Mentorship Program Links Alumni with Students, Creating Valuable Connections

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin
Arrow up  Through Excelsior Connects, alumni can find mentors or register to offer mentoring. Participants are able to send introductions to connect, network within their fields or industries, and ask or answer specific questions.

Last summer, students and alumni participated in a pilot of a mentorship program designed to allow students to build first-hand career knowledge and connections, as well as to network. Although the mentorship experience does not guarantee a job, it increases avenues and the potential for students to reach career goals.

Interested students and alumni filled out intake forms or answered questions over the phone to develop a profile that the mentorship program committee used to form matches. Mentees and mentors were matched using algorithms built on mutual areas of interest, including career and program areas, and other preferences sourced from their profiles.

During the pilot program, mentors were expected to share knowledge about an industry, discuss experiences they have faced and overcome, serve as a career guide (but not help the student find employment), and give direction as a trusted individual. Though not required, mentees could log their mentoring experiences by keeping a journal and they could periodically check in with Tammy Spenziero, the director of the Career Readiness Center. Spenziero worked with Scott Dolan, dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and representatives from Alumni Engagement to develop and now lead the mentorship program.

“No student should go without the critical human connection and opportunities that mentorship provides.” –Tammy Spenziero, Director, Career Readiness Center

Dolan remarked about the success of the program, saying, “Our students often come to us with the goal of advancing or changing their careers, and mentorship can play an important role in career development. Mentors provide valuable advice, help students develop their skills, act as a sounding board for students to test ideas, and enable students to expand their networks. This particular pilot program enabled us to engage with our alumni in new ways. Who better to provide advice to our existing students than our alumni who have translated their Excelsior degree into successful careers themselves.”

“Mentors play an important role in the academic and professional growth of students…Engaging with a mentor can help increase their confidence, align their expectations with the realities of life and work, and further their growth and development…No student should go without the critical human connection and opportunities that mentorship provides,” says Spenziero.

One mentor who has played such an important role in a student’s life is U.S. Navy veteran and retired teacher Thomas Snee, who graduated in 1998 from Regents College with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. He volunteered to participate in the mentorship program with several goals in mind. He wanted to share his background, maintain regular contact with his student mentee, and help ensure the student’s success. Snee was paired with Ashley Gammon, a loan officer who was in the final months of the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts program. She earned her degree in November 2020.

“I suggested she take the futuristic view in the value of her Excelsior degree—how and where it will lead in the future, short- or long-term. In short, giving assurances that time spent on the numerous papers, in ‘meetings,’ and other factors enhances her persona as a person,” said Snee.

Snee and Gammon kept in close contact, sharing emails and frequently talking on the phone. Gammon recalls the relationship as being very beneficial and friendly, saying she enjoyed having the opportunity to bounce ideas off Snee and having his wisdom and guidance available.

“While there is quite the age difference between us, he gave me such great insight and wisdom,” says Gammon. “I loved [that] I had someone who was so intelligent and a published author to look over my resume and give gentle guidance on it. I gained a friend. We now email all the time and talk on the phone about once a month.”

The pilot of the mentorship program completed successfully with most of the mentees and mentors having positive reviews. The committee plans to continue the three-month model of the program, which is open and running for anyone interested. The committee has also incorporated Excelsior Connects, the alumni engagement platform, to allow mentees and mentors to seamlessly correspond during the mentorship experience.

“We have witnessed Excelsior alumni open doors to expanded job opportunities and new professional pursuits for each other and for current students through mentoring,” says Jamie Hicks-Furgang, executive director of development and alumni engagement. “Now, with Excelsior Connects as our platform, we are increasing opportunities for more formal mentorship and even greater connection among the alumni and student body…These types of connections are incredibly valuable for career and personal growth and are also personally rewarding for both alumni and students alike.”

 

New Degree Program Prepares LPNs and LVNs for Career Advancement

Posted on by Maria C. Sparks

The newly added LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses a pathway to career advancement. By enrolling in this program, LPNs and LVNs can earn both an Associate in Applied Science and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in less time than it would take to complete each degree program separately.

After earning the associate degree in nursing, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, become licensed, and begin their professional nursing practice before conferral of the bachelor’s degree. With the opportunity to become RNs midway through the program, students will be able to take advantage of different employment opportunities and take on the new role of a professional nurse while earning their bachelor’s in nursing. They can also gain a significant increase in wages that comes with RN licensure.

With the opportunity to become RNs midway through the program, students will be able to take advantage of different employment opportunities and take on the new role of a professional nurse while earning their bachelor’s.

