Excelsior College to Host Webinar on Cannabis Cultivation and Sustainability

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Albany, New York — Excelsior College today announced the hosting of an upcoming cannabis webinar, Croptober: Navigating the Business of Cannabis Cultivation and Sustainability. This webinar showcases Excelsior’s continued expertise in cannabis curriculum, which aligns with its Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control.

This webinar will focus on regulatory and business aspects of cannabis cultivation. Questions to be considered include:

  • How does a business decide between having an indoor vs. outdoor grow?
  • How does a company advocate for or against home grow without alienating potential customers?
  • How do cultivation facilities incorporate environmental sustainability?
  • How do these businesses maintain compliance in an ever-changing regulatory environment?

The webinar will take place on Thursday, October 28 at noon ET. The panel discussion will be approximately 30 minutes, followed by a 15-minute Q&A. You can register for this event here.

The event will be moderated by Jennifer Rumble, director of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition, and panelists will include cannabis industry experts Allan Gandelman, founder of the NY Cannabis Growers & Processors Association; Amanda Reiman, PhD, MSW, founder of Personal Plants; Michael Sassano, CEO of SOMAÍ Pharma; and Shawn Cooney, founder of Cloud Farming & Corner Stalk Farm.

“I look forward to moderating a lively and informative discussion on some of the most widely examined topics in the cannabis space,” said Jennifer Rumble, event moderator and director of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition. “It’s imperative we focus on educating the leaders of tomorrow’s cannabis industry, so we can create an industry that is long-lasting and synergized with Mother Earth.”

 

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Media Contact Excelsior College:

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

Media Contact NisonCo:

Zane Bader, zane@nisonco.com, 470-342-5440

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.

 

ABOUT MODERATOR

Jennifer Rumble, croptober moderatorJennifer Rumble

Jennifer Rumble has partnered for more than 25 years with clientele from a variety of industries to create and implement compelling PR platforms that facilitate communications and brand building. She has vast experience within consumer tech, sports marketing, cannabis, healthcare, finance, and investor relations sectors. Rumble assists clients to acquire, develop, and articulate brand identities, leading to the design and execution of programs that ultimately build brand equity and drive company growth. She serves as director of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition (SCC) and vice chairperson for ASTM International’s sustainability subcommittee under cannabis committee D37.

 

ABOUT PANELISTS

Allan Gandelman, croptober panelistAllan Gandelman

Allan Gandelman is the co-founder and president at Head & Heal, New York Hemp Oil, and Main Street Farms. He has been an organic vegetable farmer for 10 years. In 2017, Allan began experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease. When traditional methods of care did not work for him, he tried CBD—and finally found the relief he was looking for.

Because of this experience, he decided to add hemp to their crop rotation in 2018. Allan is the founder and president of the New York Cannabis Growers and Processors Association—an organization of cannabis producers, processors, and industry partners committed to an economically viable, consumer-conscious cannabis industry. NYCGPA worked closely with NYS legislature for the last three years to help pass the recent Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act legalizing cannabis in New York state.

 

Amanda Reiman, croptober panelistAmanda Reiman

Amanda Reiman, PhD, MSW, is the founder of Personal Plants, a multimedia platform designed to support the home cultivation and processing of therapeutic plants. After receiving her PhD from UC Berkeley, Dr. Reiman was the director of research and patient services at Berkeley Patients Group and the manager of Marijuana Law and Policy for the Drug Policy Alliance. Dr. Reiman is an internationally recognized cannabis expert and public health researcher. She has written for/been quoted in The Huffington Post, New York Times, Washington Post, and Playboy as well as numerous peer-reviewed academic journals and several textbooks.

Also an expert in cannabis policy on the local, national, and international level, Dr. Reiman was the first chairwoman of the Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission and also sat on the Oakland Cannabis Regulatory Commission. She sits on the Board of Cannabis Doing Good and the Cannabis Travel Association International and is a member of the Ganjier Council.

