Brand myself?

Brand myself...how does one go about that, and what does it mean exactly?  As a food blogger writing Casa En La Cocina, I am branded as a busy mom preparing "real food for real life."  But, how do I brand myself intellectually?  What is it exactly that I am seeking?

There was a time when I could tell you exactly what...an intended psychology Ph.D student, future academic, and hopefully, a completely brilliant researcher.  But here I am, a Master's student in political science with an intended concentration in public administration...How did I end up here?

As it so often does, life intervened (sounding pretty familiar to my undergraduate path), and here I stand at the beginning of a new path...

I have a love of, not so much "public service," as "service to the public," and have spent many volunteer hours since receiving my undergraduate degree in 2008.

Very recently I have joined like-minded friends in launching a non-profit organization in Hamilton, Ohio called The Caring Closet.  We are committed to serving underprivileged children in the Hamilton City School District by providing much needed clothing, books, and personal care items.  "Clothing Hamilton's future with care" is our motto.  While very fulfilling, we are in uncharted territory...none of us have ever taken on a project like this before...it is different than volunteering with an established organization, one where your role is defined for you...here WE are not only  defining those roles, but the organization as a whole, from the ground up (apologies for the cliche).

I am hoping to gain an understanding of what it means to administer an organization, to prepare budgets, and manage people.  But, I don't want to do this from a business perspective, but rather, a people and service perspective...it is my desire that by pursuing this course of study, one I hope to make interdisciplinary, I will gain the necessary tools to not only assist The Caring Closet, but to dedicate myself to assisting others by following a career path in the world of non-profits.