Excelsior University Celebrates 53rd Commencement Ceremony

Albany, N.Y.  — Excelsior University celebrated its 53rd Commencement on Friday, July 12 at 11 a.m. at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York. The Commencement ceremony brought together graduates of Excelsior’s online programs to commemorate their achievements in-person with University faculty and staff, family, friends, and supporters.

This year’s Commencement ceremony featured remarks from graduate speaker Sena Amegbletor, who shared the story of her journey from fourth-grade teacher in Ghana to two-time Excelsior University graduate and health care professional.

The Excelsior Alumni Service Award was posthumously presented to Norvell “Van” Coots, M.D., retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and former president and CEO of Maryland’s Holy Cross Health system. Excelsior Alumni Association president and National Academy of Public Administration director of development and philanthropy Tony Spearman-Leach honored Norvell Coots and delivered the commencement address.

Excelsior celebrates its diversity and global representation. The Class of 2024 features 4,012 graduates from across the world. The graduates represent all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico in addition to 14 other nations. A total of 1,062 graduates are from New York state, including 107 graduates from the Capital Region. The graduates range in age from 12 to 81, and the average age of the Class of 2024 is 35 years old. 25% of graduates are active-duty service members of the U.S. military, and 33 students earned more than one degree during the academic year. For more facts about Excelsior’s Class of 2024, view the Graduates at a Glance document.

“We are proud to celebrate the tremendous accomplishments of Excelsior University’s Class of 2024 today,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University. “Our graduates are a diverse group joining us from around the globe, but they share the determination, resilience, and passion for learning that define the Excelsior community. Most of these graduates are working adults who can put their education into practice immediately in the workplace as they advance in their careers, positively impact their communities, and achieve their personal and professional goals.”

The event was livestreamed for those unable to attend. The video and all Commencement information is available at excelsior.edu/commencement.

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Media Contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446

ABOUT EXCELSIOR UNIVERSITY
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults 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, 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 University Criminal Justice Graduate Kimberly Dove Earns Honors for Her Work with Incarcerated Youth

In her role as chaplain at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, Kimberly Dove makes a positive impact on at-risk and incarcerated youth every day. Dove’s innovative work with young people in the juvenile justice system earned her the 2022 Department of Youth Services Employee of the Year Award at the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility. She has been recognized nationally as an expert in her field, presenting at the fall National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) conference on methods for discouraging youth from joining gangs. She accomplished all this while pursuing a Criminal Justice degree at Excelsior University. Dove graduated from the program in June.

Dove came to criminal justice from a prior career in social work, initially volunteering within the prison system community. She discovered Excelsior University upon beginning her work in corrections, as the flexibility of Excelsior’s online programs allowed Dove to learn on her own time while often working long, unpredictable hours with sporadic access to the internet. She earned an Associate in Science in Liberal Arts in 2017 and recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

“I always encourage the youth I work with to pursue an education, because I know that continuing my learning with Excelsior has allowed me to have a greater impact on my community,” said Dove. “I’ve been able to put the knowledge from my Criminal Justice classes into action right away in my career and see the positive change on those we serve.”

At the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, Dove uses the game of chess to help youth with mental health issues and gang backgrounds change the course of their futures. After working with the National Chess Federation and a neighboring county using a similar tool, she developed a chess program to help youthful offenders with critical thinking skills and in making strategic decisions that can be applied to life experiences. Her chess program is so successful that she has a waitlist.

Her job as chaplain involves much more than chess. Dove’s extensive knowledge of religious laws helps ensure that youthful offenders have what they need to practice their faith at the facility. She also takes a proactive role in the community’s safety by learning the signs of gang activity and taking preventative action.

“Kimberly Dove is a true inspiration, not just to her peers in the criminal justice system and the youth she serves at Indian River, but to her fellow Excelsior University students and graduates,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University. “Kimberly’s story is a great example for busy, working adult learners, demonstrating how education can fit into a demanding schedule and support a successful career. We are proud that Kimberly Dove is part of the Excelsior community.”

Learn more about Kimberly’s story here: https://www.excelsior.edu/article/kimberly-dove-criminal-justice-degree-chess-story/

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Media Contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446

ABOUT EXCELSIOR UNIVERSITY
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults 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, 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. 

What Is Nuclear Energy’s Role in Going Carbon Neutral?

As the world commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change, nuclear energy is essential to reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase reliance on clean energy sources. Nuclear energy’s minimal carbon footprint and absence of greenhouse gas emissions during operation make it a vital clean energy source. Nuclear power plants also reduce harmful air pollutants, contributing to cleaner air and better public health.

Nuclear energy complements renewable energy sources, like wind and solar. Hybrid energy systems combining nuclear and other sources can enhance grid flexibility and reduce emissions. Additionally, nuclear energy can be used for nonelectric applications like district heating, hydrogen production, and purification.

