Meet the Team Behind Excelsior’s DBA Program

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Excelsior University’s DBA Leadership Team

As Excelsior University launches its Doctor of Business Administration program, two leaders of Excelsior’s School of Business have stepped forward to help shape the program for working professionals: Dean Brian Allen and Associate Dean Leah Sciabarrasi.

Sciabarrasi brings extensive experience in online education, academic program development, and student support. Allen has spent more than 20 years leading projects, operations, and technology initiatives in industries from IT and e-commerce to renewable energy, telecommunications, and international business.

Allen and Sciabarrasi are leading the development of Excelsior’s DBA program with a shared vision: creating a scholar-practitioner experience that combines academic rigor with practical application. Designed for experienced professionals, the program centers around applied research, data-informed decision-making, leadership development, and dissertation support from the earliest stages of study.

How to Create a High-Touch, Low-Residency DBA Program

From the beginning, Allen and Sciabarrasi knew they wanted students to leave the program with more than just a piece of paper. They wanted graduates to emerge as confident leaders capable of solving complex problems through research-backed decision-making.

“We want students to graduate with a very future-focused lens,” Sciabarrasi says. “We want them to be able to translate the lessons learned from their research … and dissertation work into the workplace, and we want them to go out there and be successful leaders as a result of this entire experience.”

A major focus of the program design has been student success. Sciabarrassi explains that many doctoral students get stuck in “ABD” (all but dissertation) status, completing coursework but never finishing their dissertation. To prevent students from indefinite ABD status, Excelsior’s DBA program builds dissertation support into the student experience from the start.

Instead of waiting until the end of the program to begin dissertation work, students begin developing ideas early, working alongside faculty mentors and dissertation committee members. Key milestones are embedded into coursework so that assignments build toward the dissertation.

“It’s work that’s being done intentionally,” Sciabarrasi explains, “so [students] can build some of that knowledge and build some of that work into the final product.”

Allen describes the DBA as a scholar-practitioner degree built specifically for experienced professionals who already possess industry expertise. The goal, he says, is to help students combine their professional knowledge with research skills to create innovative solutions within their organizations.

“These are folks who are already practicing in the workplace,” Allen says. “Now we want to give [them] the academic research capacities to say, ‘What if I applied this theory to these practical principles and applications so I can come up with a new solution?’”

Allen and Sciabarrasi complemented one another throughout the design process. Sciabarrasi brought deep institutional knowledge and expertise in online learning, student engagement, and program operations. Allen contributed his experience leading other DBA programs, along with a deep knowledge of higher education and industry leadership.

Allen jokes that if they had to summarize their contributions in a single line, associate deans “do all the hard work,” while deans focus on big-picture strategy. But humor aside, both agree that their work relationship is highly collaborative and built around student success.

The Crucible of Competing Ideas

Allen and Sciabarrasi explain that their differences in perspective became opportunities to strengthen the DBA program rather than obstacles to overcome.

“It’s more about bringing our experiences to the table and then just being open to figuring out which one we should select,” Allen says.

He says that the variety of backgrounds represented on the program’s development team have improved the final product. While some members have brought institutional knowledge, others have contributed experience as dissertation chairs, coaches, and leaders of other doctoral programs. The team regularly evaluates what worked elsewhere, where common pitfalls exist, and how to proactively support students before problems emerge.

“It isn’t going to be perfect out of the gate,” Allen says. “What I want folks to realize is it’s going to be iterative over time. … That’s the kind of thing we’re asking students to do, so we should expect the same of ourselves.”

Envisioning the Excelsior Scholar-Practitioner

Although the program is just beginning, Sciabarrasi and Allen already have a clear vision for graduates of the DBA program.

Students will learn to not only solve problems but also question assumptions, evaluate evidence critically, and make thoughtful, data-informed decisions.

“We want students to know what questions to ask,” Sciabarrasi says. “Sometimes people lead with their guts, and they don’t necessarily have a data-driven lens. Other times, they select the wrong sets of data and don’t ask the right questions for the problems they’re trying to solve.”

Allen also points out that the goal is not to create leaders who blindly follow data; it’s to create leaders who understand how to interpret and apply it responsibly.

“We want them to make data-informed decisions, because at the end of the day, what we do is about people,” he says.

By the time students complete the program, the team hopes graduates will think more critically, lead more strategically, and approach challenges with greater confidence. Beyond earning a doctorate, students will gain the ability to improve their leadership capabilities and make an impact within their industries.

Learn more about the DBA program at Excelsior University and discover how you can become a scholar-practitioner prepared to lead in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Keep Reading About the DBA Team
• Dean Brian Allen’s vision for Excelsior’s DBA program
• Associate Dean Leah Sciabarrasi on the DBA program’s student experience

What You Can Do with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice

Posted on by Samantha Seaman

An associate degree in criminal justice can open the door to a wide range of entry-level careers in law enforcement, corrections, the courts, and public safety. It can also help you build practical skills, gain real-world insight into the justice system, and prepare for roles in areas such as homeland security, private investigation, and community supervision. Whether you’re looking to launch your career or build a foundation for future advancement, a criminal justice associate degree can help you take the next step.

What Do You Learn in a Criminal Justice Associate Degree Program?