Michael sassano, croptober panelistMichael Sassano

Michael Sassano is the CEO and chairman of the Board for Somai Pharmaceuticals, a European company centered in extraction, manufacturing, and formulation of pharma-grade GMP-certified cannabinoid products throughout the European Union. The current focus of the company is building scalable high-output manufacturing facilities in various strategic countries as Europe develops its market. As the continent ultimately comes online, Somai will be positioned as one of the top global pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors of medical-grade cannabinoid products. Prior to this role, Sassano founded Solaris Farms, which became one of the largest and most technologically advanced cannabis cultivators in Nevada.

 

 

shawn cooney, croptober panelist Shawn Cooney

Shawn is the founder of Cloud Farming and Corner Stalk Farm and has been growing the highest-quality produce for Bostonians using Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for the past eight years. Cloud Farming plans to add hemp and cannabis to its wide range of products, rounding out its enterprise line and cementing a diverse sustainable business profile. Cooney is a serial entrepreneur with proven ability to create products and technology ahead of market demand. Successful exits with three tech startups attest to his commitment, vision, and drive. Cooney has presented to many large national and international conference audiences and has received multiple “Best Of” finalist awards. He is the co-founder of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition (SCC) and chairman for ASTM International’s sustainability subcommittee under cannabis committee D37.

Excelsior College and University of Washington Continuum College Partner to Offer Students More Opportunities

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Excelsior College and University of Washington Continuum College Partner to Offer Students More Opportunities

 Albany, New York — University of Washington Continuum College is partnering with Excelsior College to offer students with digital marketing and Python programming certificates an opportunity to convert those professional certificates to credit in an Excelsior degree program.

When Continuum students complete either certificate, they can transfer as many as 9 credits into certain Excelsior Bachelor of Science or Master of Science programs. In addition to earning degree credit, partnership benefits give Continuum graduates discounts on tuition.

Excelsior students and alumni will have the opportunity to enroll in UW certificate programs to continue their lifelong learning. Through this partnership, both institutions are creating a larger learning ecosystem for their students.

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 collaboration between University of Washington Continuum College and Excelsior College will allow students flexibility in customizing the best learning experience to meet their needs and an opportunity to build on prior learning,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College. “This partnership can make degree completion more accessible to students, and I am pleased to welcome Continuum as a partner.”

University of Washington Continuum College offers job-specific education for people from all backgrounds at every age, every career stage, and every income level. Its award-winning professional certificates, short programs, and advanced degrees empower people to create better lives and provide employers with exceptionally skilled workers, creating a more knowledgeable community.

“We believe in the power of education to improve people’s lives,” said Rovy Branon, vice provost of Continuum. “Our Python programming and digital marketing certificates give people transferrable skills that can boost their careers. This promising new partnership with Excelsior gives a supercharged boost, creating a bridge between credentials and a degree that can open the door to professional and personal advancement.”

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

 

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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.

 

 

Excelsior College’s Graduate Research Symposium

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Albany, New York—Excelsior College welcomes select graduate students and recent alumni to present their original research at the annual online Graduate Research Symposium on Thursday, October 14. The theme for this year’s symposium is Embracing New Frontiers: Innovation, Resilience, and Technology.

Transformative and empowering, the symposium offers those attending an intellectually stimulating and professionally enriching experience. The keynote speaker is Excelsior instructor Kelley Cronin, a nationally renowned expert in homeland security and emergency management and author of several books in these areas. Ethné Swartz, a professor in the Department of Management at the Feliciano School of Business of Montclair State University, is the invited speaker.

“We have an interesting event of invited speakers and graduate presentations,” said John Caron, provost of Excelsior College. “Our students embraced the challenge of the theme: innovation, resilience, and technology, and I am excited for them to share their research.”

Student presentations include: “Blockchain Technology: Current Applications and Future Potential,” “Oncology Smoking Cessation Program; Commit to Quit,” “Technology in the COVID Response,” and “The Making of a Highly Reliable Organization.” At the conclusion of the event, the Ever Upward Prize will be awarded to the outstanding graduate presentation from the symposium.

