LSU Shreveport alumnus Scott E. Peyton will be one of twenty nonprofit leaders presenting at Elevate 2021, a conference hosted by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) from February 24 to 26, 2021. Peyton has served Louisiana as a probation and parole officer and the Director of Right on Crime, and he graduated with a Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration (MSNPA) degree in December 2020 from LSUS.

Working in state criminal justice has given Peyton a unique understanding of the challenges former offenders rejoining society face. Driven by his experience, Peyton enrolled in the LSU Shreveport Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration program as a pathway to help offenders and ensure the criminal justice system recognizes key values.

“Providing second chances for justice-involved individuals helps keep our communities safer, and it creates a system that recognizes values of hope and redemption,” Peyton said.

Peyton has always been a fan of LSU, and he knew the MSNPA program at LSUS would prepare him to advocate and make a difference. Simultaneously, he was able to obtain a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential—a major differentiator for the program.

“I chose LSUS because of its academic excellence and the reputation of its MSNPA program,” Peyton said. “Being able to earn the CNP and Masters in Nonprofit Administration are both invaluable in my role as a state director and in my advocacy efforts.”

Peyton’s participation in the NLA Elevate conference is a special part of the certification requirements and will solidify his place as one of 11,000 CNPs. The Elevate conference strives to connect social sector leaders with students to build cultural competency and critical thinking around nonprofit workforce trends, leadership, advocacy, and equity.

Years of advocacy work for criminal justice reform inspired Peyton’s presentation, “Second Chance Hiring for Justice-Involved Individuals”—which focuses on the benefits of hiring persons with criminal backgrounds. The presentation will provide the evidence-based information nonprofit employers need to make informed decisions when hiring formerly incarcerated people.