Registered nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projections through 2029. The RN workforce is expected to grow from 3 million in 2019 to 3.3. million in 2029 due to an aging population, nurse retirements, health care reform, and other factors.

The LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program provides LPNs and LVNs with the clinical skills and practice experiences they need to grow their nursing careers and expand their role in the delivery of quality patient care. All courses are online, except for two hybrid courses in which students engage in online course activities and complete a live clinical experience. This structure makes the program a good fit with the work schedules of LPNs and LVNs who are looking to balance the pursuit of a degree with their professional and personal responsibilities.

In the combined degree program, students earn an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing after completing all associate degree requirements and proceed seamlessly to the bachelor’s nursing component. They must have an active RN license to complete the bachelor’s degree requirements.

“In many instances, employers have expressed a preference to hire baccalaureate-prepared nurses or nurses who are enrolled in a baccalaureate program, and Excelsior’s LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program expands career opportunities for LPNs and LVNs,” says Mary Lee Pollard, dean of the School of Nursing.

 

Student Michelle Morrow Applies Study.com Credit to Her Excelsior Degree Program

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Students have many options for taking online courses and applying them toward their degree. One option is Study.com, an online education platform that helps learners succeed academically and close skills gaps.

Study.com’s online courses, short animated video lessons, and study tools make learning simple for over 30 million students, teachers, and working professionals. The online platform also offers homework help, test preparation help, and career planning. A blog, FAQ, and interactive resources also help make staying on track easy.

Excelsior student Michelle Morrow, of Beacon, New York, has taken nine Study.com courses as she pursues a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. So far, Morrow has applied 27 credits from Study.com toward her degree. She has taken Study.com courses in healthcare informatics, earth science, health care finance and budgeting, psychology, and strategic human resource management, and added that credit to credit transferred from a prior institution, earned through UExcel exams, and awarded for a professional certification.

In November 2020, she began a new job as the manager of coding reimbursement for two hospitals within the Northwell Health organization, after holding various leadership roles in radiology. Morrow is on track to earn her degree in August 2021.

Her experience with Study.com shows a route students can take to pursue their educational goals. Check out what Morrow says about her time with Study.com and Excelsior below.Learn more about all of Excelsior College’s Health Science programs.

Q: How did you find out about Excelsior College?

A: My former boss got his bachelor’s degree through Excelsior.

Q: How did you find out about Study.com?

A: My friend was using Study.com to study for a UExcel exam, and the Study.com advisor explained that Excelsior is affiliated with them and as long as we got prior approval from our Excelsior advisor, we could take courses that would transfer credits that would satisfy Excelsior requirements.

Q: What do you like best about Study.com?

A: I love Study.com! It has allowed me to take nine courses over the last 8 months because I can fit it into my already busy schedule.

Q: How did you end up in your current career?

A: I started as a mammography/radiology technologist in 1992 and parlayed my clinical experience into a supervisory position. I continued to grow into different radiology leadership roles until November of 2020, when I was advanced into this current position, which oversees the connection of clinical and financial components of patient care.

Alumni Receive Awards for Achievements Vol 2

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Four alumni were honored for their outstanding achievements on July 8, during the Alumni Association Annual Meeting hosted by the Alumni Leadership Council. The meeting was held online to allow the broadest possible participation by Excelsior alumni.

The alumni award recipients, Lloyd Conway, Cynthia Wanek, Scott Meier, and Gregg Smith, accepted their awards virtually.

Lloyd Conway was selected as the recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding academic, professional, personal, and community contributions that are representative of our graduates. “Being chosen for this honor gives me a feeling of connectedness to the community of like-minded souls whose academic pilgrimage brought them to Excelsior…Our journeys would not have been possible without Excelsior, and I am sure that all of us are as grateful as I am for our alma mater,” he says about the Alumni Achievement Award.

This Carrie B. Lenburg Award is presented to an outstanding nursing graduate in recognition of the accomplishments and vision of Dr. Carrie Lenburg, coordinator of the Regents College Nursing Program from 1973 to 1990. The award is presented to a nurse who demonstrates a commitment to nursing education as well as to academic and professional accomplishments in the field of nursing. This year’s recipient, Cynthia Wanek, is a lifelong learner and credits her achievements to living by the motto “Ever Upward.”