 

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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.

 

 

 

What Accounting Jobs Can I Do Without an Accounting Degree?

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

It is no surprise that a degree in accounting can lead to a career as an accountant (makes sense, right?) However, there are ways to work in the accounting profession without a degree in accounting. A bachelor’s degree in business management can provide the flexibility and level of accounting you are interested in. The core concepts of a business management degree can cross many different career paths, including positions in financial management, business analysis, consulting, and more. This degree will allow you to use your skills to succeed in any field of business.

Other Career Options

A bachelor’s degree can help you excel in any career path. Check out some career opportunities where accounting is a component, but an accounting degree is not necessary.

• Communications Specialist

A communication specialist develops plans to maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. This is usually done through writing emails, social media posts, news releases, and more. Depending on the organization you work for and your role, you may communicate with consumers, investors, reporters, other organizations, or other employees. As a communications specialist, you may work with spreadsheets, reporting, research, budgeting, and other accounting-related processes. A desirable candidate will excel in problem-solving, organization, and project management.

The median annual wage for communications specialists is $62,810.

• Business Analyst

A business analyst conducts market research to recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency. They are advisors to an organization, with the main goal of increasing profit, reducing costs, and keeping the organization running smoothly. All industries need business analysts to be successful; therefore, there are options to work in many fields, such as higher education, health care, government, small businesses, and more. You will use accounting skills in this career because of its focus on analytical research and data analysis.

The median annual wage for business analysts is $87,660.

• Financial Examiners

A financial examiner ensures companies follow laws that govern institutions handling monetary transactions. They work closely with accountants to review balance sheets, evaluate the risk level of loans, and assess bank management. As a financial examiner, you may work in risk management evaluating the health of financial institutions. In this area, fraud investigations play a significant role. Financial examiners must have strong analytical and math skills, as well as be detailed-oriented and possess good project management skills.

On average, financial examiners earn $81,430 per year.

• Sales Representatives

A sales representative sells goods or services for the organization they are employed by; they are the main point of contact between a business and customers. A sales representative needs to meet financial and product goals, communicate effectively with clients, and identify new markets and customer leads. Good organization skills, project management skills, and problem-solving skills are necessary for this role. Depending on what industry you work for, analytical and math skills are also key.

On average, sales representatives earn $59,930 per year.

Benefits of a Business Management Degree

At Excelsior College, you can earn a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business and Management with a concentration in accounting. The program includes courses in accounting, financial management, project management, marketing, leadership, business communication, and more. This flexible program gives you a snapshot of various business concentrations and prepares you for a business career in any field. Specific to accounting, this program will teach you how to interpret a financial statement and how to use financial management concepts and tools, and equip you with the major concepts and theories of accounting for real-world context.

Get started with Excelsior by contacting an admissions counselor today.

Career Spotlight: Forensic Science Technician

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

Mystery novels excite you and true crime TV has always been your guilty pleasure. You are the problem solver of your friend group, and nothing haunts you. Does this sound like you? Then a forensic science technician job might be for you. As a forensic science technician, you will be able to combine your hobbies and passions with your career. Learn what it takes to become a forensic science technician and see if this career path fits you.

What Is a Forensic Science Technician?

As a forensic science technician, you will aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Depending on your role, you can work in a laboratory setting or on crime scenes.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some duties of a forensic science technician include:
– Determine what evidence should be collected and how
– Take photographs and make sketches of the crime scene and evidence
– Record observations, including location, or position of evidence
– Collect and preserve evidence, such as weapons, fingerprints, and bodily fluids
– Perform chemical, biological, and microscopic analyses of evidence taken from crime scenes

In addition, forensic science technicians consult with experts in specialized fields, such as toxicology and odontology. As a technician, you can specialize in certain techniques or sciences, or you can perform all the duties listed above as a generalist.