An associate degree in criminal justice offers a strong introduction to the systems, laws, and public safety practices that shape the field, and prepares you for a career in a variety of entry-level criminal justice roles. Through this program of study, you’ll build an understanding of how professionals such as police officers, corrections officers, and dispatchers contribute to maintaining order and supporting community safety. You’ll explore the three core pillars of the field: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. The curriculum is structured to build a mix of legal, technical, and soft skills needed for public safety careers.

10 Jobs You Can Get with an AS in Criminal Justice

Whether you’re interested in serving your community, supporting the legal system, or exploring investigative work, this associate degree can help you build the knowledge and skills to get started. Here are 10 jobs you can pursue with an AS in Criminal Justice.

1. Police Officer

If you’re driven to protect others and serve your community, a career as a police officer can offer both purpose and opportunity. Police officers, sheriffs, and state troopers help maintain order, enforce laws, respond to emergencies, and investigate criminal activity. As trusted public safety professionals, they often serve as the first point of contact in critical situations and work closely with courts, corrections, and other agencies to help keep communities safe.

2. Crime Scene Technician

If you’re detail-oriented and drawn to forensic work, a career as a crime scene technician can put you at the center of the investigative process. Crime scene technicians collect, document, and preserve physical evidence using forensic, fingerprint, and digital methods—helping ensure critical details are protected and ready to support investigations and court proceedings.

3. Court Clerk

If you’re interested in the inner workings of the legal system, a career as a court clerk can offer a strong entry point into the criminal justice field. Court clerks play a vital role in daily court operations by managing records, assisting judges and attorneys, and helping ensure that hearings and trials are properly documented. In this essential role, you’ll contribute to the accuracy, organization, and efficiency that help the justice system function effectively.

4. Security Guard

If you’re looking for a career centered on safety, awareness, and responsibility, working as a security guard can be a strong entry point into the criminal justice field. Security guards help protect people and property in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, shopping centers, government buildings, and correctional facilities. In this role, you may monitor surveillance systems, patrol assigned areas, check credentials, and respond to emergencies while helping maintain secure, orderly environments.

5. Probation Officer

If you want a career that combines public service, accountability, and the opportunity to support positive change, becoming a probation officer can be a strong path forward. Probation officers help supervise individuals serving sentences in the community, ensuring that they follow court-ordered conditions while working toward rehabilitation. In this role, you may monitor progress, connect individuals with support services, and help promote both public safety and successful reintegration.

6. Corrections Officer

If you want a career focused on safety, structure, and service, becoming a corrections officer can be a strong fit. Corrections officers work in local jails, state prisons, and federal facilities, where they help maintain secure environments by supervising individuals in custody, enforcing rules, and responding to security issues. In this role, you may also escort detainees, help prevent disturbances, and support the overall safety and well-being of the facility.

7. Victim Advocate

If you’re passionate about helping others during difficult moments, a career as a victim advocate can be both meaningful and impactful. Victim advocates support people affected by crime by offering emotional support, crisis assistance, and guidance through the legal process. In this role, you may also help connect individuals with resources, explain victims’ rights, and serve as a trusted link between victims, law enforcement, and prosecutors.

8. Private Investigator

If you’re curious, analytical, and driven to uncover the facts, a career as a private investigator can be an exciting path. Private investigators gather information for individuals, businesses, and legal teams by conducting surveillance, interviewing witnesses, performing background checks, and verifying details to support legal, financial, or personal cases—all while working within the law.

9. 911 Dispatcher

If you thrive in high-pressure situations and want to make a real difference, a career as a 911 dispatcher can be both challenging and rewarding. Also known as public safety telecommunicators, dispatchers are often the first point of contact during emergencies, helping connect callers with police, fire, and EMS services when every second counts. In this fast-paced role, you’ll stay calm under pressure, gather critical information, coordinate emergency response, and provide clear guidance that helps protect lives and support public safety.

10. Bailiff

If you’re interested in courtroom operations and want a role that combines security, responsibility, and public service, a career as a bailiff can be a strong fit. Bailiffs help maintain order and safety in the courtroom while supporting judges, juries, attorneys, and the public. In this role, you may prepare courtrooms, secure evidence, assist with courtroom procedures, guide visitors, and help ensure that proceedings run smoothly and according to court protocols.

Start Your Criminal Justice Career at Excelsior

If you’re ready to take the first step toward a career in law enforcement, corrections, the courts, or investigative work, Excelsior University’s associate degree in criminal justice can help you get there. With flexible online courses and student support services built for busy learners, the program helps you develop job-ready skills with confidence. And when you’re ready to move on, Excelsior’s Career Readiness can help you explore career paths, build professional skills, and connect with employers through resources, events, and practical guidance.

Excelsior’s AS in Criminal Justice program gives you a strong foundation in the field while helping you build practical knowledge you can apply right away. You will learn the essential concepts that can prepare you for entry-level roles today and that will support your path toward a bachelor’s degree in the future.

Mechanical Engineering Innovations in Aerospace Technology

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Mechanical engineering technology drives much of the cutting-edge innovation in aerospace today. Making materials lighter and stronger, improving the efficiency of engines, designing vehicles that are faster and safer, and creating more precise manufacturing systems are just some examples of where new ideas and applications are having the greatest impact.