Scott Meier was selected as the recipient of the C. Wayne Williams Award, which is named after the College’s first president and presented in recognition of outstanding public service and community involvement by a graduate. Meier believes that the legacy we leave is greater defined by those we help rather than by what we’ve acquired. “They [Excelsior College] took all my various experiences and validated them, and in turn, valued me,” he says. “I’m forever grateful for Excelsior College and the alumni that keep the school’s mission of supporting adult learners at the heart of their culture.”

“It all counts. The key is to start, succeed with that first goal, and then build on it to the next. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” –Gregg Smith

Alumni Service Award recipient Gregg Smith has been giving back to Excelsior for many years, in a variety of ways, including his longstanding service as member of faculty from 1983 to present and the establishment of the Gregg and Lisa Smith Technology Scholarship Fund. The Alumni Service Award recognizes outstanding service to Excelsior College, including efforts in advocacy, recruitment, or outreach and service as a role model to others in helping the College achieve its overarching goals.

Reflecting on his contributions, Smith says, “It all counts. The key is to start, succeed with that first goal, and then build on it to the next. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

Read more about the recipients:

Lloyd Conway: Alumni Achievement Award

Lloyd Conway, of Lansing, Michigan, is from an Army family dating back to the American Revolution and is the first in his family to graduate college. Conway’s Excelsior degree made him eligible for the MI Civil Service test (on which he scored in the 100th percentile) and a 20-year career in public service that would have been otherwise denied. Conway has been selected for many honors and awards and has dedicated his life’s work to the improvement of his community. Conway’s post-Excelsior career has included being an adjunct college instructor in a nontraditional degree-completion program. His commitment to nontraditional education continues to be a driving force in his life and career. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts from Excelsior, Conway earned a MAT from Wayne State University.

Cynthia Wanek: Carrie B. Lenburg Award

While some announce retirement at age 62, Cynthia Wanek, of Crete, Nebraska, announced her new position at a Magnet status medical center. Wanek enrolled at Excelsior on the phone from a cancer treatment hospital while supporting her father. After his passing, her mother’s lifelong heart condition required more of her time and Wanek took over most of her parents’ affairs. She persevered against the odds as a nontraditional student to become a nurse. Her goal was a nursing job at her local critical access hospital, and she was ultimately hired in a small hospital. Wanek holds advanced licenses and finds meaning in direct, bedside patient care. She prides herself in giving comfort, hope, and courage through the end of life. A graduate of Excelsior with an associate degree in nursing, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska.

J. Scott Meier: C. Wayne Williams Award

From his first job delivering newspapers to working in agriculture while growing up and later in the food service industry, to his career in the Navy and all that has followed, Scott Meier, of Austin, Texas, has been in roles where he has served others. He is a steadfast volunteer through civic involvement, churches, community theater, fundraisers for cancer, and youth coaching. Meier did not plan his life around serving but understood the value that was modeled in the small community in which he was raised and instilled in him at a young age. Meier is involved in many activities outside of his professional position to advance the capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal departments. Meier earned a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Excelsior and a Master of Business Administration from University of Missouri.

Gregg Smith: Alumni Service Award

Gregg Smith, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, has been affiliated with Excelsior since 1983 when he secured a six-figure grant to start development of technology degree programs at Regents External Degrees Program (now Excelsior College). Smith is an active member of several advisory boards, including New Jersey Institute of Technology, Hudson Valley Community College, and National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction. He also founded a nonprofit organization that conducts several charitable events in the community and has raised more than $150,000 per year. A graduate of Excelsior with a Bachelor of Science, Smith encourages students and alumni to give back to the College in any way that they can.

 

2020–2021 Graduates at a Glance

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

28

Twenty-eight students earned more than one degree during the academic year.

86

Excelsior’s Class of 2021 includes 86 students from outside the United States, the most being from Canada (17), followed by the United Kingdom (13).

5,840

There are 5,840 graduates, and 5,754 graduates are from the United States; the most graduates—1,168—come from New York followed by 504 from Texas.

36

The average age of the Class of 2021 is 36.

29

Twenty-nine percent of our graduates are members of the U.S. military.

74

This year’s oldest graduate is a 74-year-old male from Carencro, Louisiana, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.

 

“In These Unprecedented Times …”

Posted on by Caitlin Abram
Rethinking the work-at-home life, one year later

More than a full year into the pandemic, the deluge of content touting the best ways to create a home office, offering Zoom-ready makeup tutorials, and the many, many, articles containing the words “self-care” have slowed to a trickle as the world has reached the final stage of its collective mourning for normal life: Acceptance.