Let’s dive deeper into nuclear energy to discover what role it plays in powering our world—and what it means for our future.

What Does Being Carbon Neutral Mean?

Major companies and countries increasingly commit to becoming carbon neutral. Amazon and General Motors, for instance, have claimed they aim to become carbon neutral by 2040. Carbon neutrality means matching the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere with the same amount of CO2 removed or offset.

Achieving carbon neutrality on an industrial or national scale could mitigate climate change. Ways to help achieve this critical goal include installing solar panels, switching to electric vehicles, and using renewable energy. You can also participate in projects like tree planting and wetland restoration.

What Is the Difference Between Carbon Neutral and Net Zero?

You might have heard the terms “carbon neutral” and “net zero” being tossed around regarding nuclear energy. But what do they mean? Are they the same thing? Let’s break it all down.

Net zero involves balancing all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the same amount removed from the atmosphere. This requires extensive emissions reductions and advanced carbon removal efforts. Alternatively, carbon neutrality focuses specifically on carbon dioxide emissions. This is achieved by offsetting through projects that absorb or reduce CO2. Net zero is a long-term, comprehensive goal that includes all GHGs and requires significant reductions and global collaboration, whereas carbon neutrality is more immediate and cost-effective.

Additionally, these concepts each require different standards and certifications. Both ideas are important for climate action, with carbon neutrality as a starting point and net zero as the ultimate objective to keep global mean temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

How Does Nuclear Energy Play a Role in Being Carbon Neutral?

Nuclear power is vital to the clean energy transition thanks to its low carbon footprint and lack of direct carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, in 2020, U.S. nuclear power alone prevented more than 471 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. To put that into perspective, it’s like removing 100 million cars from the road.

Although nuclear energy is not without its critics and challenges, it has the potential to significantly contribute to carbon neutrality by reducing emissions beyond electricity generation. By pursuing the right education, you can enter the field of nuclear energy and play a part in shaping a net-zero future.

Is Education the New Self-Care?

The concept of self-care has evolved beyond the traditional notions of spa days and yoga retreats. Education has emerged as a unique and powerful form of self-investment and personal well-being. The pursuit of knowledge is no longer just a means to an end, but a vital tool for mental resilience, emotional stability, and overall life satisfaction. By embracing education as self-care, we not only expand our horizons but also empower ourselves to lead more fulfilling lives. Let’s delve into the question, Why is self-care important? and discover the unique benefits of using education as a form of self-care.

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care is taking deliberate actions to maintain and improve one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It encompasses various activities and habits to reduce stress, enhance health, and promote happiness. There are several areas of self-care and many things you can do to engage in it.

  • Physical self-care. Physical self-care means taking care of our bodies. This includes eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, exercising, and taking any necessary medications regularly.
  • Social self-care. It’s important to socialize, but sometimes, making time for our friends and family is hard. Try scheduling game or movie nights with friends or attending a football game with your family. Don’t forget to contact a friend or family member you haven’t heard from.
  • Mental self-care. What we fill our minds with influences how we act. Mental self-care helps us keep a healthy mindset. Doing puzzles, reading books, or playing board games or intellectual games are ways to keep your mind sharp.
  • Spiritual self-care. You don’t have to follow a religion to take care of your spiritual well-being, though many people find following a religion to be a form of spiritual self-care. Other forms of spiritual self-care involve meditating, going for a nature walk, practicing compassion, or journaling.
  • Emotional self-care. Nurturing your inner self and emotions is an important part of self-care. Being in touch with and controlling your emotions can benefit your overall well-being. Asking for help when needed, seeing a therapist, setting personal boundaries, and practicing gratitude are examples of emotional self-care.

Why Is Self-Care Important?

Self-care isn’t just a luxury; it’s necessary for maintaining our overall well-being and preventing burnout. By engaging in self-care activities, we can effectively manage stress, enhance our physical health, reduce the risk of diseases, and improve our mental clarity. When we practice self-care, we acknowledge and address our personal needs, which is crucial for our happiness. By prioritizing self-care, we can better navigate the challenges of daily life and maintain a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

How Is Education Self-Care?

Another form of self-care that may surprise you is education. Education as self-care involves learning new things that enrich the mind, boost self-esteem, and foster personal growth. By growing knowledge and skills, we gain a sense of accomplishment. Pursuing higher education stimulates our minds, helps reduce stress, and allows us to be creative. Additionally, learning helps us adapt to changes, improve problem-solving abilities, and stay connected with the world around us. Embracing education as a form of self-care ultimately leads to more resilience and fulfillment.

Self-care is essential for nurturing our minds, bodies, and spirits. It lets us lead healthier and more balanced lives. By prioritizing the various areas of self-care—including our education—we can equip ourselves with the tools to manage stress, maintain physical health, and enhance our emotional well-being.