If you’re interested in a career in aerospace technology, you’ll need an education that covers these areas. The field is evolving quickly, transforming smart materials, advanced propulsion systems, robotics, and how aircraft and space vehicles are designed, produced, and maintained. It’s vital to choose a mechanical engineering degree program that keeps pace with the speed and scope of innovations in aerospace technology.

Recent Innovations in Aerospace Technology

Working in the field of mechanical engineering technology means you’ll play a key role in improving the speed, efficiency, sustainability, and safety of air- and spacecraft, along with systems for manufacturing that are defining the future of aerospace technology.

Propulsion Systems

Electrically powered motors, hybrid engines, and cutting-edge propulsion like ion-based thrusters hold the promise of lower fuel consumption and lower emissions. In space specifically, ion systems that use electrically charged and accelerated gases are opening opportunities for deep-space exploration. These systems can operate over longer distances, using relatively little fuel. Other areas of innovation in propulsion include new battery technologies and lighter-weight materials.

Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)

Creating objects by adding layer after layer of material, according to digital designs, is a way to quickly produce lightweight and precise components. Most people know additive manufacturing as 3D printing. In aerospace, 3D printing is attractive because it can be used to create pieces and devices with complex designs quickly while improving manufacturing efficiency and lowering costs. Innovations in this area involve materials, processes, and components like aircraft and rocket parts.

Supersonic Flight

Flying faster than the speed of sound transformed civilian travel as well as the capabilities of military aircraft. Physical challenges and costs, however, limited what was possible in previous technology generations. Today, technologies that minimize sonic boom shock waves make supersonic flights more practical in more areas. For space travel, faster speeds make it possible to explore longer distances. Mechanical engineering technology is at work to make quieter and more fuel-efficient designs while improving safety. Aerodynamics, lightweight composites, and advances in engines are driving this new era of supersonic travel.

Reusable Rockets

One-use rockets are expensive, are bad for the environment, and slow the pace of launches. Launch systems that can be used, recovered, refurbished, and launched again will cut costs and speed up the tempo of sending objects into space. Reusable rockets can increase the number and frequency of satellite launches, open more opportunities for research in space, and create a viable commercial space industry. Innovations in guidance controls, landing operations, and more durable materials that can withstand multiple reentries are all areas where engineers are investing time and money.

Space Systems and Satellite Innovation

Space systems are increasingly used for communication, navigation, weather forecasting, and even precision agriculture. Besides beaming back to Earth, some satellites are supporting deep-space exploration, free of the Earth’s force and atmosphere. Satellites today are smaller, lighter, more durable, and more powerful as engineers use new materials, onboard computing, and advanced thrusters. Satellites are now deployed in networks for greater coverage, with redundancy for improved resilience. Mechanical engineering technology advances are driving innovation across all these areas.

Innovation Starts at Excelsior

Demand for talented and skilled professionals in the aerospace field is strong. The industry needs mechanical engineers and technologists who can solve tough problems, adapt as technology changes, and drive innovation. Acquiring and sharpening necessary skills requires the right education, with a degree that provides a solid grounding in the areas that matter in aerospace.

Excelsior University’s Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology program gives students practical knowledge in manufacturing, mechanical systems, materials, engineering design, and quality control. Students gain technical knowledge along with problem-solving and leadership skills. Offered online, the program gives working professionals the flexibility to balance current responsibilities with the ability to open doors to expanded opportunities.

The next generation of engineering innovation, particularly innovations in aerospace, are making what seemed like science fiction yesterday into a tangible reality today. With your mechanical engineering technology degree, you can work at the forefront of this evolving field. With your mechanical engineering technology degree, you can work at the forefront of this evolving field.

From Prediction to Intervention: How AI Is Reshaping Student Success at Excelsior University

Posted on by Priyo Chatterjee

Priyo Chatterjee, Excelsior University chief analytics officer, published an article on Presidents Forum titled “From Prediction to Intervention: How AI Is Reshaping Student Success at Excelsior University.” In the piece, Chatterjee describes Excelsior’s innovative approach to utilizing machine learning models to optimize the student journey.

Read the full article here.

 

Why Excelsior: Alumni Success in the Workplace

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

For more than 50 years, Excelsior University has been helping adult learners achieve their dreams of higher education. Our students are often balancing careers, families, and evolving goals, so we’ve built our institution on a foundation of flexibility and innovation, focusing on helping students translate real-world experience and prior credit into meaningful degrees. Today, that mission continues, and graduates can enter a rapidly changing workforce equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed.

How Do Excelsior Alumni Stack Up?

Graduates entering the workforce face numerous challenges, from rapid technological change, particularly around artificial intelligence, to economic uncertainty. As the labor market tightens, employers are placing an emphasis on job-ready skills. A recent Cengage report highlights an alarming gap in graduation outcomes: Although many graduates secure employment, institutions often fall short in clearly aligning education with workforce needs.

According to the report, the percentage of graduates nationwide with a full- or part-time job related to their field decreased from 41% and 15%, respectively, in 2024 to 30% and 11% in 2025. What’s more, graduates were concerned about how prepared they were to enter the workforce. About 48% of recent graduates felt unprepared for entry-level roles, with 56% of that number citing job-specific skills as the most glaring deficit in their education.

