Excelsior University President David Schejbal spoke with Presidents Forum about Excelsior’s hybrid educational model that blends online learning with in-person labs and clinical experiences. President Schejbal details how Excelsior’s new site in St. Petersburg, Florida, expands nursing, cybersecurity, and electrical engineering programs while meeting workforce and military learner needs.
How To Stay on Mission During Organizational Stress
Scott Dolan, executive dean of Excelsior University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, contributed to a Forbes Nonprofit Council article titled “How to Stay on Mission During Organizational Stress.” Dolan discusses leadership strategies and the importance of focused communication in times of change.
The Past, Present, and Future of Nuclear Technology
Nuclear technology has always felt futuristic—even in 1789 when Martin Klaproth discovered uranium. The German chemist named the brand-new element after Uranus, which just eight years prior had captivated the scientific community as the first planet to be discovered by telescope. While scientists of that era understood uranium had special properties, knowledge hadn’t advanced enough to harness its power. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the world saw the genesis of nuclear technology as we know it today with the advent of X-rays and Marie and Pierre Curie’s work on the phenomenon they named radioactivity.
By 1938, the process of nuclear fission had been discovered, and less than a decade later, the United States was fully in the Atomic Age, a period of rapid nuclear innovation following World War II. Advancements in energy and the increasing visibility of nuclear weapons development captured the public’s imagination with interpretations of isotopes and atoms appearing in everything from fashion to architecture, becoming a lasting part of the country’s midcentury visual vocabulary.
Nuclear technology and its uses haven’t stopped evolving since, and today, nuclear scientists and engineers are still looking toward the future and developing newer, safer ways to harness nuclear power and shape our world.
Brief History and Current State of Nuclear Technology
The history of nuclear technology spans from the late-19th-century discovery of radioactivity to the development of nuclear weapons in the mid-20th century to its more peaceful present-day use in sustainable energy generation. Explore a timeline of nuclear milestones to learn more.
1895: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen uses electromagnetic radiation to create the first known X-ray image—his wife’s hand.
1911: Marie Curie wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work isolating the element radium.
1938: Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann discover the process of nuclear fission using uranium.
1942: Enrico Fermi achieves the first controlled nuclear chain reaction.
1945: As part of the Manhattan project, the first atomic device is tested at Alamogordo, New Mexico. Not long after, the U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
1951: The first nuclear reactor to produce electricity designed and operated by Argonne National Laboratory goes live. It powers four light bulbs.
1954: The U.S. Navy launches the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus.
1979: The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant partially melts down near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
1986: A reactor explodes at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine, causing a fire and lasting damage—and intensifying distrust of nuclear power.
1992: The United States conducts its last underground nuclear weapons test, and a temporary moratorium is imposed on future weapons testing.
1994: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues final design approval for the first two of four advanced nuclear power plant designs.
2001: The U.S National Energy Plan includes a significant role for nuclear power in meeting energy demand and reducing air pollution.
2024: U.S. utilities operated 94 nuclear reactors with a total net generating capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts. Nuclear power accounts for approximately 19% of U.S. electricity generation.
The Future of Nuclear Energy and Tech
The future of nuclear energy is rife with opportunities for nuclear technologies that are cleaner and more efficient. Here are three new advancements worth looking forward to.
Nuclear Power and AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest innovation dominating daily life as well as existential conversations about ethics, humanity, and the future of work. However, a hidden cost of AI technology is the environment. The computer servers that power large-scale AI models need massive amounts of energy to run the processing speeds required. Today, the majority of that energy comes from burning fossil fuels, but nuclear power has quickly risen as a feasible solution to make AI more sustainable. MIT Technology Review posits that this new alliance between nuclear and AI would be mutually beneficial if the stakeholders can make the timing work. Big Tech power players like Google and Microsoft need a long-term source of reliable energy, and nuclear companies need the infusion of capital to fuel reactor upkeep and innovation.