Hack-Proof Best Practices for Cybersecurity

The security procedures for protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, theft, or damage is vital. Why is cybersecurity so important? Because the world has become digital. From navigating your town to buying products, operating your smart home to accessing your money, it’s hard to think of any human endeavor that has NOT been digitized—or that isn’t under cyberthreat.

Why Is Cybersecurity Important?

Cybercrime is on the rise, in number of attacks, variety of methods, and multiplicity of objectives. Governments wage cyberwar by attacking critical infrastructure. Groups steal data and sell it to the highest bidder on the dark web. Individuals lock you out of your own computer and demand ransom. Risks have multiplied with easy-to-hack mobile devices and smart Internet of Things (IoT) innovations.

Why is cybersecurity important? These common cybersecurity threats are just a sample of the growing problem:

  • Malicious software for spying, planting viruses, logging key strokes, demanding ransom, or harnessing machines into a botnet
  • Denial-of-service attacks that bring down key internet services, accounts, and websites
  • Phishing, spoofing, and other social engineering techniques to gain access to sensitive information and systems
  • Identity attacks where a bad actor masquerades as a bona fide user to break into systems
  • Code injections that add malicious code into systems and apps
  • DNS tunneling that bypasses security measures to take over systems and data
  • IoT attacks that break into connected devices to access the rest of the system

Human actions are responsible for most cyber breaches, either by a malicious insider or by a poorly trained or poorly informed employee or partner making a mistake. Beyond attacks and breaches are the costs associated with failing to comply with an ever-widening array of privacy and cybersecurity laws.

Given the risk, investing in security procedures, systems, safeguards, and frameworks is a priority for organizations large and small, creating a variety of exciting career paths.

5 Key Cybersecurity Best Practices

Best practices in cybersecurity are adapting as fast as cybersecurity threats multiply and evolve. The U.S. government’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency offers up-to-date resources for organizations and individuals. The following security procedures and approaches remain core to any cybersecurity operation.

Establish a Network Security Program

Your organization can’t afford to leave cybersecurity to chance. Best practices in cybersecurity begin with a formal network security program. At their most basic, security procedures in most cybersecurity frameworks cover the steps of identifying risks and vulnerabilities, detecting breaches, effectively responding, and then disclosing and documenting issues for compliance and continuous improvement. The last step is fast and effective recovery from an attack. Many organizations have found that adopting a formal cybersecurity framework, like NIST or ISO 27001, provides a structure, formal reporting, proven procedures, vital recordkeeping, and help ensuring legal compliance.

Reinforce Your Organization

Second among best practices in cybersecurity is involving people in your network security program. In addition to putting a network security program in place, you’ll need the backing of senior leadership and the engagement of every employee. Next, define and assign information security roles and responsibilities to your team members. Real cybersecurity involves more than the IT department; every person interacting with your data, devices, and network must take cybersecurity training. Each person may have a different level of access and may need to be assigned an identity, password, third-party identification, and more.

Ongoing cybersecurity awareness is a must. Something as simple and ubiquitous as email represents the greatest vulnerability for many companies. A malicious email that an employee did not perceive as dangerous was the starting point of more than 75% of targeted cyberattacks. Training employees about such risks is a first-line cyber defense.

Secure Systems and Platforms

When building, buying, or integrating devices and applications, and when creating, manipulating, moving, and storing data, protecting these elements is one of the most important best practices in cybersecurity. Your organization will benefit from having a secure system development life cycle (SDLC) program in place. In addition to making sure everything is working, SDLC processes include formal code reviews, architecture analysis, technical controls, and penetration testing as part of the configuration process.

The vulnerability management plan you develop during this work becomes part of your overarching cybersecurity framework. No digital infrastructure is static. Constant additions and upgrades are necessary, and if no security procedures during configuring and integrating these changes are in place, your organization is vulnerable.

Conduct Third-Party Security Assessments

More IT systems and more parts of IT systems now routinely integrate third-party components rather than custom-building them in house. Your cybersecurity is only as strong as the weakest third-party component, and every one of them adds risks. Out of 100 Fortune 1,000 chief information security officers surveyed by RSA Conference in 2023, 87% have been affected by a third-party cyber incident.

Cybersecurity frameworks all provide specific and comprehensive security procedures for conducting third-party assessments and audits, documenting findings, and addressing issues. If you don’t include this element in your best practices in cybersecurity, you are practically inviting bad actors into your systems and data.

Stay Vigilant and Adaptive

Staying vigilant is a necessity in the field of cybersecurity. When you have the right frameworks and security procedures in place, you’ll be able to thwart attacks before they start, respond quickly to any incidents, and recover just as fast. Plus, you’ll have the processes and documentation many cybersecurity laws require you to provide, mitigating the threat of fines and penalties.