Excelsior alumni tell a different story. A 2025 alumni exit survey reveals that the combined percentage of respondents working in a field related to their degree was almost 50% higher than the combined full- and part-time employment numbers reported by Cengage. And when asked whether they met the requirements of their current position, 75% of Excelsior respondents reported in the affirmative—again, about a 50% improvement over Cengage’s nationwide number—and 70% of University alumni felt prepared to transition into a new role. This confidence suggests a strong alignment between academic experience and real-world expectations.

That alignment was also reflected in postgraduation satisfaction among respondents. While just 35% of 2025 graduates in the Cengage report said they would have chosen the same educational path again, according to a 2025 survey conducted of alumni one year after graduation, 72% of Excelsior respondents said they would have selected the same degree program if given the chance. The contrast illustrates Excelsior’s commitment to delivering education that matters in the real world.

Excelsior graduates are twice as satisfied with their degree programs as their peers nationwide.

Excelsior Alumni in Their Fields

Beyond perception, Excelsior alumni outcomes point to tangible success across industries. From strong job placement rates to measurable salary growth, the University’s data reflects a focus on helping students achieve meaningful career progress.

Career Readiness and Employment

Aside from a 50% improvement on Cengage’s percentage of recent graduates employed in a field related to their degree, Excelsior Graduates of our School of Technology earn placement in the public and private sectors, ranging from the U.S. Navy and Army to power companies like Constellation Energy and Dominion Energy to major businesses like General Dynamics, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Lockheed Martin. Our School of Business alumni also enjoy wide placement, with many working in government, from the armed services to the Department of Homeland Security, as well as in Fortune 500 businesses like CACI International, Prudential Financial, and Lockheed Martin.

And Excelsior graduates don’t just find placement; they excel. For instance, compared to peer institutions, the profiles of Excelsior MBA alumni (2015–2025) are more likely to list skills in leadership, by a 21% margin; operations, by a 50% margin; management, by a 17% margin; project management, by a 20% margin; program management, by a 95% margin; and operational planning, by a 497% margin.*

Estimated Salaries

Salary outcomes for Excelsior graduates also suggest strong returns on educational investment. Among respondents to the 2025 one-year alumni survey, 85% reported earning $55,000 or more annually, with a mean annual income of $88,000, 78% higher than $49,500, the median annual wage of all occupations reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2024.

An Excelsior degree can help learners build skills and credentials that support long-term career growth and earning potential.

Salary and Career Advancement

Responses recorded in the 2025 one-year survey suggest that the impact of an Excelsior education is also clear in career advancement and mobility. Many respondents reported receiving promotions (21%), new jobs (23%), or pay increases (36%) after completing their degree. Excelsior helps students build careers that evolve with their ambitions.

How Can Excelsior Advance Your Career?

By designing career-focused curricula and employing faculty with real-world industry experience, Excelsior University ensures that students gain practical, applicable skills—not just theoretical knowledge.

This focus is critical at a time when Cengage reports that 1 in 5 graduates nationwide said that their education did little to support career readiness through services like networking, resume development, or job search preparation. Excelsior works to close that gap through dedicated resources such as Career Readiness programming, including interactive Career Café sessions that connect students with professionals in the field.

The result is a learning experience that extends beyond the classroom and into the workplace. A career-focused education leads to confidence on the job, which may be why 91% of recent Excelsior graduates said they would recommend the University to a friend or colleague.

In a world where the path from education to employment is not always clear, Excelsior University continues to provide one that is, helping students move forward with confidence, purpose, and the tools to succeed.

Speak to an admissions representative today to get started on your educational path at Excelsior.

 

*Source: Lightcast data pulled from publicly available sources. MBA alumni profiles were compared to alumni of 10 peer institutions.

5 Signs You’re Ready for a Doctor of Business Administration

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

For professionals who have spent years climbing the corporate ladder, reaching the top feels great. But as they say, it’s lonely at the top. Your hard-won success means that you have the benefit of influence and experience, but that lofty vantage point can also give you a wider perspective on horizons you have yet to reach and leave you wondering what’s next.

If your curiosity, hunger for challenge, and drive to evolve go beyond career ambition, they may be signs that you’re ready for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program.

Who Is a DBA For?

A DBA is an experiential doctoral program that’s typically designed for senior leaders with years of experience managing people or projects. Different from a traditional PhD program in business, it’s ideal for a professional who wants to:

  • Deepen their business expertise
  • Apply research to real challenges
  • Move into higher-level leadership
  • Transition to consulting or academic roles
  • Establish themself as a thought leader in their field 

5 Signs You Should Earn a DBA

Whether you’ve been feeling the need for career acceleration, a professional pivot, or a completely new endeavor, if you identify yourself in any of these five signs, earning your Doctor of Business Administration could be your next step forward.

1. You’ve Reached a Career Plateau

You know that “plateau feeling”: You’ve mastered your current role, your salary has leveled off, and you’ve reached the limit of your organization’s promotional opportunities.

