Excelsior College Welcomes New Members to the Alumni Leadership Council

Three new members will join the Alumni Leadership Council in July: Steven Marciano (left), a clinical standards and policies and procedures coordinator with BayCare Health System; Oliver Queen Jr. (center), president and cofounder of Organizational Cultural Assessment Instrument (OCAI) Professional Solutions Group; and Samuel T. Watkins Jr. (right), a cybersecurity program analyst for the Information Warfare Division, Air Combat Command, at Langley Air Force Base.


Steven Marciano, of Palm Harbor, Florida, is a nursing professional with a vast background in business and finance management, clinical standard and health care policy, leadership, and project management. He is the manager of business operations for St. Anthony’s Hospital within the BayCare Health System. His duties include strategic business partnership with 17 nursing units. He is a certified hospice and palliative nurse, and holds health and life, and property and casualty insurance licenses.

Marciano’s current memberships include the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Public Health Association, American Grant Writers’ Association, Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, Tampa Bay Organization of Nurse Executives, Healthcare Financial Management Association, Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association, and Society for Human Resource Management. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Excelsior College in 2018. Marciano was the 2019 recipient of Excelsior’s Michael J. Cooley Memorial Award for high academic achievement in health sciences. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Health Care Administration at Excelsior College.


Oliver Queen Jr., of Chantilly, Virginia, is an accomplished senior executive professional and operations and program manager with more than 28 years of acquisitions, procurement, life-cycle logistics, program and project management, operations, global supply chain, sales, and executive training expertise. With OCAI Professional Solutions Group, he was instrumental in the development of a comprehensive IT transition and post-implementation plan that moved the Millennium Challenge Corporation from the Automated Acquisition Management Solutions’ contract-writing tool to the Oracle Contract Lifecycle Management system under budget and on time.

Queen is a member of the Defense Acquisition University Alumni Association, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association. He is also involved in many community organizations, including serving as the facilities committee chairman at Dawson Corner Community homeowner’s association, a volunteer-assistant boxing coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and a volunteer at the DC Central Kitchen.

In addition to a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College in 2006, Queen earned an Associate in Arts from Valdosta State University, a Master of Arts in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Oklahoma — Norman, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, a Master of Business Administration from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and several certificates. In addition, he has completed executive education programs from the Kennedy School at Harvard, the University of Virginia-Darden Business School, and Syracuse University. He is pursuing a PhD in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University.


Samuel T. Watkins Jr., of Virginia Beach, Virginia, is an experienced counterintelligence professional with prior military active-duty and private-sector experience in researching, developing, presenting, and publishing intelligence products at the tactical, operational, and strategic level. His background includes project management, requirement analysis, project coordination, and customer technical support. As a cybersecurity program analyst, he supports cyberspace operations, training, and the development and use of cybersecurity weapons systems, capabilities, training requirements, and instructional developments. Watkins served as a lieutenant (ret.) and instructor with the Portsmouth, VA Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary and Training Unit and is a former police officer who began his career in law enforcement in 1998.

Watkins is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police. He has won the American Police Hall of Fame Life Saving Award in 2009 and was nominated for the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame in 2013. He was the 2009 recipient of the Excelsior College Alumni Association’s C. Wayne Williams Award for outstanding academic achievements and professional, personal, and community contributions.

A 1999 graduate of Excelsior College with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts, Watkins also earned an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. Leo University and a Master of Science — Criminal Justice Track from Columbus State University.

 

Excelsior College Welcomes New Members to the Alumni Leadership Council

Excelsior College Welcomes New Members to the Alumni Leadership Council

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Brian Allen
The program builds on our foundational commitment to practice-ready education, combining the best of online and in-person learning to help leaders develop the skills they need to thrive as leaders in an ever-evolving business environment.

Brian Allen, DBA
Dean, School of Business
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Ahron Goldberg
When I started, I didn’t fully realize how much confidence and clarity the program would give me—especially around understanding how businesses operate from the inside out. I gained a stronger foundation in areas like accounting, management, and strategic decision-making, and I learned how to apply those concepts in real time. I also didn’t realize how many new career opportunities would open up for me once I completed my degree.