How Do You Become a Forensic Science Technician

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, forensic science, biology, or chemistry. Some programs may specialize in specific areas such as pathology, DNA, or toxicology. When enrolled in a natural sciences program, students should take classes related to forensic science to better prepare themselves for a technician position. According to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, many candidates for a forensic science technician position will have a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, followed by a master’s degree in forensic science.

Not only is at least a bachelor’s degree required, but all technician positions require on-the-job training; do not worry, you will not just be thrown into a crime scene and expect to know what to do!

Top Qualities of a Forensic Science Technician

Not everyone can become a forensic science technician. It takes a lot of skill and a certain type of person to work with criminal activity.

Check out the top qualities employers look for in candidates:

• Communication skills: As a technician, you will draft reports and testify in court. You work with many other experts in the field, including law enforcement officials, scientists, and other specialists.
• Detail-oriented: You must be able to notice minor changes at a crime scene or in a lab to truly analyze and collect evidence.
• Problem-solving skills: Your whole job is focused on solving the problem at hand. You will use scientific tests and methods to help officials solve crimes.
• Math and science skills: This is where your degree in natural sciences will come in handy! You will need an understanding of statistics and other sciences to analyze evidence.

Job Outlook for Forensic Science Technicians

According to the BLS, employment in this field is expected to grow by 14 percent by 2029; this is much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage is $60,590. Most forensic science technicians work for the local or federal government; however, there are other jobs in medical and testing laboratories as well. State and local governments are expected to hire more technicians as their caseloads increase. As science and technology expand, more information is expected to be available in a timelier manner. As a result, technicians will become even more valuable than before, which means an increase in open positions. Do not wait to follow your dreams; become a forensic science technician today. Chat with an Excelsior College admissions counselor to get started.

Career Spotlight: Nursing Informatics Specialist

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

Nursing is the United States’ largest health care profession, with more than 3.8 million registered nurses nationwide. One reason nursing is such a popular profession is because there are so many fields to go into. Nurses can be found working at private practices, in acute care, in public health agencies, in nursing homes, in schools, and more. When people think of nurses, most think of people working in a hospital caring for the sick or the nurse you see once a year at your annual physical; however, there are many other options for nurses, including nursing informatics specialists.

Nursing informatics combines the need for patient care with the insights of health informatics and technology. While this role is still relatively new, it is a fast-growing field. According to the American Nurses Association, a nursing informatics specialist oversees the integration of data, information, and knowledge to support decision-making by patients and their health care providers. They help to create, develop, and implement health care technologies to deliver the best and most efficient health care services to patients. As a nurse informatics specialist, they have a different and invaluable view than that of software and technology developers. They understand what nurses need to do their jobs effectively and accurately and which information is important to patients and other health care providers—all while also understanding the technology side.

Earn your MS in Nursing Informatics and combine a passion for patient care with powerful data science.

Roles and Responsibilities

Nursing informatics is a high-level technical role, where each day you will use data and technology to monitor programs, systems, and different patient-care initiatives. While the role will vary based on the position, job level, and organization, below are some of the general duties you will find across the field.

• Implement, optimize, and use systems
• Train nurses and other health-care staff on new systems
• Act as a bridge between nursing and information technology departments
• Analyze data to ensure systems are working properly
• Educate other health-care professionals on how technology can improve patient-care outcomes
• Research the latest systems and give suggestions for new tools

A nursing informatics specialist is not your typical nursing job, but it plays a critical role in patient care. It is important to note that as a nursing informatics specialist, you are not likely to provide hands-on patient care. You might not report to the nursing department, and you are likely to not have anyone reporting to you. While most nursing jobs have no option to work from home, with this role you can. According to the HIMSS survey gathered in 2020, 45 percent of nurse informaticists work remotely.

What Are the Education Requirements?