Earning a DBA can help you break through. Unlike PhD programs, which focus on preparing graduates for full-time academic research, a DBA is a professional, practice-oriented doctorate. It equips you with tools for broader organizational influence and allows you to achieve advanced levels of leadership and confidently assert your authority in high-level decision-making.

2. You Want to Be a Creator of Business Knowledge, Not Just a Consumer

Most professionals rely on established business case studies, frameworks, and best practices to guide their decisions. But after years in the field, it’s likely you’ve started to notice gaps between anecdote and actual practice.

The scholar-practitioner training you gain by earning a DBA helps connect research to the real world and empowers you to develop evidence-based theories and execute on your findings in ways that make an impact unique to your goals.

3. You’re Interested in Teaching, Consulting, or Thought Leadership

If you’ve reached a stage in your career where you want to use your expertise outside of the traditional corporate structure, a DBA gives you the credibility to position yourself as an expert thinker, consultant, or teacher.

Consulting firms value the advanced problem-solving that doctoral graduates bring to complex organizational issues. And for professionals interested in teaching, a DBA also provides a pathway into higher education, particularly for institutions seeking business faculty who can pair doctoral credentials with substantial professional experience.

4. You Feel Like Your Career Options Are Limited

The paradox of being highly experienced in your field is that you can start to feel confined to a specific niche, industry, or functional area.

The DBA experience broadens your professional identity, and earning your doctorate signals that you not only possess advanced analytical and critical-thinking capabilities, as well as leadership acumen, but also can apply them in practice to any organizational challenge.

5. You’ve Been Thinking About Your Legacy

It’s common for long-term career goals to shift from “What can I achieve?” to “What can I leave behind?”

If you’re motivated to make a lasting mark on your industry, mentor the next generation of business leaders, or cement your reputation as an expert, a DBA provides the platform to start building your legacy. Through original applied research, you’ll have the opportunity to address challenges and develop strategic frameworks that reflect your expertise and leadership.

How to Get Started at Excelsior

Are you starting to recognize the signs that you’re ready for your DBA? Then Excelsior University is ready to help you get started.

The benefits of Excelsior’s DBA program include a collaborative, mentorship-driven format that blends online learning with two in-person residencies that take academic theory out of the classroom and into your lived experience, empowering you to turn your big ideas into bold changes.

With core coursework in strategy, analytics, and consulting, you’ll be immersed in applied learning experiences that connect research to practice and insight to action. And customizable areas of study ensure you can craft doctoral work that aligns with your career aspirations, with seven concentration options that include:

  • Cybersecurity Operations
  • Data Analytics
  • Enterprise Risk Management
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Healthcare Management
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Strategic Sustainability

Whether your goals lie in executive leadership, academia, or beyond, Excelsior’s DBA program can help you transform your experience into tools for what’s next.

What Is Generative AI?

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Generative AI is a technology transforming nearly every field of work. It is a type of artificial intelligence designed to be creative, that is, it can generate text, images, music, video, software code, and graphic designs—hence the name generative AI. These capabilities make GenAI extremely useful in business while also driving demand for professionals with the computer skills to develop and refine the technology, as well as for those who can effectively use it.

Although some say generative AI will destroy jobs, forward thinkers see expanding opportunities. Computer scientists with AI expertise in product development, data science, software development, AI training, and AI prompt engineering will find exciting career prospects.

Traditional AI vs. GenAI

Wondering about the difference between GenAI and AI in the conventional sense? The difference is in the work they can do. What makes generative AI special is its ability to create. Compare it with some other kinds of AI:

Although each type of artificial intelligence is useful, businesses value generative AI because it can create entirely new content. It can write a press release, help a customer with a problem, automate software code production, and more. As people become more comfortable and experienced using it, generative AI has emerged as a powerful collaborative tool. GenAI doesn’t replace someone who creates, but it can expand their capabilities and improve how efficiently they work.

What Are Popular Uses of GenAI?

Generative AI helps people work faster, do more comprehensive research, automate repetitive or complex tasks, and make better decisions. Some of the ways GenAI is used today include:

  • Automation: Generative AI can read through and summarize documents and meeting notes, draft letters and emails, organize information, and produce reports.
  • Interpreting: With this technology, you can take complex write-ups and jargon-heavy text and translate it into material that’s easier to understand.
  • Problem-solving: GenAI can help with brainstorming, troubleshooting, and recommending potential solutions.
  • Software development support: It can improve programmer efficiency by generating blocks of code, debugging software, and speeding up development cycles.
  • Customer service: AI-powered chatbots can help customers around the clock across a variety of tasks and issues.
  • Content creation: GenAI can be used to write and edit copy, create and edit images and video, design graphics, and more.
  • Prototyping and testing: Innovation is faster with the ability to explore options and see how they work across scenarios.
  • Decision support: GenAI researches topics, organizes notes, analyzes options, and recommends choices.

What Is Responsible AI?

Responsible AI is concerned with ethical and transparent approaches to designing, developing, and training artificial intelligence applications. The idea is that they should be fair, accountable, and safe. They should not harm people, organizations, or society as a whole. Responsible AI is consistent, accurate, and reliable, reducing misinformation, scams, and dangerous instructions. Privacy and security should be built in. When it comes to applications in the real world, it should prevent accidents and harms in things like self-driving cars, medical devices, robotics, and industrial systems.