Still, the best system will quickly fall behind if you don’t stay up to date on best practices in cybersecurity and regularly update your cybersecurity strategies and measures. Join the conversation at the National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior University, a national center of academic excellence tied to many of the leading national agencies.

Cybersecurity companies and service providers are constantly on the hunt for qualified talent. Studies point to high demand for people in these roles, with 68% of organizations citing shortages of people with cybersecurity knowledge and skills as one of their biggest challenges. Even though employment in this sector topped 5.5 million in 2023, the workforce needs to grow at an annual rate 12.6%. The current growth rate is only 8.7%. Earning a bachelor’s in cybersecurity gives you the knowledge and credentials you need to prosper in any career in cybersecurity.

What Is the Role of AI in Cybersecurity?

As cyberthreats become more sophisticated and pervasive, the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to process data, identify patterns, and automate responses is proving indispensable. From enhancing threat detection and prevention to improving security operations, AI transforms how organizations protect their digital assets. Let’s explore some of the benefits and some of the drawbacks of this technology.

What Are Some Benefits of AI in Cybersecurity?

Many organizations have already harnessed the power of AI for their business needs. The benefits of AI in cybersecurity include:

  • Improved threat detection. AI can identify patterns, anomalies, and emerging threats with remarkable accuracy. This allows for the early detection of sophisticated attacks often missed by traditional methods. AI can automate responses to threats, such as blocking malicious traffic, isolating compromised devices, and sending alerts, thereby saving time and minimizing data breaches.
  • Automated processes. AI learns from historical data and adapts to new information, quickly identifying, containing, and remediating breaches. This automation reduces human intervention and is crucial for continuous monitoring, streamlined patch management, compliance monitoring, and efficient incident response.
  • Machine learning. AI enables cybersecurity software to learn from past experiences, improving over time by identifying trends and connecting past incidents with threat intelligence. These algorithms can also analyze password patterns to detect weak or easily guessable passwords, alerting employees to enhance security.
  • Reduced human error. Tasks that are time-consuming and prone to human error can be streamlined by AI, which minimizes typos and formatting mistakes in manually entered data. AI can also detect anomalies and clues in data that human analysts might overlook. Additionally, AI reduces human biases in cybersecurity analysis.
  • High data analysis capacity. AI can handle and analyze mass amounts of data, identifying patterns and trends indicative of security threats. AI’s high data processing capacity allows for continuous automated analysis and 24/7 security monitoring.
  • Improved user experience. Generative AI advances customer support with interactive chat options for efficient feedback collection. It also enhances the usability of various cybersecurity tools and features, increasing their acceptance and effectiveness.

What Are Some Challenges for AI in Cybersecurity?

While there are many benefits to using artificial intelligence, we shouldn’t be automating our systems and heading for monthslong vacations just yet. There are many limits to AI that we should be aware of. Some of these limitations include:

  • Absence of human judgment. No matter how sophisticated or intelligent AI becomes, it will only comprise data and algorithms. It notoriously lacks human judgment and creativity, and without this piece of humanity, you run the risk of problems like systemic bias and the kind of cold unaccountability that could affect a business’s security and reputation.
  • Ethics issues. AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data can lead to privacy invasions, as sensitive information might be accessed or misused. Bias in AI algorithms can result in unfair or discriminatory outcomes. Overreliance on AI can lead to complacency, and cyber criminals could exploit these technologies for malicious purposes. Automating cybersecurity tasks through AI may also result in job displacement for cybersecurity professionals.
  • Inability to keep up with threats. Although AI’s defensive capabilities are highly advanced, cybercriminals develop new and dangerous methods of cyberattack every day. Cybercriminals have even started using AI for their own tactics, like new malware strains and phishing attacks, making it harder than ever to spot a cybercrime. Cybersecurity professionals need to stay up to date to make sure AI is ready to stop these cybercriminals before they strike.
  • False positives. AI-based systems can become overwhelmed when false positives happen. This means an alert incorrectly indicates a problem or vulnerability in the organization’s system. When this happens, AI systems don’t have the proper context or history to analyze them correctly, so IT teams cannot distinguish real from fake threats.
  • Cost. AI often requires special hardware, software, professional expertise, and training. This all makes AI solutions expensive, especially for smaller businesses.
  • Unemployment. Some critics of AI-based solutions argue that technology could rapidly replace human workers, putting many IT professionals out of jobs. Chatbots and robots, for instance, are also used in human resources to respond to customer questions. Although not always the case, this can mean fewer jobs for many people.

How Is Artificial Intelligence Used in Cyberattacks?

Although many use AI for legitimate business purposes, others use it for cybercrime. Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to enhance their cyberattacks on corporations and individuals. They’re able to do this in a variety of ways because AI uses machine learning. Machine learning allows systems to learn from previous data and improve performance. Simply put, AI “learns” using large amounts of data to recognize patterns. Hackers and cybercriminals use AI in automated attacks, phishing and social engineering attacks, deepfake technology, malware, data mining, password cracking, and more. It amounts to a technological arms race between white hats and black hats, putting the onus on cybersecurity professionals to constantly keep up on the latest developments and stay ever vigilant in their application.