Smaller and Faster Reactors
In the future, nuclear power will look different. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are designed to be simpler than traditional reactors and typically don’t feature the large, curved towers historically associated with nuclear reactors. Though small in size, the benefits of SMRs are numerous. These next-generation reactors are less expensive to build, safer because their smaller parts aren’t subject to the same pressures of larger reactors, and more flexible because their modular constructions allow them to be moved.
Nuclear Fusion?
Currently, all nuclear energy is produced by fission, a process that splits large atoms to generate heat. Nuclear fusion, by contrast, is where two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a single, heavier nucleus, releasing a massive amount of energy. This is the same reaction that powers the heat generated by the sun and other stars. Nuclear fusion holds immense promise as a safer, endlessly renewable energy source, and fusion waste is primarily helium and minimally radioactive neutrons instead of the more toxic radioactive by-products that nuclear fission produces.
Fusion energy has long been the white whale of the nuclear scientific community. We’ve understood how the fusion process works since the 1930s, but while the sun naturally has the gravity for these nuclear collisions to occur, on Earth we need to artificially engineer an environment that is hot enough and pressurized enough to create the same reaction. This is why sustainable nuclear fusion has been so hard to achieve.
Is nuclear fusion our energy future? The International Energy Forum estimates viable commercial use could still be decades away, but science is getting closer each year as our engineering capacity advances.
Shape the Future of Nuclear Technology with Excelsior
Does nuclear technology have you feeling energized? If you want to get more hands-on in the nuclear industry, Excelsior University’s BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology program prepares you with the practical training, experienced faculty, and industry connections you need. Our 100% online program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET and features cutting-edge training simulators so you can be ready for the next generation of clean-energy careers.
Learn what you can do with an NET degree from Excelsior University and start powering your own future in nuclear technology. For even more industry info, read Excelsior’s other nuclear blog posts to debunk some common myths about nuclear energy and discover how nuclear energy is going carbon neutral.
Dwayne Johns, Associate of Science in Liberal Arts, 2020, Bachelor of Science in Business, 2023
Dwayne Johns of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business in 2023. He shares, “I began my academic journey pursuing an associate degree in science, which I completed in November 2020. At that time, balancing Navy responsibilities with school was a constant challenge. Unpredictable schedules, extended hours, and operational commitments meant that studying often took place late at night or during limited downtime. That success motivated me to continue my education. I went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business, which I earned in September 2023, again while serving on active duty. The business curriculum aligned closely with leadership and management responsibilities in the Navy, reinforcing concepts such as strategic planning, organizational behavior, and decision making.”
Matt Simmons, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 1989
Matt Simmons of Palmetto, Florida, earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1989, and he has continued to build on that foundation throughout his career. He recently published his second book, Elite Sales Pro Advantage, a co‑authored self‑improvement guide for sales professionals. The book has already earned high praise from industry leaders, including executives from multi‑billion‑dollar Fortune 500 companies and the CEO of a rapidly growing $25‑million sales organization. This latest work is a collaboration between Simmons and his longtime friend and colleague, Gary Adams.
Simmons remains busy and has nearly completed his third book, a compelling novel of struggle and redemption for a fictional baseball Hall of Famer. Simmons amplifies how his ability to complete his business degree with Excelsior University (then Excelsior College), while stationed in Japan in the U.S. Navy, was life-changing.
He shares, “I am very grateful to Excelsior for providing me with the opportunity to pursue my degree while overseas and changing locations, which otherwise would not have been available to me. I encourage anyone working and considering higher education to explore Excelsior University and the options they offer that allow individuals to pursue their degree while they provide for themselves and their families. A new level of success is possible in life with Excelsior.”
Excelsior University Welcomes Tony Spearman-Leach, GPC, CNE, to Board of Trustees
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Tony Spearman-Leach, GPC, CNE, senior director of institutional advancement at the National Academy of Public Administration and a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland, among its six new trustees. The University’s governing body, the Board of Trustees includes leaders from across the country in business, education, and government. An Excelsior alumnus, Spearman-Leach recently concluded his term as president of the Excelsior University Alumni Association and its Alumni Leadership Council.