By now, when it comes to working from home, you probably fall into one of three different categories:

  • You are thriving! Management will have to rip the sweatpants from your cold, dead body.
  • You hate it! You’re not your best professional self at home and pine for the structure and camaraderie of in-office life.
  • You vacillate wildly! You both revel in the lack of commute and curse the all but obliterated lines between personal and professional time as well as the circus of partners, children, and pets you have to battle to get any actual work done.

No matter how you feel about working from home, chances are you may not be going back to the office any time soon and many organizations are re-evaluating their need for physical office space even after the working world resumes business as usual. After what feels like a lifetime of settling into “office 2.0,” most workers have realized that the daily grind hasn’t changed, it’s just moved in with them. Let’s revisit some of the most repeated remote work tips from the early days of the pandemic and examine if they still hold true or, with a little perspective, if we’ve learned better.

Turn “Self-Care” Inside Out

First, let’s reflect on what the majority of these early content pieces failed to mention and acknowledge—the true luck and privilege of having gainful employment with the ability to work from home during an era when so many others have not and do not. This gap highlights a tremendous inequality. A June 2020 Stanford University survey reports that higher paid, white collar workers were able to easily transition to a remote work environment while lower paid workers in industries like agriculture or hospitality, or those who lack adequate internet and a suitable home environment, were being left behind.

This past year has been one of difficulty and instability for a large percentage of the world and mutual aid societies have become a new way for people to help and connect. Mutual aid groups help communities share support and resources to care for each other in times of need. Working from home, and the pandemic in general, has kept many people in their communities during the day. Try becoming a more active part of your own. Everyone has something valuable to give, so find out where the most need in your hometown is and find out how you can help. Afterall, sometimes caring for others is the best care for yourself.

The Pants Paradox

When offices first went remote, one of the most common pieces of advice concerned our pants. To maintain some mental semblance of normality, countless tips advised workers to continue to dress as if one was still going into the office. While this advice may have been followed at first, the sartorial mullet familiar to most Zoom-equipped workers consisting of business from the waist up and party from the waist down has, by now, become a well-worn cultural meme. As work dress norms relaxed, corporate leadership was left wondering whether a dress code was outdated and even necessary when working remotely.

If you’ve found yourself sporting the same old hoodie for too many days in a row, consider changing up your wardrobe. You might be surprised at how different you feel.

Of course, what you wear all comes down to personal preference and the industry in which you work. The last year, though, has proved that productivity and “professionalism” isn’t necessarily as tied to what we wear as we thought. What’s most important is your intention starting the day and the act of getting dressed in a way that makes you feel “ready for work,” whether that’s putting on a freshly pressed shirt or changing from your night pajama pants into your day pajama pants. Studies from Scientific American and the Harvard Business Review confirm that what we wear does affect our mood and even our posture. If you’ve found yourself sporting the same old hoodie for too many days in a row, consider changing up your wardrobe. You might be surprised at how different you feel.

Tipping the “Work-Life Balance”

Mercer, an HR consulting firm, conducted eight surveys between April and October of 2020 and found that nearly 90 percent of the more than 300 U.S. employers surveyed reported that productivity was consistent with or above pre-pandemic rates. This is, of course, great news for businesses and shows employees have a remarkable ability to adapt, but boiling down the past year’s experience to “productivity data” is only looking at half the story.

As much as the workforce was urged to find a healthy work-life balance during the pandemic, the phrase itself betrays the paradox when you have to work where you live. A Society for Human Resource Management study notes that nearly 70 percent of professionals who transitioned to working from home during the pandemic report working on the weekends and 45 percent report working more hours during the week than before. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) calls this extra work “hidden overtime” in its September 2020 report on the remote workforce.

The pandemic has made people recognize that work-life balance just looks different now and that’s going to have to be okay. Traditional office life confined people of very different personalities and preferences into “one size fits all” ways of working, dressing, and living. One of the positives of leaving that behind has been finding new opportunities for flexibility, introspection, and discovering that left to your own devices, you’re actually morning person, or you get hungry for lunch at 3 p.m., or that you’d rather take more breaks during the day and work later into the evening. Needless to say, that despite everything that’s happened, we’ve kept learning!

We asked some of our colleagues at Excelsior College who are working from home what they’ve learned about themselves, how they like to work, and what advice they would travel back in time to give their 2020 selves. Here are some of the comments we received:

  • “I love working from home, and I like the improved collaboration!”
  • “Work-life balance is only as good as you make it.”
  • “Designated space is important.”
  • “Take a break.”
  • “Buy a really, really good desk chair.”
  • “If working at home for the long haul, it’s important to have a plan!”
  • “I’ve gotten in touch with my self-motivation.”
  • “Pay attention to food.”
  • “Enjoy the flexibility.”
  • “Find a work buddy if you can and meet up a few times a week.”