CISA’s Roadmap

To combat cybercriminals’ dangerous use of AI and to explore and enhance its benefits, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) developed a road map. CISA’s plan covers five lines of effort:

  1. Responsibly use AI to support CISA’s mission.
  2. Assure AI systems.
  3. Protect critical infrastructure from malicious use of AI.
  4. Collaborate with the interagency, international partners, and the public.
  5. Expand AI expertise in the U.S. workforce.

How Can You Prevent Cybercrime?

If you want to do your part to help prevent the criminal use of technology, here are a few tips:

  • Use strong passwords.
  • Use multifactor authentication.
  • Keep your software up to date.
  • Enable privacy settings.
  • Use antivirus software.
  • Use a firewall.
  • Back up your important data.

Technology is only going to continue to advance. Artificial intelligence is one of the areas that will continue to see rapid developments. To stay ahead of criminals wishing to use this technology for malicious reasons and to explore all the benefits AI can provide, we must constantly keep up to date with our rapidly changing technological world. A degree in cybersecurity can provide you with the foundation to enter this dynamic field and propel you to make advancements that can benefit individuals and society at large.

The Impact of Nursing Technology in Health Care

How Has Technology Changed Nursing?

In an era where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, it’s only natural that the health care sector should experience transformations driven by technological advancements. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to telemedicine and wearable devices, technology is reshaping how we diagnose, treat, and manage health conditions. This integration of technology enhances the efficiency and accuracy of medical care and improves access to health services, empowering patients and health care providers.

Nursing technology has changed the world of health care in sweeping ways, including:

  • Improving workflow and reducing burnout. Nurses spend nearly one-third of their shifts performing administrative tasks like stocking supplies, scheduling, billing, and documenting patient information. Technology can make collecting information more streamlined and less time-consuming. Nurses can concentrate on more critical tasks, and this, of course, leads to less work. And less work leads to less burnout.
  • Streamlining communication and allowing greater access to care. New communication technology has helped nursing teams interact with patients more efficiently and effectively, especially if patients are in rural areas and do not normally have access to health care services. Nurses can consult with patients remotely, make assessments, monitor vital signs, and keep in more timely contact.
  • Improving patient outcomes. Technology is beneficial to patients for many reasons. For instance, with electronic software, patients can gain quicker and more efficient access to their medical records. And technology helps prevent and reduce medication errors and mistakes, enhancing patient safety. Plus, technology allows patients to take an active role in their health by giving them access to their health records and health providers through electronic patient portals and health apps. Easier communication with health care providers makes it easier for patients to engage in their health, improving their outcomes.

Indeed, the field has changed dramatically over the past generation in all aspects, but some specific areas have particularly been affected by advances in nursing technology, specifically telenursing, electronic advancements, portable devices, and smart tools.

Telenursing

Telenursing, or telemedicine or telehealth, became more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic to give patients more access to their health care providers. It refers to virtual appointments using internet-based video calls conducted with a computer, tablet, or smartphone. One of the main advantages of this type of visit is preventing contagious patients from spreading their illness to others. It’s also helpful for patients who might have mobility issues or who live far away from their providers. Another benefit to telenursing is that these visits are easier to schedule and have lower costs because they’re conducted in the patient’s home.

Electronic Advancements

Technology is quickly becoming an invaluable tool for nurses in managing data. Artificial intelligence, for instance, helps reduce time-consuming tasks, improves the organization of electronic medical records, and can help nurses collaborate and communicate better with other team members (there’s even an AI device that can draw blood!). And electronic medication management systems help reduce errors and improve patient safety, assisting health care providers with prescribing, administering, reviewing, and disposing of medications as well as reducing the risk of errors caused by illegible handwriting and incorrect orders.

Portable Devices

Handheld digital devices like mobile computers, tablets, and smartphones, as well as portable EKG and ultrasound devices, offer greater mobility for nurses and other health care team members. These portable devices allow health care professionals to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively, collecting and sharing real-time patient data and streamlining the process of collecting information and offering on-the-spot patient care.

Smart Tools

Nurses carry out a wide range of duties, and with the nursing shortage, it’s harder than ever for them to tackle everything on their to-do list. Enter mobile robotics. Robots can offer some helpful solutions, including greeting patients, conducting contactless triage interviews in the ER, and delivering lab specimens or medications. Augmented reality technology like smart glasses can help nurses access patient information hands-free, improving workflow and reducing medical errors. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) uses technology to transmit real-time health data between patients and providers. Examples of RPM devices include digital blood pressure monitors, heart monitors, pedometers, and pulse oximeters. RPMs give patients greater peace of mind and allow for fewer officer visits. They also offer more individualized patient-provider interactions.

