Not Too Late to Hit the Restart Button

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Michelle Tochiki, of McCordsville, Indiana, has never been to bootcamp and has never experienced hand-to-hand combat. Still, she knows what it is like to serve. She is a military wife and understands what it means to sacrifice for her country. She left her career, put her dream of earning a degree on hold, and took care of her two children while her husband has pursued his military career.

 

But when it came time to restart her career, she found Excelsior College. Tochiki earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts in May 2015 and will earn an MBA in September 2021.

 

Her educational journey has run parallel to her husband’s Army career. While stationed in Germany with her husband, Tochiki heard about Excelsior College. At the time, she was taking online classes with a university in Hawaii, but the school wanted her to start attending in person. That was impossible, so, unfortunately, she had to give up her economics major. She decided to switch to pursuing a liberal arts degree with Excelsior and earned her degree much faster than she anticipated. The business courses within the liberal arts program have prepared Tochiki for a career in human resources.

 

One benefit of being a military spouse, says Tochiki, is the ability to work from home. This has been invaluable to her while working in human resources. However, the opportunity to work from home also has its downside. Tochiki’s specialized area of human resources is data analytics, and sometimes it has been hard to find a remote job. “I had to give up my career, you know, to move around. Not every company in every state has the need for a data analyst,” she says. So, Tochiki is ready for her husband to retire so she can maintain a steady career as an HR data analyst at her current place of work, a workers’ compensation insurance company called AF Group. Her job entails auditing and simplifying data for executives at the company.

 

Tochiki believes Excelsior’s MBA program will help her achieve a promotion at work. “It could better align me to our team, to the growth of the company. And with the MBA, it will help me to step up into a supervisory or manager role,” says Tochiki. She says earning an MBA has always been a dream of hers and now that it falls in with her career, it just made sense to pursue it. She also wants to set a good example for her children. “It’s always like I want to be better off than my parents. And hopefully, we are paving the way for [our children] to be better than us.”

 

Tochiki believes other military spouses can better themselves, too, by earning higher degrees. She says it might be difficult to manage your studies, family, and career at times, but it is worth earning your degree in the end. She says it’s important to celebrate milestones, like she does with her family. When she finished every term, she went out to eat with her family. “The little wins matter,” she says.

 

With a daughter on the way to college and a husband retiring after 20 years in the military, Tochiki admits that life is going to be different now. But with her soon-to-be two degrees, a steady career, and a more permanent living arrangement, Tochiki thinks she can finally take a deep breath. “I’d like to go vacation somewhere. Maybe Australia or Japan. Not think of anything, you know, no school, and definitely not take my work with me.”

More from Michelle Tochiki

 

On Being a Military Spouse

“One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that as a husband or a wife, being in the military means that the whole family is in the military. It affects the children; it affects me for the 20 years that he’s going to be in.”

Tips for Maintaining Work/School/Life Balance:

“Mental health is important. There’s a lot of resources. I talked to my neighbors, I talked to my family, my husband. Family support. I can’t stress it enough. It’s very important. Because there are times that I tell my husband I’m sorry there wasn’t dinner today because everything is due today.”

On Work Experience:

“I think we need to experience work in the field that you enjoy, or the fields that you like to grow into, because that way, you actually see the discrepancies that are at work, and learn, then make changes. Because without that experience, you have no clue what to fix.”

On the Future:

“I really like to see myself as a director in the next two years. I know that my superiors believe in me and with the MBA, I know that’s really going to help me push up in the company…I always wanted to be called a doctor, and I’m looking to pursue a doctorate but would like to breathe a little for now.”

 

Six In-Demand Jobs You Can Get with a General Business Degree

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

Many people think a business degree is the easy way out, or an answer for students who are unsure of what career direction to go. However, that is not the case. Earning a business degree can open many doors for you; everywhere you go, someone is selling a product, analyzing data, directing a team, or managing a project.

What Can You Do with a Business Degree?

If you are a hard worker, creative, and work well with others, a degree in business is the next step for you. Check out six of the most popular job opportunities you can pursue with a general business degree:

Business Analyst

A business analyst watches the market and business trends to create recommendations for the business they are serving. Depending on the industry or role you are in, job responsibilities can vary for this position. For example, you might analyze financial data to look for ways to save money on a certain project, or you could research new products to increase efficiency within the company. Qualities looked at for this position include research skills, problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and effective communication skills for presenting your ideas and solutions.