    •  

    Q&A with Catherine Seaver

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin
    Dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies
    Arrow up

    Catherine Seaver began her career with Excelsior College in July 2019 as associate dean of business, science, and technology. In December 2020, she became dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies.

    Seaver has extensive experience in higher education. Prior to Excelsior, she was vice president of academic and student affairs at Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, Massachusetts. For 14 years, she worked at Manchester Community College in Manchester, Connecticut, as director of the business, engineering, and technology division; interim associate dean of student affairs; and department chair of engineering and technology.

    Seaver earned a PhD in leadership with a specialization in education from the University of the Cumberlands. She also has an MS in educational technology from Eastern Connecticut State University and an MS in computer and information systems from the University of Phoenix. Photo: Mike Hemberger

     
    What do you enjoy most about Excelsior College?
    At the core is the mission of the school and how it drives what we do and how we do it. It lets us give students opportunities for higher education and degree completion that they wouldn’t get elsewhere. Our mission and the CARES credo [guiding principles for employees: Each Excelsior employee is Compassionate, Agile, Respectful, and committed to Excellence and Service] empower faculty and staff to do what they can to help students be successful, advocate for them, and support them in ways not found elsewhere.

    I also enjoy the people I work with. Not only are they passionate about their work and supporting students, they are good, nice, and fun people. I felt at home so quickly when I came to Excelsior. And as we have continued to work during the [COVID-19] pandemic, everyone has been so wonderful and supporting of each other.

    How would you describe your leadership style?
    Foremost is trust. I hope that people trust that I have their backs, that I am looking out for their well-being, and that I want them to be successful. And it is important that I trust those around me.

    I try to remove barriers for people so they can do their jobs. It is important to me that others feel comfortable around me and there is open communication. Also, I am an optimist and I think that is important when leading others. This doesn’t mean that I don’t see challenges and obstacles, and that I don’t recognize failures; it means that I look for ways to get around obstacles and overcome challenges. And if someone or something isn’t working, then we should find a way to fix things.

    How is online education changing? How are you preparing Excelsior College to meet those challenges?
    I have been involved in online education since the very beginning, being one of the first to teach online at a community college in 2002. At the beginning, we tried to do what we do in the physical classroom. Now we know that the way we learn online is different, so the way we design our online courses needs to be different.

    It is also great to see growing acceptance of online education. I’ve always found that both teaching online and being an online student are challenging, rewarding, and have the potential for deeper learning than in the physical classroom. If you think about it, students can go to a classroom, sit in a chair, daydream, or fall asleep—but they get credit for attending. You can’t fake your participation in an online class. If you aren’t participating, it is obvious. It is not unusual for students to say that they had to work a lot harder in an online class.

    One of the challenges we face at Excelsior is from competition. The pandemic has forced many schools that were not embracing distance learning to open their minds. Now that they have overcome hesitancy to teach online, many will continue offering at least some of their courses online. We need to make sure that our courses continue to be dynamic and engaging. We have the advantage of having been teaching online all along, and we need to make sure that students know about our experience.

    In my role as dean, I need to make sure that our faculty and staff have the resources they need to continue to update our existing courses and develop new programs and courses to meet the needs of our students.

    What skills can students expect to gain in Excelsior’s undergraduate programs?
    We design our curriculum to provide students with the skills they need to meet their goals and be successful in their careers. We do this by providing not only the subject matter skills such as accounting, engineering, health science, etc., but also by being aware of other skills that employers are looking for and including those in the curriculum. We know that employers are looking for graduates who can think critically, be creative, solve problems, communicate, and work as part of a team. We build these components into our courses and include them in our general education and career competencies, which are also addressed in the courses. We also focus on outcome assessment to monitor how well we are doing this—how do we know that students are learning what we want them to learn.