At the very least, you will need a bachelor’s degree to work as a nurse informatics specialist. It is recommended and most jobs require a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. At Excelsior College, you can earn your bachelor’s in nursing fully online, which allows you to continue to work full-time and spend time with your family and friends. It is important to note that a lot of jobs also require a master’s degree. According to the HIMSS survey, 66 percent of nurse informatics specialists have a master’s-level degree. Even more so, 27 percent reported they had a master’s specifically in nursing informatics. A master’s will put you ahead of the game in this career field, and allow you to move into leadership roles.

Excelsior College has many nursing degrees to choose from, including a master’s degree in nursing informatics. This degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to make an impact in patient care, safety, and operational effectiveness. Check out the expert faculty, course catalog, career outcomes, and more on the website.

Salary and Job Outlook

According to payscale.com, nursing informatics specialists earn $85,714 on average annually. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that this field is projected to grow by 8 percent by 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The need for informatics specialists is much higher than the number of people qualified for the position.

Now more than ever, nursing informatics specialists are critical to the success of health care and the battle with COVID-19. Bonny Kehm, faculty program director of the MS in nursing program at Excelsior says, “Nursing informatics focuses on use of data-driven information, technology, and communication in the delivery of health care. The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has led to a surge in the need for logistical coordination and communication. Informatics will facilitate speedy coordination in vaccine distribution and administration to millions of Americans to help gain control of the deadly virus. The use of informatics by highly trained nurses has never been more important or vital, especially as distribution and administration of the vaccines is stalled. We have developed the tools to fight this virus. We must now quickly develop the personnel and tactics to take up the fight. That starts with nurses trained in the use of informatics and analytics. Armed with data and logistics training, nurse informaticists are vital to the future success of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, distribution, and administration.”

Earning your degree in nursing informatics will set you up for a long and successful career in health care.

Assessment in the Time of COVID with Natasha Jankowski, Ph.D., Executive Director, National Institute of Learning Outcomes Assessment.

Posted on by André Foisy

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-mwjht-fa4ec7?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share

Erin and André interview Dr. Natasha Jankowski, then of NILOA and now of AEFIS, about life as an assessment professional during covid and beyond. We talk equity, music, self-care, and leveraging uncertain times into meaningful change in our profession.

A Passion for Police

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Law enforcement is Jason Marcellus’ passion. He has spent his adult life serving the community or serving his country in a policing role. A member of the Army Reserves, Marcellus recently earned two degrees with Excelsior to help him move up in his civilian career. Now he is working to spread the word about how the police and communities must work together to keep people safe.

 

Marcellus joined the Army after graduating from high school, but in 1997, he left following a catastrophic parachute malfunction. By the time 9/11 happened, he was anxious to rejoin the Army, but he broke his femur, was raising a young son alone, and was still doing rehab from his previous injury. By 2006, however, he was ready to move forward with his life, and joined the Army Reserves.

 

Years later, while working as a security manager for Motor City Casino in Detroit, Michigan, a coworker told Marcellus about Excelsior College. Marcellus promised to look into the college after his friend told him how many credits he could potentially transfer in toward a degree. Plus, as a veteran, the Army would help pay for his education. “The Army has provided me a lot of a lot of great opportunities—training opportunities—and has completely paid for both my associate and my bachelor’s degree from Excelsior,” says Marcellus. In 2017, he earned both an Associate in Science in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

 

After earning his degrees, Marcellus was able to obtain a job as the chief of police in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He didn’t stay long in this position, though, and soon moved to the Yakima Training Center, an Army base in Yakima, Washington. He managed the Army’s anti-terrorism program, which entailed coming up with solutions to combat the vulnerabilities that adversaries might be able to exploit. Marcellus also ensured that all Army civilians, contractors, employees, and soldiers on the installation underwent the required anti-terrorism training.

 

Being in the Army Reserves and taking courses with Excelsior helped prepare Marcellus for the role. He explains, “I managed 150 employees at a casino, to leading troops in combat, to being an Army civilian. I’m able to take key aspects from each of those and make it my own…being in the military, you’re exposed to almost every imaginable background, race, creed, color. It’s made me so much more rounded than some of my colleagues and peers.”