In May 2020, the median annual salary for a business analyst was $87,900.

Project Manager

A project manager leads a group of professionals to ensure a project is accurately completed by a deadline. They are responsible for assigning tasks and roles, holding team meetings, tracking progress, and communicating any issues or changes to the appropriate people. A suitable candidate for a project management position would have strong attention to detail and an organized nature, as well as effective communication, time management, and leadership skills.

The average salary for a project manager is $76,600 a year.

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts guide businesses or individuals in decisions about spending and delegating money to earn a profit. They make recommendations based on market research, performance, financial data, and more. An ideal financial analyst will enjoy researching and examining economic and business trends and will have strong analytical skills.

On average, financial analysts earn $83,600 a year.

Sales Manager

Sales managers direct an organization’s sales teams and are responsible for creating and meeting goals, analyzing data, and developing training programs for the sales representatives. Sales managers should want to work in customer service. You might need to step in to resolve customer complaints regarding sales and services or monitor customer preferences and create plans to acquire new customers through direct sales techniques. Customer service and leadership skills are necessary for this role.

The salary varies based on what industry you work in; however, on average sales managers earn $132,290 per year. In some cases, a sales manager can earn money based on commission, meaning the more you sell, the more you make.

Training and Development Manager

Training and development managers oversee training programs, staff, and budgets for their organization. Their main goal is to increase efficiencies within a company by holding training programs for employees to improve skills that align with the organization’s goals. Not only are they responsible for creating training programs, but also they facilitate and lead a team of specialists to assist in implementation. A training and development manager must be able to lead, collaborate, and make decisions at every level.

In May 2020, the median annual wage for training and development managers was $115,640.

Marketing Managers

A marketing manager analyzes industry trends to plan programs that will generate interest in a product or service. A marketing manager tends to work with a variety of people across a company to discuss topics such as budgets and contracts, marketing plans, and advertising media. They lead a team of skilled marketing professionals and also can be the idea makers. They bring their ideas to life with a plan that will increase brand awareness, sales, and much more. A marketing manager must be a creative thinker, a leader, a delegator, and a decision-maker. Strong organization and communication skills will come in handy for this role.

On average, marketing managers earn $133,460 a year.

To truly excel, every organization needs experts in the business field. Earn your business degree from Excelsior today!

Moving Toward Distributed Workforces

Posted on by Jennie Walker

In March 2020, when a national emergency was declared in the U.S. due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders across the country forced organizations to decide whether to shut down or pivot to distributed working arrangements.

The pandemic created a particularly challenging situation for organizations that either were not designed or prepared for the major change.  For the last 50 years, organizations have been experimenting with different workforce models with a variety of names—telework, telecommuting, work from home, remote work, virtual work, and now distributed workforces. These all reference work that does not take place within a singular office space. However, there are distinctions in the scope, roles, protocols, and technologies involved. Leaders need to understand these distinctions, as they have implications for how to best lead individuals and teams. Distributed workforces, in particular, are becoming increasingly prevalent and require more than just new skills; they require a new mindset for employees and leaders alike.

Telework and telecommuting were early references to working remotely with communication via telephone. Telework originally was designed to reduce real estate costs. However, it also created new options to support employees needing accommodation or additional flexibility with work arrangements.  Employees may have been assigned to an office location but worked temporarily or sporadically off-site.  When teams needed to collaborate, it either necessitated planning travel for in-person sessions or left employees in the relative isolation of telephone conference lines. Telework and telecommuting are terms that are rarely used anymore, as they pre-date the internet. The more common terms today are virtual and remote work. The rise of 21st-century technologies enabled organizations to stay connected in real-time with off-site employees. More importantly, technological advancements have allowed employees to collaborate in real-time via video conferencing, shared drives, and applications for collaborations.

Remote or virtual employees may or may not be part of distributed workforces, however. The distinctions are in the permanence of the working arrangement and the degree of collaboration involved. A distributed workforce is designed to be geographically dispersed and intended to collaborate with one another. During the pandemic, for example, some organizations worked remotely when it was deemed safest to do so and are now calling employees back to the office. This was an example of remote work. Distributed workforce arrangements intentionally build the systems and processes to support them as a long-term strategy, such as organizations that have done away with office locations entirely or those now operating in hybrid models. These often include multiple hubs in different locations along with employees permanently working from home.