    How did your own college education affect you?
    I had a nontraditional start to my college education. I graduated from high school at age 16 and went to a community college for a semester. At that time, I thought I wanted to be an accountant, so I focused on accounting courses. When I transferred to Miami University of Ohio, I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian. I learned in those science and biology courses that I am not good at memorizing things. By the end of my sophomore year, it was obvious that I had to change majors due to poor grades in the science and biology courses. My grades were good in math and physics, so I changed to manufacturing engineering technology. That degree has served me well and it gave me the start I needed. My subsequent degrees were all online or hybrid, which was what got me to where I am now. My experience in online master’s and doctorate courses gave me our student’s perspective, which has been invaluable. I was a single parent with a full-time job, staying up late after the kids went to bed so I could participate in online discussions and write papers. I was the parent at soccer games sneaking in a few minutes of studying before an exam. I appreciate the challenges of our students because I have been there myself.

    I thought that college was a required part of education just like high school for most of my childhood. I am aware of the advantages this gave me and have always tried to be particularly supportive of first-generation students who do not have the support and encouragement of their family as I did. As a college, we have to make sure that we have the support systems and services in place to help our students be successful no matter their story.

     

    Lopa Chakraborty Navigates the Changing Role of HR

    Posted on by Maria C. Sparks

    The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on the workplace brought challenges to all levels of an organization. As an HR professional, Lopa Chakraborty addresses those challenges directly as a partner to the leadership team and a coach in decision making.

    Chakraborty, the human resources manager at the University Center for Academic and Workforce Development within the Research Foundation for the State University of New York, has been working in HR for more than 15 years. In her current role, her responsibilities include recruitment, performance management, learning and development, and employee relations.

    She is also an interpreter of regulations, seeker of information, booster of employee morale, and proponent of employee engagement.

    Stress Reliever:
    Painting
    Reason for MBA:
    To rebuild her HR career after moving from India to the United States
    Volunteer Time:
    Board Member of Utsab Inc.
    Medical Reserve Corps in Schenectady and Albany Counties

    “There are so many little things we need to think about, so that’s what makes being in charge of implementing policies and procedures so interesting,” says Chakraborty, of Niskayuna, New York. A planner by nature and by necessity in her career, she has to think of every possible scenario before the implementation of a policy, procedure, or decision that affects the workforce.

    Except that now, in a world with COVID-19, regulations and guidance change quickly, which makes it difficult to plan for how to do things. Her mantra these days is “Don’t get too comfortable with change because as soon as you get comfortable, it will change again.”

    To navigate these changes, she leans on the skills she acquired while earning an MBA from Excelsior College in 2018. “An MBA is not only a degree,” says Chakraborty. “It’s like a tool kit or toolbox; it has the different tools you need.” For example, she draws on her knowledge and experience with operations management. “If a manager comes to you asking for help, how can you frame [the guidance] in a way that makes sense in a data-driven way?”

    “It just helps you make your case stronger. You are not just saying it—you have read about it, researched it, you know what you are talking about.” –Lopa Chakraborty

    Chakraborty joined the Research Foundation as an HR specialist in 2018, and she was recently promoted to HR manager, which is her current position. The MBA, she says, has opened doors to career growth. Formerly a lead recruiter for Excelsior College, Chakraborty pursued and earned her MBA while working for the College.

    The MBA gives her confidence that she leans on when she is involved in decision making. “It just helps you make your case stronger,” she says. “You are not just saying it—you have read about it, researched it, you know what you are talking about.”

    She also has the self-awareness and confidence to know she is learning every day. For more than a year, Chakraborty has been helping people adjust to and thrive at working from home while she too was working from her home office—with a spouse also working at home and a son spending some of his first year of college learning from home. She has addressed challenges that come with working remotely, including maintaining employee morale and engagement.

    In thinking back on what she and others have gone through during the pandemic, Chakraborty says what she has learned is patience. She has also learned to temper expectations for the future. “If the last year has taught us anything, it’s to not look too far ahead.” Still, she can and does make plans, such as for helping colleagues transition back to the workplace. She just makes sure those plans come with a contingency plan.

     

    Steven Corey Moves from Entry-Level to Nursing Leadership

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    Nursing was not at the forefront of Steven Corey’s mind when he began looking for a career. It wasn’t until the Scotia, New York, native got a job as a patient care technician with Albany Medical Center in 2007 that he realized he wanted to stay in the world of health care.

    He earned his associate degree in nursing from Maria College a year later, in 2008. After a few years in trauma nursing, Corey was promoted to a patient care coordinator. This new clinical leadership role carried a lot of responsibility, but Corey was ready for it. “I loved the work. Being a leader in a department full of incredible talent inspired me,” he says.

