articulate his or her perceived needs and obstacles to fully participate;
and, implementing a process for the NFP to be responsive to board member needs and obstacles
so board participation increases.”
Marabella found that many not-for-profits recruit board members that
meet their organization needs, but pay very little attention to the needs of their
new board members. He says, “Orientation
programs can help board members feel more confident about governing, more empowered to drive the
not-for-profit’s strategic direction.” He notes that, “When board members
feel that their needs are responded to,” he continues, “the result is higher
board participation, and a more engaged board in general.”
Through the cooperation of the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley,
Marabella was able to test his model with favorable results. He is currently
in the process of marketing the manual and interactive CD-ROM. The Model and CD-ROM
can be obtained by contacting Marabella at the College.
Marabella earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Villanova University,
his M.B.A. from St. Joseph University; and D.S.W. at the University of Pennsylvania School
Of Social Work. He has been a member of the full-time faculty at Moravian College since
1992, and served as the director of The Moravian MBA program from 1997 to 2003. He served
also as interim associate dean of Continuing and Graduate Studies in 2003-2004.
During his distinguished career at Moravian he has been the recipient of the Christian
R. and Mary Lindback Award for Excellence in Teaching; the Helping Hand Award for the
Outstanding Organization Advisor, Omicron Delta Kappa (Moravian Chapter); the Timothy
M. Breidegam Memorial Faculty Service Award; and was selected as Faculty Speaker for
Commencement Exercises. Marabella, a Reading native, actively supports community and
college initiatives and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Reading
Civic Theatre. He created and served as co-chair in 2004 for the Conference on Women
and their Work at the college.
Marabella academic interests include strategic management using scenario-building and
organizational visioning; facilitation of teams and
groups; governance and the
development of not-for-profit boards of directors.
Moravian College is a private, coeducational, selective liberal
arts college located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, it is
recognized as America's sixth-oldest college. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.