Can Nurses Be Replaced by Technology?

With all these technological advances in the health care industry, you may be wondering whether technology will replace nurses. Although technology poses no risk of replacing nurses soon, nurses and other medical professionals will continue incorporating technology into their daily routines. Experts do not always agree on the future of health care, yet one thing is for sure: Nurses will continue using advanced technology to see more patients daily, administer medications more efficiently, and monitor conditions with greater confidence.

If using state-of-the-art technology to provide first-class patient care sounds appealing to you, a career as a nurse might be in your future. Earning your nursing degree is the first step. If you want to explore the world of technology and nursing, consider becoming a nursing informaticist. You could be on your way to a rewarding career blending technology and high-quality patient care.

Chess with the Chaplain: How Kimberly Dove Changes Young Lives One Move at a Time

Chess is a complex game involving strategic planning, tactics, and foresight as players try to control the board and ultimately checkmate their opponent. It’s a worldwide competitive sport, but it can also be a tool for cognitive development and to instill valuable lessons in young minds.

Kimberly Dove, chaplain at the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility (IRJCF), in Massillon, Ohio, uses chess to help young people change the course of their futures and leverages her position to make sure everyone she oversees gets the care they deserve. Dove, who earned her Associate in Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior in 2017 and just earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in June, has long garnered the praise of co-workers and the young people in her programs for her innovation and dedication—and in 2023, she was recognized by the Ohio Department of Youth Services, as well.

Life Lessons from a Chessboard

At IRJCF, Dove uses chess to help inmates with critical thinking skills and in making strategic decisions that can be applied to life experiences. After working with the U.S. Chess Federation and a neighboring county using a similar tool, she applied her program to youths with mental health issues, who were in gangs, or who had other aggressive issues.

“As it progresses, [the young people] learn at a deeper level; we’ll put a clock against them while they’re playing. And what they find out is that they can play better without the clock against them. Because when the clock is against them, they make moves that they didn’t have time to think about,” explains Dove. Her participants learn the value of making thought-out choices—and how one hasty decision can put you in checkmate. This revelation can transform a young person’s worldview.

Dove’s favorite part about the program is when, six months later, she meets a former inmate, and they express to her how much her program worked for them. In fact, her chess program is so successful that she has a waitlist.

“I Need to Get into Prison”

But Dove doesn’t just organize chess matches. Her job as chaplain is critical in making sure inmates have access to the religious resources they need. She has extensive knowledge of religious laws and makes sure inmates have their prayer rugs, rosary beads, or other religious items. Dove is also responsible for knowing what’s trending in prisons among the gangs. She needs to know, for example, what colors and codes they use so she can help thwart criminal activity. “People have no idea what we do to keep everyone safe,” she adds, noting that her job as a chaplain is not widely understood.

Many young people are born into gangs, so it’s difficult to dissuade them from becoming entrenched in the lifestyle, Dove says. Instead, the best way to prevent gang association is by preventing youths from being active in them to begin with. “We want to use a prevention method to make [youths] become nonactive,” she says. “That’s what we have to teach them.”

Dove’s dedication to helping others stems back to her childhood. Although she had a stable and supportive home environment, she knew that many other children her age did not. Dove recalls: “I still was exposed to some of the kids that didn’t have the home life I had. … I just had something in my heart for disadvantage. I would befriend those youths and protect those youths and take them home and ask Mom to feed them.”

Her devotion to helping the less fortunate led her to pursue social work, and eventually, she began working with at-risk youths in city schools. Many of these young people didn’t benefit from traditional school because of all the time spent in and out of courtrooms. It led Dove to make a career decision: “Doing that, I found out that a lot of the reasons that [the young people] had challenges was because of parenting. Going further, the parents had spent a number [of years] in prison, some county, and I just made this link that if I’m going to help these youth, … I need to get into prison.”

Finding Excelsior—and Success

Dove changed her career from social work to criminal justice and volunteered within the prison system communities. This was also when she discovered Excelsior University (then College). The flexibility of the online programs was invaluable to Dove while working in the prison system, where she sometimes worked long hours and didn’t always have access to the internet. It was invaluable to Dove that Excelsior advisors and staff made her feel like part of a community where she could grow. She recalls the welcoming feeling of Excelsior: “The advisors work well with me. … I’ve gone to other schools, and I did not get what I was able to get as far as feeling that they had embraced me and that they were holding me up.”

Being able to use knowledge and experiences she picked up in her courses directly in her work was also a benefit for Dove. In fact, one of her instructors was a police officer and shared with Dove similar experiences about dealing with aggressive offenders. She enjoyed that her instructors brought this real-life career experience with them to their classrooms. “What was amazing to me is that they weren’t just teachers, professors, but they actually had worked in these fields. So not only were they teaching us from the book, but they were teaching us by experience,” she says.