    First career:
    Restaurant industry
    Favorite part about Excelsior:
    Interacting with peers on discussion boards
    Personal interests:
    “The Walking Dead” television show and “Star Wars”

    By 2013, Corey had been covering night shifts in the Emergency Department for some time and was ready to apply for the position of nightshift assistant nurse manager. As it turned out, he was declined for the role due to lack of education. Corey then learned of Albany Medical Center’s partnership with Excelsior College and decided to take the plunge into online learning so he could advance his career. “The process of enrollment and setting up a course schedule was surprisingly easy. So, I jumped right in. Excelsior offered eight-week courses, which allowed me to expedite my effort,” he says and adds that working with his Excelsior academic advisor and the education team at Albany Medical Center was a smooth process.

    “And whether it’s budget-related, policy-related, or regulation-related, I’m learning something new every day.” –Steven Corey

    It didn’t take long for Corey to master navigating Excelsior’s online courses. In less than a year after enrolling, Corey earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014 and decided to pursue a master’s degree with Excelsior. He earned a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems in 2017 and soon found himself on a path to nursing leadership.

    After earning a master’s degree, Corey first became a nurse manager for the medical ICU and, as he puts it, he “had a blast.” He enjoyed his relationships with his coworkers and spent a little under two years gaining experience as a manager and doing administrative work. In January 2019, the chief nursing officer asked Corey to return to the Emergency Department to become the interim assistant vice president of emergency services, trauma, and mental health. He was appointed to the position in October 2019.

    As an assistant vice president, Corey has a challenging job. Problems are on a larger scale, he says, noting that looking after several different units, instead of just one, makes things more complicated. It’s also what makes things so interesting. “It [a problem that arises] changes the thinking a little bit, it changes the strategy a little bit, and it challenges you to research and learn every single day… And whether it’s budget-related, policy-related, or regulation-related, I’m learning something new every day,” says Corey. He also points out that his job involves a lot of self-discovery, saying he learns about himself and his capabilities with each new opportunity.

    Corey says being in leadership has caused him to be a better mentor to the nurses and nursing leaders. “It’s about building the next group of leaders and promoting your team,” he says. The changing times of health care make it an exciting time to be on a nursing team, making on-the-spot decisions and trying to problem-solve issues not previously encountered. “It’s just a cool place to be,” says Corey.
     

    Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present

    Posted on by Maria C. Sparks
    Arrow up  “Keeping a Tradition Alive” by Len Tantillo, 2011, Oil on Canvas, Collection of Excelsior College, 24 x 40 in.

    In honor of Excelsior College’s 40th anniversary in 2011, Excelsior President John F. Ebersole commissioned artist Len Tantillo to create a commemorative work. The painting, “Keeping a Tradition Alive,” shows traveling educators in the 19th century, an historical nod to how Excelsior College brings educational opportunities to students. The painting pays homage to those who pursue learning as well as to those who provide the education. Tantillo’s research on the lyceum movement, an early form of organized adult education in the United States, influenced his concept and led to a direct connection with Excelsior as an online institution. When asked what he hoped people would take away from his work, Tantillo said: “The idea, at the most ground level, that people’s desire to learn is universal and timeless. If the desire is strong enough, you’ll make time to do it.”

     

    Excelsior College and University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education Partner to Offer Students More Opportunities

    Posted on by Erin Coufal

    Albany, New York — Excelsior College is building a learning ecosystem to offer seamless pathways for students and award college credit for certificate programs. University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education (UCI DCE) is partnering with Excelsior to offer students earning evaluated certificates an opportunity to convert that professional certificate to credit in an Excelsior degree program.

    In addition, through this partnership, Excelsior students and alumni will have the opportunity to enroll in the UCI DCE certificate programs to continue their lifelong learning.

    Excelsior College was founded in 1971 as the Regents External Degree Program, which evaluated credit earned from college courses, proficiency examinations, military educational programs, and the assessment of knowledge gained from experience and nontraditional approaches to education to help students achieve degree completion. While evolving to offer degree programs fully online, Excelsior has maintained its commitment to aggregating credit for previous learning accomplishments and awarding credit for approved workplace and military training, health care credentials, and industry certifications.

    “The partnership between Excelsior and UCI DCE represents a shift in higher education to a larger educational ecosystem,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College. “The collaboration will allow students of both institutions flexibility in customizing the best learning experience to meet their needs.”

    UCI DCE was established in 1962 and has served the lifelong learning and career development needs of individuals and organizations. It offers over 80 industry-relevant certificates and specialized studies programs.