AI should make human oversight and intervention easy and effective. The more AI is used in business, finance, government, health care, and other fields, the more responsible practices are coming to the fore.

Start You Career in AI with Excelsior

The AI revolution is just getting started. As industry and businesses increase the scale and scope of how they use it, demand for skilled professionals will grow. Areas of specialization include software development, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and AI systems management. Knowing how to develop, use, and promote responsible AI practices will be invaluable in any tech career.

A technology degree like Excelsior University’s BS in Computer Science opens a vast and growing variety of career paths to you. Our program evolves as fast as technology is evolving so you graduate with the technical and professional skills that are immediately relevant in the workplace. You’ll gain computer science theory with hands-on experience in software development, systems management, data science, networking, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. But you’ll also learn to think critically about ethical and societal issues around computer technology.

In a future where humans and GenAI work together, Excelsior’s program gives you a strong foundation for success in the field, with opportunities for career advancement.

Is a DBA Degree Worth It?

Posted on by Brian Allen

A Doctor of Business Administration is worth it when “it” is clearly defined. If “it” means a quick credential, a guaranteed promotion, or a title that does the work for you, then a DBA may not be the right path. But if “it” means becoming a stronger business decision-maker, developing the research skills to solve real-world problems, and building the credibility to contribute as a subject matter thought leader, then a DBA can be a meaningful next step.

A DBA is not simply another business degree. A Doctor of Business Administration is a research-based doctoral degree designed for practice-oriented candidates with significant industry experience who want to use rigorous research to address defined business issues. In other words, a DBA sits at the intersection of scholarship and practice: It asks experienced professionals to think more deeply, question more carefully, and act with better evidence.

Who Can Benefit from a DBA

A DBA can be especially valuable for professionals who have not finished growing. That includes leaders who want to become subject matter thought leaders in their field. Thought leadership requires more than having opinions or experience. It requires the ability to research, synthesize data, evaluate evidence, identify patterns, challenge assumptions, and communicate ideas in a way that helps others make better decisions.

A DBA benefits business decision-makers who want to strengthen their use of business research methods. Many leaders are surrounded by data pictures that are incomplete or are incomplete in addressing problems. These leaders struggle with situations that are data rich and information poor. This results in not knowing what questions to ask, what evidence to trust, and how to apply findings in a specific organizational context. Evidence-based management is built on the idea that managerial decisions should be informed by the best available evidence rather than habit, preference, or hierarchy alone.

The DBA is a fit for people who understand that being a difference-maker requires effort. Leadership development is not only about personal traits; it is shaped by ongoing work, organizational context, practice, feedback, and learning over time. A DBA does not replace that work; it deepens it.

What You Should Consider Before Applying

Before asking whether a DBA degree is worth it, it is better to ask whether it is worth it for the kind of contribution you want to make. The answer of worth comes down to who you want to be at the end of your successful DBA journey. Your vision of the future will dictate motivation and the work that follows.

Motivation matters when it comes to completing a doctorate. A DBA is a serious commitment, so the strongest reason to pursue one is not simply to add letters after your name. The better reason is that you want to become more capable of solving complex business problems. If you want to connect leadership, strategy, research, and applied decision-making, then the degree aligns well with your goals.

Most doctoral work requires sustained inquiry, disciplined reading, and applied research. NCES describes research doctorates as degrees oriented toward original intellectual contributions and requiring a dissertation or equivalent project of original work. While a DBA is usually more practice-oriented than a PhD, students should still expect rigorous research expectations.

Networking and Peer Quality

A good DBA experience is not only about courses. It is also about learning with other experienced professionals who bring real business problems into the classroom. That peer environment matters because practical knowledge and scholarly knowledge do not always move easily between the workplace and the academy. Van De Ven and Johnson argued in 2006 that the theory-practice gap is not just a transfer problem; it is also a knowledge production problem. DBA students can help bridge that gap by bringing practice-based questions into disciplined inquiry.

Time Commitment

A DBA requires time, focus, and persistence. That is part of its value. The work asks students to read deeply, write clearly, analyze and synthesize carefully, and stay with a problem long enough to understand it beyond surface-level symptoms. For working professionals, that means the question is not only whether the degree is valuable. The question is whether this is the right season to take on the work.

Career and Financial Considerations

Invariably, the question of a degree often focuses on earnings. To be clear, no degree can guarantee a specific salary, promotion, or career outcome. Still, public labor data shows that higher levels of education are associated with higher median earnings and lower unemployment rates. In 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported median usual weekly earnings of $2,278 for workers with doctoral degrees and a 1.2% unemployment rate, compared with $1,840 and 2.2%, respectively, for master’s degree holders. Those figures do not prove that a DBA causes higher earnings, but they do show that doctoral-level education is associated with strong labor market outcomes.

So, Is a DBA Degree Worth It?

A DBA is worth it when it matches the problem you are trying to solve in your own professional life. It is worth considering if you want to move from experience-based opinion to evidence-informed leadership. It is worth considering if you want to become the kind of professional who can not only make decisions but also explain, defend, test, and improve them. Enrolling in a DBA program is worth considering if your goal is to contribute to your organization, your industry, and your field with more discipline and depth.