Dove’s success with young people at Indian River and with incarcerated men and women in Ohio’s penitentiary system drew the attention of her agency, the Ohio Department of Youth Services, who awarded her the facility’s Employee of the Year Award in April 2023. In October 2023, she also participated in the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ), where she presented about gang violence and the best way to discourage youths from joining gangs.

A Legacy Measured in Hearts, Minds, and Souls

With her degrees in hand, Dove hopes to move into a more governmental role. “I hope to eventually start working on policies. I’m huge on policies. Some of them contradict one another, and they need to be rewritten in some areas,” she says. She feels many laws regarding incarceration and the justice system in general need to be adjusted. Dove hopes to be the person to do it.

With regard to her legacy, Dove wants her work to benefit the young people she works with for their entire lives. She remembers working with a man who was incarcerated for 36 years before DNA exonerated him and inviting him to speak at a conference several years ago. The youths in the audience were so touched by his story that many dropped to their knees, crying.

Sometimes the impact of Dove’s work can be that visceral. “I believe that they’ll tell their children, ‘If it hadn’t been for that Chaplain Dove and all the programs and all the other people, you probably wouldn’t be here, because I would have been doing life in prison.’”

More from Kimberly Dove

What is most rewarding about your job?

“I see change. I see someone that without those programs would probably be back in [a detention facility], but with the support, it gives them drive to want to keep moving forward and not step backwards.”

What would you tell somebody who wanted to go into criminal justice but didn’t know where to start?

“I would probably probe them a little bit to see why they want to go into it, because that makes all the difference. Because you’re going to have so many challenges. And if it’s something external, you’re not going to make it. If you’re doing it because everybody else did it or it’s trending, you’re not going to make it. It has to be something deeper on the inside.”

What’s the Difference Between Cybersecurity Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees?

If you’re considering a career in security management, you might want to earn a cybersecurity master’s degree. With cyberattacks growing in number and complexity, demand for qualified people remains high. If you have a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, technology, or any hard science, you likely have the foundation you need to pursue a master’s in the field, especially if you have some relevant work experience. Here, explore what you can do with the degree and what you will learn in a typical cybersecurity master’s program.

What Can You Do with a Cybersecurity Master’s Degree?

Having a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cybersecurity opens doors to many exciting cybersecurity career paths.

A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity is a four-year undergraduate degree that gives you a foundation of key security management concepts and a technical understanding of the most common types of cyberattacks, risk management, governance and compliance, and computer forensics, along with digital fundamentals in programming, cloud computing, operating systems, networks, and system administration. Most programs include general education classes in the humanities, science, math, and communications. You will be prepared for entry-level positions and can rise through middle management with this degree.

If you would like to move into upper management and even to eventually become a chief information security officer (CISO), or if you want to specialize in a specific cybersecurity practice area, you’ll want to earn your cybersecurity master’s degree. The degree prepares you for specialized cybersecurity jobs, cybersecurity management positions, and consulting roles. In all of them, you have opportunities with a higher earning potential. Example roles, in addition to becoming a CISO, include:

What Will You Learn in a Cybersecurity Master’s Program?

Typical cybersecurity master’s degrees incorporate classes in leadership, talent management, and advanced courses related to cybersecurity. You’ll study network and communication security, crime prevention and post event forensics, expanded legal and compliance issues, and computer security technologies, principles, and processes in depth.

Cybersecurity has become a critical element in business operations, government functions, and our infrastructure, with implications for national security. Protecting vital systems and data needs more than technologies and processes—it needs qualified people.

You can learn more about career and educational opportunities in the field at the National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior University, which brings experts from government, industry, and academia together to promote a stronger cybersecurity workforce and informed leaders for furthering cybersecurity practice in areas such as critical infrastructure, finance, national defense, and health care.

Cyberattacks show no sign of letting up. Indeed, as more of our world is digitized and connected, the threats only grow. And the need for qualified security management and cybersecurity technical expertise is growing along with the threats. Earning your cybersecurity master’s prepares you for a career on the front lines of protecting vital information and systems—along with everyone who depends on them.

What Can an MBA Do for You?

An MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is a versatile tool for career advancement and personal growth. MBA programs teach you about business operations and strategies and also help you hone your leadership skills, which is important if you want to land a high-level management role. This degree can open doors to various industries, including finance, marketing, technology, and health care. Let’s take a look at how an MBA can help you progress in your career, transition to a new field, or start that new business venture.

An MBA is one of the most popular master’s degrees in the United States, and for good reason. It offers myriad benefits to graduates. Here’s what an MBA can do for you:

  • Teach you management skills necessary to make a business successful, including how to be a good leader and manage employees.
  • Allow you to specialize in areas that interest you, such as international business, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, human resources, and more.
  • Give you access to a growing network of business professionals.
  • Allow you to earn some of the highest salaries, like $190,000 for first-year graduates out of an MBA program.
  • Allow you to change careers seamlessly and even branch out internationally with the broad management knowledge you’ll gain.