In his role at the U.S. Congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration, Spearman-Leach is dedicated to advancing the mission of good government, excellence in governance, and public service. A transformational fundraising leader, Spearman-Leach transcends traditional development work by building enduring cultures of philanthropy, launching visionary campaigns, and aligning donor investment with long-term mission impact.
“Expanding educational access is my legacy and avocational purpose. As the great-grandson, grandson, and son of educators who empowered many marginalized citizens through the power of sharing knowledge, I personally continue this ongoing effort through Excelsior University. Wherever I have lived—Robeson County, North Carolina; Detroit, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; or metropolitan Washington, D.C.—I have witnessed and paid forward the truly transformative power of attaining higher education, engaging in mentorship, and lifelong learning. I am truly proud to serve the Excelsior University community, and serving as a member of Excelsior’s Board of Trustees is a humbling honor,” said Spearman-Leach. “I look forward to joining this remarkable group of leaders at an exciting time in the University’s growth, as we expand our reach and extend educational access and opportunity to learners around the world.”
At the National Academy of Public Administration, Spearman-Leach spearheaded multiyear philanthropic initiatives, including the Academy’s Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships and its Extreme Weather Resilience Hub, and launched the Academy’s Diamond Anniversary Endowment Comprehensive Campaign during a period of significant federal funding disruption. He has collaborated closely with the Academy’s CEO and board to develop an entrepreneurial business model that positions the organization for sustained success, and he leads the Academy’s Celebration of the American Public Servant, aligning donor investment with America’s 250th anniversary.
Spearman-Leach has raised and stewarded resources from leading philanthropists, corporations, and foundations, combining technical expertise in grant writing and donor relations with an authentic, visionary leadership style. His global impact includes training hundreds of nonprofit and NGO leaders from more than 100 countries through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program at the Meridian International Center.
A passionate advocate for community leadership, Spearman-Leach serves as treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, chair of the Montgomery College Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology (PIC MC) Foundation, governance chair of Leadership Montgomery, advisory board chair of the Josiah Henson Park & Museum, and a federally appointed board member of the U.S. Selective Service System. He served as president of the Excelsior University Alumni Association from 2023–2025.
An Emmy and Telly Award–winning communicator and a recognized leader in advancing inclusiveness in philanthropy, Spearman-Leach is widely regarded as a strategist, storyteller, mentor, and fundraiser whose work strengthens institutions and communities in the United States and around the world.
Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees. Other trustees appointed to the board include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Todd Greene, vice president of Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise Urban Institute; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; and Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
Excelsior University Welcomes Jessica Hinkle to Board of Trustees
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of strategic investments for Strada Education Foundation and a resident of Hermosa Beach, California, among its six new trustees. The University’s governing body, the board consists of individuals from across the country who are leaders in the fields of business, education, and government.
As the senior vice president of strategic investments at Strada Education Foundation, Jessica evaluates potential mission-aligned investments and manages Strada’s portfolio of direct minority investments and early-stage fund investments.
“I am thrilled to join the board of trustees for Excelsior University, an institution that provides crucial educational opportunities for learners around the globe,” she said. “As Excelsior continues to expand its programming and reach, it is truly an exciting time to join this remarkable group of trustees.”
Previously, Jessica advised and supported Strada’s mission-aligned affiliates, leading product strategy and innovation for Strada’s commercial and products division. Jessica joined Strada in March 2018.
Prior to joining Strada, Jessica was a principal with Silverstrand Strategy + Innovation, providing strategic advisory services. She also held a variety of roles with Laureate Education Inc., including as chief product officer for Walden University, for which she led the team of product managers at Laureate’s flagship online university. She also co-led an innovation team that incubated a new model for competency-based education.