The real value of a DBA is not only the degree; it is the development that happens while earning it. The title may open doors, but the work is what prepares you to walk through them with something meaningful to say.

Excelsior University Welcomes Edconic CEO Brandon Busteed to Board of Trustees

Posted on by Jason Bonafide

Albany, N.Y. — The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has appointed Brandon Busteed as a new trustee. The University’s governing board includes leaders from across the country with deep experience in business, education, government, and public service. 

Busteed is the CEO of Edconic, a family-owned education company which delivers relevant, experiential courses taught by industry experts from globally-recognized organizations. Edconic operates Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Vogue College of Fashion, The School of The New York Times, and Manchester City Sports Business School. 

“Excelsior University shares my commitment to creating opportunities for learners at every stage of their academic journeys,” said Busteed. “It is an honor to serve with this remarkable group of trustees during a time of exciting innovation and growth at Excelsior. Together, we will advance Excelsior’s mission of expanding access and improving the lives of students everywhere.” 

Before Edconic, Busteed was chief partnership officer and global head of Learn-Work Innovation at Kaplan and was also global head of Public Sector at Gallup. He also previously served as Gallup’s executive director of Education and Workforce Development. Busteed is also the founder and CEO of Outside the Classroom, an ed tech company whose courses on alcohol abuse and sexual assault prevention have been taken by more than 15 million college students. 

Busteed has published more than 300 articles and keynoted more than 200 conferences, is a LinkedIn “Top Voice,” and one of the most read education contributors to Forbes.com. He is a trustee emeritus of Duke and has served on the board of visitors to the Sanford School of Public Policy.  

For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit https://www.excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees. 

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

About Excelsior University  

Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.     

Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.    

Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.  

Why You Should Earn a Nuclear Engineering Technology Degree

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Technology is advancing, and so is the demand for clean, reliable energy. That means the need for skilled professionals in the nuclear industry continues to grow, as well. A degree in nuclear engineering technology can prepare students to work at the forefront of energy production and open doors to a wide range of in-demand careers. Students in this field gain technical knowledge and learn the hands-on skills they need to make an impact in this important industry that powers communities around the world.

4 Reasons to Study Nuclear Engineering Technology

A nuclear engineering technology (NET) degree can lead to a rewarding career in an essential and evolving industry. Whether you’re interested in energy production, advanced technology, or solving problems, there are many reasons to pursue a career in this field. Here are some of the biggest benefits of a nuclear engineering technology degree.

1. Applied Learning

An associate, bachelor’s, and even advanced degree in nuclear engineering technology covers important topics in engineering, mathematics, and chemistry, as well as teaches students to think critically, solve complex problems, and make informed decisions under pressure. Students can also learn to strengthen their communication skills. A nuclear engineering technology degree not only helps students build skills employers are looking for but also prepares them for hands-on training and advancement opportunities that can be transferred in an evolving industry.

2. Diversity of Career Options

While it’s true that nuclear technology is most associated with energy production, students can pursue a number of career paths that align with their interests and goals. The nuclear industry includes opportunities in mechanical and civil engineering roles, as well as roles in compliance, safety, and leadership. Nuclear tech is used in defense, particularly in the United States Navy. And some NET graduates choose research as their career path, such as in the Idaho National Laboratory, where they might apply their knowledge toward improving energy efficiencies, aiding space exploration, or developing mobile nuclear reactors.

Having so many career options available to you is only one of the many reasons to study nuclear engineering technology. You can expect to prepare for a stable and rewarding future.

3. Competitive Compensation

One of the benefits of a nuclear engineering technology degree is the high earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2024, the median annual salary for nuclear engineers was $127,520, and the median annual salary for nuclear technicians was $104,240. More experienced engineers and technicians can command higher wages. Your salary also varies depending on where you work, the field you work in, and the size of your employer.

4. Contributing to a Sustainable Future

Earning an NET degree is an exciting step for students who want to make a real-world impact. Nuclear power provides reliable, low-carbon energy that can help global efforts to combat climate change. As the demand for clean energy grows, so does our need for professionals to manage this energy. Earning an NET degree can prepare students for this evolving industry. Students gain the technical and hands-on skills needed to support reactor technology, energy production, safety systems, and environmental responsibility.

Start Your NET Career with Excelsior

If you’re looking to pursue your career in nuclear engineering technology, consider earning your NET degree from Excelsior University. We offer the only 100% online ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology program in the United States. It’s an ideal option for students who want to advance their education while balancing life’s other responsibilities. Designed with the industry’s needs in mind, this program provides students with the technical knowledge, practical experience, and problem-solving skills employers are looking for.

Excelsior specializes in career-focused education and support, including our Career Readiness services, which can help prepare students to enter or reenter the workforce. Explore the BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology program and find out why you belong at Excelsior.

Excelsior ALC Member Chris Arima Redefines Inspiration

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Chris Arima has built a career that, on paper, reads like a list of accomplishments. He is an attorney practicing complex civil litigation in California, a former prosecutor, a military veteran who served as an Arabic linguist, and a member of the Excelsior University Alumni Leadership Council.

But he doesn’t see himself as an inspiration.