    “The learning pathway partnership between the University of California Irvine’s Division of Continuing Education (UCI) and Excelsior College is a wonderful example of the kind of inter-institutional cooperation that foreshadows a major trend in higher education,” said Gary Matkin, dean of continuing education and vice provost of career pathways. “Built on the need for students to have facilitated on-ramps to learning that create value to them over their life transitions, the partnership combines the strength of UCI’s credit certificate programs and Excelsior’s long tradition of innovation in degree completion programs. Students can start with a UCI program gaining credit for it toward an Excelsior degree or start with the degree and enhance it with a UCI certificate program. As always, for both institutions, students are at the center of this partnership. We hope this partnership will be a model for other institutions as higher education evolves to meet students’ needs.”

    More information about the partnership is available at excelsior.edu/uci.

     

    # # #

    Media Contact Excelsior College:

    Erin Coufal, ecoufal@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8498

     

    ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

    Excelsior College is an accredited, not-for-profit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college 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.

     

     

    The Other Side of Dentistry

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    Virtual Internship Program Steers Merideth Sweeney Toward Her Dream Job

     

    In spring 2020, Excelsior College student Merideth Sweeney of Woodland Hills, California, began a virtual internship with Posturedontics, a dental ergonomics company focused on evidence-based ergonomic therapies for dental professionals. Little did she know that the internship would connect her to a new career. Through this internship, she met dentist Michael Goldberg of Practice Perfect Systems, a health care practice management consulting firm based in California.

    When her internship through Excelsior came to an end in November 2020, Goldberg asked Sweeney to join his firm. Sweeney, a former dental hygienist, now works with Goldberg in the company’s marketing department, helping dental practices build and grow their businesses. She focuses on developing and marketing resources for other companies to turn to when they have questions about dental practices. “We are taking all the biggest dental problems that dentists are facing right now,” she says. “We are picking things that we actually believe in, that we believe will help, to solve the issues that are facing dental practices.”

    Sweeney knows the dental field. For 20 years, she was a dental hygienist until a severe injury left her unable to work for two years. It was then that she decided it was time to return to school to pursue a different path to support herself. She returned to Excelsior College where she had previously earned a bachelor’s in health sciences to obtain a master’s in health care administration. She’s on track to finish the program in February 2021.

    Sweeney’s studies and experiences in Excelsior’s Master of Science in Health Care Administration program fit in with her current role with Practice Perfect Systems. “I like [that] I’m in marketing. I love the psychology behind how someone decides to purchase an item…I like to influence people or inspire people to believe in the things that I do,” she says, referring to being able to help other companies choose the service best for them.

    So far, Sweeney has used much of what she has learned—particularly new knowledge about one-on-one coaching—in her role. She’s already put some of her knowledge to the test by writing content for an online employee handbook that other dental companies can reference for answers to common best practice questions. And at Goldberg’s suggestion, in January 2021, Sweeney started a three-to-six-month leadership program with John Maxwell, a popular and influential leadership expert. Sweeney says she’s hoping to glean several things out of the program: “becoming more comfortable speaking in front of groups, being able to communicate my message easier, not to be so intimidated, and also to learn how to delegate more.”

    Sweeney advises others that to land a job outside of clinical dentistry, it’s important to increase your education in administration or marketing. Because Sweeney took a virtual internship while pursuing her master’s degree with Excelsior, she was able to contact the company that would eventually become her dream job and is now helping other dental companies succeed.

     

    More from Merideth Sweeney:

     

    What is the best piece of business advice you have ever received?

    The best piece of business advice I have ever received is to hire personnel based on their attitude first and then for skills and traits… An employee’s attitude and behavior are tell-tale signs of their productivity level, how well they work with their fellow employees, and the regard for their organization. Evaluating these characteristics is possible by hiring employees on a short-term basis and giving them a project to complete.

    What are the most important traits/skills for someone to succeed in your field?

    Some of the essential traits/skills for someone to succeed in the consulting field is the curiosity to learn, seeing the big picture, being open-minded to incorporating business ideas and innovations originating outside the dental industry, and effective communication/relationship building. There needs to be a desire to learn and improve your skills because business changes daily, and the need to pivot and adapt is crucial.

    Best book/podcast/e-newsletter that is relevant to your industry?

    Dentistry’s Morning Briefing e-newsletter by Dentistry IQ magazine is a daily roundup of timely content related to the dental industry and links to informative posts and articles. Practice Perfect Systems’ consulting niche focuses on dental sleep medicine, so the podcast by Jamison Spencer, DMD, MS, called The Airway, Sleep & TMD is timely and relevant.