Jessica began at Laureate in 2002 as senior market analyst in the research and analysis department, and progressed to her other roles: vice president, product management; and co-head, emerging strategies and products group. She began her career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and WR Hambrecht + Co.
Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees. Other trustees appointed to the board include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Todd Greene, vice president of Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise Urban Institute; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; and Tony Spearman-Leach, director of development and philanthropy at the National Academy of Public Administration.
For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
Excelsior University Welcomes Education Lawyer Jeffrey Metzler to Board of Trustees
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has appointed Jeffrey Metzler, a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in New York City, as one of six new trustees. The University’s governing board includes leaders from across the country with deep experience in business, education, government, and public service.
Metzler is a litigation partner at Pillsbury and a co-leader of the firm’s Education practice. He is nationally ranked by Chambers for Higher Education law and has spent more than three decades working at the intersection of education, governance, and public policy. He currently serves as co-chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Education and the Law Committee and as a leader of the Association’s Task Force on Higher Education. He was recently nominated to serve on the Board of Directors of The Legal Aid Society of New York City.
“As someone who has spent much of my career supporting educational institutions and expanding access to opportunity, I am honored to join the Excelsior University Board of Trustees,” said Metzler. “Excelsior’s mission, its focus on adult learners, and its commitment to quality and integrity resonate deeply with me. I look forward to contributing to the Board’s strategic work as the University continues to grow its reach and impact.”
In his professional work, Metzler advises colleges, universities, and other institutional clients on governance, civil rights matters, investigations, and complex litigation. He regularly counsels boards and senior leadership on risk oversight, institutional policy, and navigating evolving legal and regulatory environments. He brings extensive experience in government investigations and appellate advocacy, having handled numerous federal and state matters.
Before joining Pillsbury, Metzler served in a variety of non-profit and government roles, including Associate General Counsel at New York University, Assistant Solicitor General for New York State, Acting General Counsel for the New York City Council, and Vice President for Economic Empowerment at Empire State Development.
Metzler has also served as an adjunct professor at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, taught in New York City public schools, and is a frequent speaker on higher education law and governance.
Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board of the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees. Other newly appointed trustees include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Todd Greene, vice president of the Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise at the Urban Institute; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; and Tony Spearman-Leach, director of development and philanthropy at the National Academy of Public Administration.
For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit: excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
Excelsior University Welcomes Todd Greene to Board of Trustees
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Atlanta resident Todd Greene, vice president of the Work, Education, and Labor Division (WELD) at the Urban Institute and executive director of WorkRise, among its six new trustees. The University’s governing body, the board consists of individuals from across the country who are leaders in the fields of business, education, and government.
In his role as a vice president of WELD at the Urban Institute, Greene leads a team of K–12, higher education, workforce development, apprenticeship, and labor market experts who shape education and training. He helps support a labor market that delivers economic security, dignity, and voice. He also serves as the executive director of WorkRise, a research-to-action network focused on jobs, workers, and mobility hosted by the Urban Institute.
WorkRise funds research on promising practices, policies, and programs, and undertakes foundational research on labor market trends to strengthen employers, inform policymaking and practices, and provide genuine economic mobility and security for workers.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Excelsior’s important mission and to support the life-changing work the University does for working adults and others,” said Greene. “Helping more learners earn meaningful credentials that open doors to opportunity is deeply aligned with my own professional values.”
Before joining the Urban Institute, Greene was executive director of the Atlanta University Center Consortium. Reporting directly to the four member presidents (Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College), Greene led a team focused on enhancing academic programs, forging interdisciplinary research, and catalyzing a broad economic development agenda.
For more than 10 years, Greene was a vice president in the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta where he led research, policy, and outreach initiatives to promote inclusive economic growth. Greene founded and led the Federal Reserve System’s human capital/workforce development working group and launched the Federal Reserve Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity.
He is past board chair of the International Economic Development Council, chairs the national advisory board for the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, serves on the boards of the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, and is a member of the Social Finance Institute Advisory Council.