“I don’t inspire people,” he says plainly. “I actually think it’s the reverse. I’m inspired every day by meeting these people, meeting these young kids, meeting these students, meeting these moms, parents, daughters, uncles, aunts, people that are going through so much in their life.”

That mindset has followed Arima throughout his legal career. His path hasn’t been about recognition; it’s been about moving forward, one step at a time.

Wanting to Be More

Arima grew up living in rural Arkansas and Texas. When he was 11 years old, his father died in a car accident—a collision that also left Arima seriously injured.

By his early teens, he was working to help support his family.

“I was in speech therapy while working to keep the money,” he recalls, explaining that by 13, he was working as a dishwasher and waiter, trying to help his family escape foreclosure during the 2008 financial crisis.

School wasn’t easy, but he stayed focused. “I drove an hour and a half to high school each way,” Arima says. “And I always wanted to be more. I wanted education. I wanted to challenge my brain.”

But when he first tried college, it didn’t go as planned. “I failed when I went to college. It was so hard, and I think that I was almost, like, burnt out.”

After about a year, Arima joined the military in 2013. What started as a general enlistment in the Navy quickly turned into something more specialized when he showed a talent for language. He trained as an Arabic linguist and was deployed to Iraq and Syria supporting intelligence operations.

While deployed, he also returned to school.

Arima enrolled at Excelsior University and worked toward his Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts during long, demanding shifts. He recalls studying while on active counter-ISIS operations: “We’d be clearing ops in Mosul, and then I’d go down into the basement and be studying my Excelsior books and submitting essays at midnight. And then, I’d sleep in the shower stall for two to three hours, and I’d be back on ops. And that’s how I completed my degree [in 2018].”

A Seat at the Table

After leaving the military, Arima enrolled in law school at Syracuse University. His decision was shaped by what he saw during his service.

“You’d have these rooms where decisions are being made. And everywhere was a Juris Doctor; there’s a lawyer in all of these rooms,” he says. “And I wanted to be in that room. I wanted to be a part of that decision-making process.”

Arima spent time working as an attorney in New York City right out of law school, but when his wife got pregnant, they decided it was too difficult to stay in the city to raise a child and follow their legal dreams. They decided to cross the country. Today, Arima is an attorney specializing in civil litigation in the Bay Area, where his wife is also an attorney. He handles cases involving employment discrimination, personal injury, and medical malpractice, and his work focuses on representing individuals who have been harmed.

“At the end of the day, you get to solve problems, and I think that that’s a very privileged place to be, and I’m glad that I’m doing it,” he says.

Arima also spent time working as a public defender at the Law Offices of the Public Defender of New Mexico, where he saw firsthand how complex and personal the legal system can be. “The law is inherently a human experiment. It is inherently human. It is a study and an attempt of human organization, of how we organize our society, how we organize our interpersonal relationships,” he explains.

Learning to Listen

One skill that has benefited Arima throughout his legal career is listening. It’s an important part of effective communication, he says, and therefore of being an effective attorney.

“You have to be a good listener when you’re a prosecutor or a public defender,” he says. “If you really listen, then you’ll be able to feel what that person is feeling and really understand what they’re talking about.”

That approach has shaped his work both in and out of the courtroom. Arima has taught courses in criminal justice and constitutional law, and for the past three years, he has been a mock-trial coach for the Los Lunas High School debate team in Los Lunas, New Mexico, where he taught them about advocacy, rules of evidence, courtroom tactics, and oral argument, but also the value of listening and empathy.

“Listening is the road to empathy,” he explains. “And all the best attorneys also have that skill of empathy. I think what makes you good at whatever you do is just being able to be empathetic.”

Giving Back

Arima has stayed connected to Excelsior after earning his degree. In 2023, he joined the Alumni Leadership Council and is a liaison to the Legacy and Engagement Committee, where he routinely communicates with and advocates for Excelsior alumni of all backgrounds. “I’ve been given access and opportunities that I otherwise would not have been provided had it not been for my opportunities in higher education.”

Through his role on the Alumni Leadership Council, he has met Excelsior graduates with stories similar to his own—people balancing work, family, and school while trying to build something better. “I think that there’s a common thread of grit [among Excelsior alumni] that I think is just so uniquely American in a positive way, that there’s people born in various circumstances that face obstacles, challenge, and oftentimes they fail,” he says. “But those are really interesting stories of people that were faced with failure, accepted it, and then were like, ‘Okay, what’s the next step? How do I continue this?’”

Arima adds, “Meeting so many interesting individuals is my favorite part. I often find that they want to come back; they want to continue their education. I’ve been really privileged to be a part of that process.”

Redefining Inspiration

Even with everything he’s accomplished, Arima still pushes back on being called inspirational.

“I think that sometimes we use the word ‘inspiring,’ and oftentimes what we’re really trying to say is part of your story lives in me,” he explains.

He points to moments like helping a student find her voice in writing, not by telling her what to say, but by creating space for her to discover it herself. It was a proud moment for Arima, being able to help a student succeed, but a moment he doesn’t want credit for. “I think it was just giving her the opportunity and space to listen and let her discover [her voice],” he says.

Arima’s story isn’t one of easy success or a straight path forward. It’s a story of setbacks, persistence, and steady progress. And while he may not admit it, his journey shows how far determination—and education—can take you.