 

Marcellus also plans to use his experience in his new job as a police officer with the Yakima Police Department, which he began in September 2021. He is passionate about helping people understand how police officers are related to the community they serve. He uses the “broken window theory” to describe how a community can deteriorate as when ignoring windows that continue to break. In contrast, if you work to fix these windows, you can improve your community. Marcellus explains that it’s important to get police officers back into their respective neighborhoods, and for them to become more involved and help residents.

 

Marcellus is next pursuing a master’s in public safety and hopes that with a higher degree and his position in the police department, he will be able to better influence community leaders. With his background, education, and dedication, he can accomplish his goals. “I was kind of brought up to believe that you are your biggest obstacle,” says Marcellus. “And if you want something, you’re going to find a way or you’re going to make a way.”

 

Why study Human Resources (HR)?

Posted on by Dr. Gary Stroud

When you think about your career what do you want to do? Would you like to have a say-so in the strategic direction of the company? Would you like to help attract top-notch people to come work for you and/or your company? Would you like to coach people so that they become as successful as they can be? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then a career in human resources (HR) may be the right path for you.

It is important for all managers and entrepreneurs, not just those in human resource management, to have a good understanding of human resources. Managers play a key role in selecting employees, training, and motivating them, appraising them, promoting them, etc. These activities can be incredibly rewarding. Many business people have great business acumen but lack the skills necessary in HR. People who have knowledge and abilities can make the company. The founder of IBM, Thomas Watson, said, “You can get capital and erect buildings, but it takes people to build a business.” Many times, businesses fail because the people involved do not grasp the importance of HR.

When studying human resource management, it is important to understand human capital. Human capital refers to the knowledge, experience, and skills of the workforce. Human capital cannot be managed the way organizations manage products or technologies. When you study HR, you learn how to build or develop superior knowledge, skills, and experiences within the workforce that help retain and promote top performers. When you study HR, you learn that even though we are becoming more technology-driven, technology changes the nature of work itself. This digital transformation creates new jobs, but more importantly, it changes the nature of jobs, even entry-level ones. An example of this change is in the automobile industry. Rather than have humans assemble the car on the assembly line we now have robots that can assemble the car. Humans are now checking the work of robots!

When an employee reports to their first day on the job, they meet with HR. In that meeting, HR starts to build a company culture. Company culture is important to employees because workers are more likely to enjoy work when their needs and values are consistent with their employers. If you work somewhere where the culture is a good fit, you tend to develop better relationships with coworkers and be more productive. It is in those first few days that the important things about the company are discussed with you.

Do you have a certain coffee shop that you like to go to because they remember your last order? Or perhaps a particular department store where the workers treat you special, maybe even go out of their way to help you find what you want? That is culture. Those intangible things make a company more than just a business. HR helps build organizational culture.

If you’d like to start a career in human resources, check out Excelsior’s business programs and online human resources professional training courses to start your educational journey.

From the Uniform to the Office

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Jill McShane, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, joined the U.S. Navy at 18 and for the next 20 years, that was the only life she knew. As the time to retire from military service came closer, McShane was unsure how to best transition to civilian life. Then a conversation with a colleague who had earned an associate degree at Excelsior College sparked a direction, and the transition plan began to take shape.

 

McShane joined the Navy in April 2001 as a cryptologic technician–collection, which includes intercepting signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance, and information to ships and special warfare units. The job includes reporting threats to protect the fleet and save lives. McShane emailed her unofficial transcripts to Excelsior and discovered she only needed four courses to earn an associate degree in liberal arts, which she earned in August 2019. She then discovered she only needed to complete seven courses to earn a bachelor’s degree and earned that in July 2020. “With Excelsior, I am surprised how many credits they applied for my military service,” she says.