A certified economic developer (CEcD), Greene has published many articles and coedited two books: “Transforming U.S. Workforce Development Policies for the 21st Century” and “Investing in America’s Workforce: Improving Outcomes for Workers and Employers.”
Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees. Other trustees appointed to the board include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; and Tony Spearman-Leach, director of development and philanthropy at the National Academy of Public Administration.
For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
Excelsior University Welcomes Diane Adams to Board of Trustees
ALBANY, N.Y. —The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Diane Adams, chief learning officer of the Mount Sinai Health System and a resident of Closter, New Jersey, among its six new members. The University’s governing body, the board consists of individuals from across the country who are leaders in the fields of health care, business, education, and government.
For the past ten years, Diane Adams has served a workforce of 50,000 people at the Mount Sinai Health System as chief learning officer. In this role, Adams creates and drives the organizational learning strategy, leading a team of talent development professionals implementing programs focused on areas such as leadership development, workforce capacity building, engagement, and patient experience.
“I am thrilled to join the board of trustees for Excelsior University, an institution that provides crucial educational opportunities to the next generation of health care leaders,” said Adams. “As Excelsior continues to expand its programming and reach, it is truly an exciting time to join this remarkable group of trustees.”
Adams began her career in health care as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy, creating programs for adolescents, and helping patients navigate complex health challenges. Leveraging these experiences to teach graduate and medical students in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Diane discovered her passion for empowering others through learning and development, a field she has been dedicated to for the past twenty years.
Adams continues to maintain her Clinical License in Social Work; she is certified in numerous training modalities and holds certifications in both Organizational Coaching and Change Management. Although Diane has held a variety of roles throughout her career, the constant has been her commitment to serving others and creating meaningful impact.
Adams holds a BA from Clark University and an MS from Columbia University.
Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees. Other trustees appointed to the board include Todd Greene, vice president of Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise Urban Institute; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; and Tony Spearman-Leach, director of development and philanthropy at the National Academy of Public Administration.
For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
Ahron Goldberg Finds His Path in Public Accounting
Ahron Goldberg’s journey to a public accounting job was shaped by years of education, a love of numbers, and a timely connection made through a career webinar hosted by Excelsior University’s Career Readiness team.
Goldberg earned his Bachelor of Science in Business in December 2024, and after graduating, he stayed engaged with Excelsior and paid close attention to the career resources available to alumni. When he started actively thinking about pursuing an accounting career, he found himself unsure where to start. With so many possible paths to follow, the process felt overwhelming—until an email from Excelsior in August 2025 about an upcoming Career Café caught his attention.
Career Cafés are live, interactive webinars that connect students and alumni to employers and career experts while showcasing the resources available through the Career Readiness team. This particular Career Café featured a recruiter from Pease Bell CPAs. Goldberg decided to attend. “It felt like a great opportunity to learn more and connect with potential employers,” he says. That decision set everything in motion.
During the webinar, Goldberg connected with the recruiter, which quickly led to an interview the following week. Then came a second interview. Not long after, he was offered a full-time position, and he started his new job in November 2025. “It just all clicked,” he says.
Building a Foundation
Before pursuing accounting, Goldberg, of Lakewood, New Jersey, spent his early 20s immersed in education. He attended a Jewish school for much of his adult academic life and continued working at the school even after leaving, tutoring students who needed extra support. Helping others gave him a strong foundation in communication and organization—skills that would later prove important in a math-based field.
As Goldberg began thinking more seriously about his career goals, accounting stood out. “I always liked numbers,” he says. “When numbers make sense and they connect, everything else just makes sense. It’s very logical.” With accounting, he explains, the rules make sense and “everything fits in.” Strong math skills had been one of his strengths since childhood, and the structure and problem-solving nature of accounting felt like a natural fit.
Finding the right university was Goldberg’s next step. He was referred to Excelsior University through Testing and Training International, an organization that partners with the University to help Orthodox Jewish students transfer credits and complete their degrees. Excelsior stood out for its willingness to evaluate prior learning and help him apply a significant number of credits toward his degree.