Ahron Goldberg
Bachelor of Science in Business, 2024

Angela Owens
At Excelsior University, we don’t just educate nurses; we develop compassionate, confident professionals who are prepared to make an immediate impact on the lives of others. Our BS in Nursing prelicensure program blends innovation, clinical excellence, and human connection to prepare practice-ready nurses who lead with both skill and heart.

Angela Owens, DNP, RN, PCC, CEC, CMC
Associate Dean, School of Nursing
College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Jervaughn Miller smiling in a grad cap and honor cords
What I appreciated most about the master’s program in health sciences at Excelsior University was how it combined advanced scientific knowledge with leadership development. I was able to complete the program while serving on active duty, which gave me the flexibility to pursue my education without putting my career on hold. The curriculum deepened my understanding of the health care system and its challenges while also strengthening the leadership skills I now use every day as an Army officer.

Jervaughn Miller
Master of Science in Health Sciences, 2023
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, 2021
Associate in Science in Health Sciences, 2019

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Online learning demands a high level of self-discipline and effort, but I found the structure to be well designed and supportive. One of the most valuable aspects was the ability to choose courses that aligned with my professional responsibilities, allowing me to immediately apply what I was learning to real-world situations. The experience was absolutely worth the effort and has had a meaningful impact on both my personal and professional growth.

Richard Rowe
Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology, 2024

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As a working adult who maintained a full-time job and pursued my education secondarily, having the flexibility of pursuing an ABET-accredited engineering technology degree program fully online was a key differentiator. Excelsior has taken great care to create an online educational experience that provides learning opportunities equitable to most traditional programs.

Micah White
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology, 2023

Sherilyn Perez
Although I do not work directly in the criminal justice field, I am employed in public service as an assistant program director for a community-based organization. I have been with the organization for 18 years, serving at-risk youth in my community. Many people are unaware of the importance of CBOs in areas with high crime rates. Programs like the one I work for help keep youth off the streets, away from gangs, and provide them with opportunities to learn and improve their skills. As a mentor in my community, I take pride in leading by example, showing young people that no matter the obstacles they face, their goals and dreams are achievable.

Sherilyn Perez
BS in Criminal Justice, 2024

Leah Sciabarrasi
Online learning offers the kind of flexibility many of our working and service students need to be successful. In-person learning offers the opportunity for experiences that can’t be replicated online, like intimate fireside chats, company tours, and hands-on simulations. Hybrid is the best of both worlds. Students get the access and adaptability they need and the in-person moments that bring learning to life.

Leah Sciabarrasi, PhD
Associate Dean of Business
School of Business, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

James Tippey
With the program’s focus on project management, organizational behavior, systems thinking, and emerging technologies, students gain technical fluency and the ability to lead teams, drive innovation, and align IT solutions with business goals. Graduates leave the program with industry-relevant knowledge and the confidence and insight to lead with impact.

James Tippey, DCS
Associate Dean
School of Technology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Qwa'Neisha Barnes
With my BS in Liberal Arts, I will continue to develop a broad foundation of critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills that are essential in my role as a paralegal and as I prepare for law school. The nature of the program has allowed me to approach complex issues from a different perspective and develop effective strategies.

Qwa'Neisha Barnes
Student, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts

Jervaughn Miller smiling in a grad cap and honor cords
I am much more aware of our health care system. What resonated with me the most is the wellness model of the health care system, which focuses on the integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit. Before when I thought of health care, the first thing I thought about was treatment. Various classes at Excelsior really opened my mind to the importance of preventative health.

Jervaughn Miller
Master of Science in Health Sciences, 2023
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, 2021
Associate in Science in Health Sciences, 2019

Brian Pettaway
I believe we never stop learning. Completing this degree has already positively impacted my military career by providing the knowledge needed to be successful at the position I currently hold as a leader and manager of hundreds of airmen. I believe it will continue to positively impact my next career in much of that same way.

Brian Pettaway
MS in Management, 2022

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Institutional Accreditation

Excelsior University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Excelsior University’s accreditation status is accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 23, 2022 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.

Excelsior’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department and/or have Florida-based licensing with the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928).