 

The hardest part about attending school online, says McShane, was trying to balance coursework with being a single mother to two young boys. Luckily, McShane’s parents came to live with her for a time while she was attending Excelsior. She also made sure to balance her courses, following her academic advisor’s advice by taking the right mix of courses to be successful. Before she knew it, McShane had earned her degrees and then used them to apply for an internship through a Department of Defense program called SkillBridge, which provides service members with civilian work experience during their last 180 days of service.

 

“Trying to find a job post-retirement is a little scary, a little daunting. I’ve never interviewed for a job. I joined the Navy when I was 18 years old, so this is all I’ve really known,” explains McShane. Through the SkillBridge program, she made a request to her commanding officer to take an internship for her final six months of service. “I found one through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation called Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship, and there was a requirement to have a degree. Had I not had an associate or bachelor’s degree, I wouldn’t have qualified for this program. I set myself up so nicely for retirement, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

 

McShane interned at Booz Allen Hamilton, a management and information technology consulting firm, and when her internship ended, she was hired full-time as an associate. The most surprising thing to McShane was the difference between the corporate world and the military world. “I think just getting into corporate America and losing the uniformity and the formalness is what really surprised me…and [during] my internship was how everyone goes by first name, and I’m just not used to that,” she says.

 

In her role at Booz Allen Hamilton, McShane is an associate with the Navy-Marine Corps team, where she maintains and supports relationships with stakeholders in the Navy and the Marine Corps. Booz Allen Hamilton supports and employs many veterans retiring from service, something that is important to McShane. She explains that she enjoys helping people to give back to the veteran’s community.

 

McShane separated from the Navy in June 2021, just before earning a Master of Science in Management from Excelsior in July 2021. She had also applied military experience toward that degree, earning nine credit hours for her time at the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy in 2015. As it turned out, she had only needed seven courses to earn the master’s degree, and she chose the MS in Management program based on her interest in business and human resources. Having earned three degrees in just over two years, McShane is proud she pursued her education. “I am thrilled that I gave myself that gift,” she says.

 

Living the Dream

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

For Steve Adams, college never seemed like a possibility.

 

Adams, who lives in Aurora Colorado, grew up poor in Eastern Kentucky. He sometimes helped his mother carry groceries long distances and even spent a couple winters in a camper trailer without plumbing. Wearing inexpensive clothes and shoes in middle school drew the unwanted attention of more affluent kids and he dreamed he owned Air Jordan sneakers just to fit in. It was the kind of childhood that leads him to say, “By the time I turned 18, as far as I’m concerned, I already had a Ph.D. in poverty.”

But Adams refused to let his background win. He is a survivor, he says, and he chose to accomplish a lifelong dream of achieving higher education.

 

Out of high school, Adams sometimes worked long 60–70-hour weeks doing manual labor for a natural gas developer. “I loved the work. In just a few months I lost 30 pounds of awkward-didn’t-play-sports-senior-year-of-high-school fat, and my forearms got swole from carrying gravel and laying pipe,” he says. Eventually, he enrolled in a few courses at a local community college. His mother had instilled the importance of education in him—when he was young, she got her GED and attended community college in order to enrich herself and eventually be a role model to him.

 

By the time Adams was in his early 20s, he needed a change. He ended up in California and joined the California Army National Guard. While there, he was eventually accepted into the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey where he studied Chinese. His time there was a truly enjoyable experience—he went surfing, became scuba certified, and went snowboarding in the California mountains. “It was great. That was my first sort of college experience,” he says. But his college experience didn’t end there. Just a couple of months after being in the DLI, Adams was deployed to Kosovo, and while at Camp Bondsteel, an education counselor suggested he look into Excelsior College to complete a degree.

 

“Excelsior College accepted all my previous credits, and I eventually completed 12 upper-division credits in PoliSci from Excelsior during that deployment and my next. On my third deployment, I studied and completed the college mathematics CLEP exam, earning 6 credits and fulfilling the requirements for a BA in Liberal Arts,” says Adams, who completed his bachelor’s degree in June 2014 while entirely overseas. What was most interesting is that while he was deployed, he was simultaneously studying Contemporary European History and Politics. His location helped to put him in the frame of mind needed for the military situations he was in.