“[Excelsior] kind of walked me through the steps and showed me what would be accepted, what wouldn’t be accepted,” Goldberg recalls. “And every specific degree has a different number of credits that you could transfer in. … So, [Excelsior] kind of helped me through that, but I was able to get a nice chunk of credits transferred in.”
At Excelsior, Goldberg completed courses that brought together both technical accounting knowledge and a broader understanding of how businesses operate. His capstone project—running a simulated bicycle shop—required collaboration with fellow students, strategic thinking, and real-world problem-solving. “The communication aspect of it is major; it becomes part of your everyday, and then you really transfer that to your everyday life,” Goldberg says. “Then, there’s obviously the technical aspect of it, the actual business knowledge that you learn, the accounting knowledge that you learn. … Just having that overall knowledge kind of brings everything together.”
Thriving in a Firm
Now working in public accounting, Goldberg is enjoying both the work and the environment. “The firm’s culture is exceptional, fostering a supportive environment that encourages professional growth,” he says. “They ensure that you learn and understand everything as you grow in your role.”
In his day-to-day work, Goldberg organizes client financial information, communicates directly with clients, and prepares tax returns, bringing together the technical skills he learned at Excelsior with the communication skills he developed early in his career. For him, satisfaction comes when the numbers click and everything falls into place. He says the busy season is just around the corner, though, and he’s excited for what’s t come.
Looking ahead, Goldberg is focused on completing his CPA exam within the next year and a half, as well as balancing his work, study, and personal time. It’s a demanding goal, but he feels well prepared.
Reflecting on his journey, Goldberg credits Excelsior for not only the education he received but also the support that extended beyond graduation. The Career Café webinar wasn’t just an information session; it was a bridge between his degree and his career. For students wondering how to take the next step after graduation, Goldberg’s experience offers this message: Stay connected and be ready when opportunity presents itself.
Excelsior University welcomes Ruth Lown Turman to Board of Trustees
ALBANY, N.Y. —The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve (UnitedHealth Group) and a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, among its six new trustees. The University’s governing body, the board consists of individuals from across the country who are leaders in the fields of business, education, and government. An Excelsior alumna, Turman was recently appointed president of the Excelsior Alumni Leadership Council and will serve as an ex officio member of the board of trustees.
In her role as senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve, part of UnitedHealth Group, Turman specializes in executive-level reporting, process optimization, and strategic business development initiatives. Her background spans the banking, technology, and health insurance sectors, and she has experience in systems analysis and design, product delivery, business process consulting, and proposal management.
“As an Excelsior alumna, it’s deeply meaningful to return in service to an institution that expanded access and opportunity at a pivotal point in my educational journey,” said Turman. “I’m honored to join the board of trustees and to support Excelsior’s continued evolution as a university that meets learners where they are. I look forward to contributing to the stewardship and long-term impact of this remarkable institution.”
A Fellow of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), Turman also holds professional credentials in health care management and project management.
Her broader record of professional and community service includes a term on the international board of directors of APMP and recognition as a Melvin Jones Fellow of Lions Clubs International. She has been honored for leadership, mentoring, and chapter service throughout her career and remains dedicated to advancing excellence, equity, and engagement within every organization she serves.
Turman joined Excelsior’s Alumni Leadership Council in 2023, was elected first vice president in 2024, and became president of the Excelsior University Alumni Association and its Alumni Leadership Council in January 2026. In these roles, she has championed collaboration, stewardship, and professional development across Excelsior’s global alumni community. Turman’s dedication to Excelsior extends beyond leadership service to include philanthropy as a member of both the President’s Circle and the Purple and Gold Society.
Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees. Other trustees appointed to the board include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Todd Greene, vice president of Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise Urban Institute; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; and Tony Spearman-Leach, director of development and philanthropy at the National Academy of Public Administration.
For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