What Can You Do with an MBA in the Technology Field?

An MBA is undoubtedly an excellent choice for those wishing to enter the field of business, but let’s find out what you can do with an MBA in the technology field.

You can pursue diverse roles that blend business strategy with technological expertise. You could obtain leadership positions, such as a chief technology officer or IT director, where you drive the vision and strategy of a company. You could oversee the development and lifecycle of innovative tech products, offer strategic advice on digital transformation and IT solutions, or help organizations leverage technology for competitive advantages.

An MBA may also allow you to identify growth opportunities and craft strategies to enhance market presence, and you would possess the knowledge to launch and grow your own tech startup company. No matter what area you choose to specialize in, an MBA in technology equips you with the critical skills to lead, innovate, and drive success.

Is an MBA a Good Degree for Health Care?

An MBA can also help you succeed in the health care field. You can take on leadership roles, such as hospital administrator or health care manager, overseeing facilities’ operations, financial health, and strategic direction. Or you could work as a health care consultant, advising organizations on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing patient care.

An MBA can help you oversee medical practices or the business aspects of a pharmaceutical company, shape policies, and manage operations to ensure effective service delivery. Whether your interest lies in administration, consulting, operations, or policymaking, an MBA equips you with the strategic, financial, and managerial skills needed to drive innovation and improve outcomes in the health care industry.

No matter your interest, a Master of Business Administration can open a world of career opportunities. You may even find you can enter fields you never thought of, like technology and health care. An MBA is beneficial in nearly every industry, giving you the tools and knowledge to help advance and grow businesses in this complex economy.

What’s the Difference Between Biology and Health Sciences?

What’s the difference between studying the two-chambered heart of the bristlenose catfish and studying the most effective nutrition education programs for the four-chambered versions belonging to us humans? It’s the difference between biology and health sciences!

Both are fascinating fields under the umbrella of the life sciences that help us to understand our world, and both can lead to a versatile range of careers. But let’s take a closer look at what makes them different—and what you can do with a BS in Health Sciences.

What Is Health Science?

Health science is a broad field that has a broad impact on our everyday health. Applying scientific principles from biology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, and sociology to human health, health science looks at promoting physical and behavioral health and improving overall well-being, including the mental and social aspects of wellness.

While you may run into someone who works as a biologist, you won’t find many self-described health scientists. That’s because the health sciences encompass a wide range of specialties, from public health, where professionals monitor and address community health issues, to clinical fields that involve direct patient care.

Health Sciences vs. Biology: How Are They Different?

The main difference between biology and the health sciences is their focus. Biology is the study of all living organisms. From the microscopic cilia on a bacterial cell to the 25-foot-wide tail of a blue whale. Health science, on other hand, narrows its scope to human health and well-being.

Biology provides the foundation for understanding the human body at a scientific level. Health science then uses that structural knowledge to improve human health outcomes holistically. A biology degree includes exploration into core areas like cell structure, ecology, and genetics, as well as subfields like zoology, botany, or microbiology. Health science degrees cover human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, public health, and health care systems. You might also explore specific areas like informatics, health policy, or health care administration.

What Can You Do with a Health Sciences Degree?

Is a health sciences degree right for you? At the associate, bachelor’s, or graduate level, a degree in health sciences is a great choice for someone who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others and wants a wide range of career options. Some common jobs for health sciences graduates include:

  • Direct care: In these roles, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, medical assistants, and paramedics, you affect a patient’s health on an individual level.
  • Health care administration: This career path focuses on the business and management side of health care and includes areas like hospital administration, health care IT, or public health administration.
  • Research: If you enjoy research and data, jobs in health informatics and public health policy help governments and health care systems recognize patterns and make better decisions.
  • Public health: Making a difference in the health of communities, a public health career could include working as a health educator, as a health program coordinator, or in health communication.

The specific career that’s right for you will depend on your interests, skills, and any further education you pursue. A BS in Health Sciences is also an excellent starting point to higher education either in the health sciences or in scientific or medical fields.

As the character of Dr. Ian Malcolm said in the movie Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way.” And whether your interests lie in paleontology or epidemiology, the fields of biology or health science have an education path for you to pursue.

4 Lessons Charitable Nonprofits Can Learn from the For-Profit Space

Scott Dolan, executive dean of Excelsior’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, published an article for Forbes Nonprofit Council titled “4 Lessons Charitable Nonprofits Can Learn from the For-Profit Space.” In the article, Dolan discusses important lessons that nonprofit organizations can learn from the operations and tactics of for-profit businesses in reaching their goals and fulfilling their purpose-driven missions.

Read the article here.