 

A few years later, while deployed in the Middle East, Adams’ Contemporary Middle East History and Politics professor, who had worked for the RAND Corporation for 20 years and was also a professor of Denver University, introduced him to and encouraged him to apply to University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies. In 2021, he was accepted into the International Economic Affairs program. This was a dream come true for Adams. And, what’s more, Adams’s Post 9/11 GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program will pay for his education at the Josef Korbel School and supplement his mortgage.

 

“Maybe some of y’all don’t think this is a big deal,” Adams says about receiving his bachelor’s degree and going for his graduate degree. “But those of you who grew up poor, and who value organized higher education, understand that this is a milestone in living the dream.”

 

 

Currently, Adams works as a security guard for a contractor with the federal government. He likes the flexible hours and other benefits. The job provides stability and flexibility that will allow him to go to school while also supporting his family.

 

In a few years, Adams will have 20 years in the National Guard and can retire. He often encourages other servicemembers to take advantage of their GI Bill benefits and go to school. He says he wouldn’t be on the path he is today if it wasn’t for earning his degree at Excelsior. But, “I try to remember that living the dream isn’t about arriving at the destination. It’s about enjoying the ride.” Check out Excelsior College’s History Degree.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

Career Spotlight: What Is a Community Health Worker?

Posted on by Ermenita Kacani

Are you passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and want to share that passion with others? Do you believe education around health-care availability should be provided to everyone? If you feel strongly about either of these questions, a career as a community health worker might be for you. This career can be both challenging and rewarding. A strong candidate for this position wants to help others, enjoys working with a diverse group of people, and has a passion for health education.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for community health workers is $42,000. However, it is reported that the top 10 percent of workers earns more than $70,000 annually. Overall employment is expected to grow 13 percent by 2029; much faster than the average for all occupations. Take a leap and start your journey as a community health worker today.

What Does a Community Health Worker Do

Community health workers promote a healthy lifestyle within a community by educating individuals to adopt healthy behaviors and habits. They are not only educators, but also advocates for residents by effectively communicating with health-care providers and social service agencies. They create and implement programs that promote and improve individual and overall community health. This can be done in a variety of ways depending on where you work; some examples include implementing a wellness group, encouraging healthy meals in cafeterias, or providing preventative services such as blood pressure or hearing screenings. Community health workers are also responsible for collecting data to identify community needs and report information back to health educators, providers, or social service agencies.

Common Job Duties for a Community Health Worker

As with any position, job duties vary based on the industry. Community health workers hold positions in a variety of industries, including government, family services, health care, and education. Depending on the specific role, a community health worker may be staffing a table at a local community event, conducting home visits to check on clients, teaching a wellness class at an assisted living facility, or visiting schools to promote wellness programs.

According to the BLS, these are the most common and general duties of a community health worker:

• Discuss health concerns with community members
• Educate people about the importance and availability of health-care services
• Provide basic health services
• Collect data to help identify community needs
• Report findings to appropriate people
• Provide informal counseling and social support
• Conduct outreach programs
• Make referrals, provide transportation, and address other barriers to health-care access
• Advocate for individual and community needs

In any case, a community health worker is passionate about educating and improving the health of their community.

How Do You Become a Community Health Worker

There is no standard education requirement for all community health worker jobs, as it may vary depending on what industry you are in. Typically, community health workers must complete on-the-job training and some states may require a certificate program. A bachelor’s in any health sciences-related field will put you ahead of the game and allow you to advance in your career over time. The bachelor’s degree in health sciences at Excelsior College teaches you ways to empower people to maintain optimum health and wellness throughout their life span. In this program, you will learn to help people overcome obstacles related to wellness, and learn about the organization, purpose, and quality of the U.S. health care system. This degree will certainly prepare you for a career as a community health worker. Learn more about Excelsior College’s Health Science degrees.