The global pandemic did not create distributed workforces, but it arguably accelerated the move toward them. The dramatic shifts in workforce structure require that leaders understand how to manage the complexities of distributed workforces. For example, distributed teams benefit from working guidelines, but may need greater flexibility to navigate time zones, cultures, and technologies. Leadership, therefore, needs to be more flexible, responsive to diversity, adept with a variety of technologies, and more dynamic to motivate and influence from a distance. Distributed work has tremendous benefits to organizations and individuals, including cost savings, flexibility, innovation, and the ability to recruit talent from anywhere in the world. However, it does require leadership development for those who influence and manage others in this framework.

Excelsior College is pleased to offer the new Graduate Certificate in Distributed Workforce Management. The certificate is comprised of three courses: Organizational Behavior, Virtual Team Management, and Virtual Training and Development. It is ideal for those who either are new to leading teams in a distributed workforce or need to enhance their current skillset to better engage and influence employees in this framework.

Lifelong Teacher

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

After four decades in health care, Excelsior graduate Pamela Addy, vice president of clinical and ambulatory services at the University of Maryland Medical System, has many accomplishments she can be proud of. One of those accomplishments is teaching and mentoring her leadership teams to use data and evidence-based practices to deliver health-care to those in need—something that is her passion.

 

After earning a certificate in radiologic technology at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1976, Addy began her management career at Hand Surgery & Rehab Center of New Jersey. With dedication and hard work, she worked her way through the ranks at several institutions; she was executive director at the Pennsauken MRI and Imaging Center in Pennsauken, New Jersey, the managing director at the Broad Street Open MRI and Imaging Center in Philadelphia, and director of Diagnostic Imaging and CardioPulmonary Services at Lodi Memorial Hospital in Lodi, California. In 2005, a recruiter asked Addy to come to Sutter Health in Northern California to help develop the ambulatory diagnostic imaging network. Nearly 15 years later, the Sacramento, California, region had more than 20 ambulatory imaging centers and was conducting 750,000 imaging exams per year. It was then that Addy was at a point in her career where she began looking for other opportunities.

 

Any career growth would require Addy to earn her first college degree.

 

“What is the swiftest way I could put a bachelor’s degree on my resume?” Addy recalls thinking when she was looking to change her career. She discovered Excelsior College and enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences to Master of Science in Health Sciences program. She took a combination of courses and CLEP and DANTES exams for credit toward the degrees. During the four years it took Addy to earn the degrees, her family was not aware of what she was doing. It was a personal experience for her, so she didn’t tell her family until she had earned her degrees in August 2019.

 

“I made a plan: I looked at which subjects I knew something about already,” she says. “Excelsior made it so simple. I was able to just patchwork all of this together to be exactly what I needed for that [the bachelor’s] degree, and then be able to bridge over to the master’s.” Addy notes that 40 years’ experience in the health-care field gave her helpful life experience that she applied in the exams and the online courses.

 

After earning her degrees, Addy became an adjunct faculty instructor for the bachelor’s program for medical imaging and the BS in nursing program at the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in California. Teaching fits right in with Addy’s job at the University of Maryland Medical System, too, where she has been vice president since January 2020. “One of our primary objectives as a leader in health care is to develop people. This is where coaching, mentoring, and education support a healthcare organization to achieve its mission through its team members,” says Addy. She oversees the clinical services at three hospitals, a free-standing emergency department, multiple ambulatory facilities, and two urgent care facilities—the buildings of which are spread over five counties.

 

A large part of Addy’s job consists of strategic planning, which she describes as taking everything she’s learned through her career and applying it to current problems in order to establish priorities and allocate resources to reach intended results and outcomes. She applies educational training, like the Lean Management System, to her employees’ work, as well as the Lean process improvement approach to eliminate waste and reduce errors in work processes. “Our goal is to become a high-reliability organization with the highest standards of safety and quality,” says Addy.

 

Addy also encourages her employees to be passionate about health care, and she leads by example. It’s her mission as a healthcare leader to address access to health care and create and support healthier communities. “The problem is often access, whether it’s access through affordability, access through transportation, access through insurance, access through being able to get time off from work,” explains Addy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has worked with the county departments of health and Chesapeake College to create a mass-testing site so people in more rural areas would have access to testing.

 

When reflecting on her career so far, Addy says she has been able to apply each life experience to the next and encourage others with her life lessons. One of her greatest accomplishments was helping to develop a successful ambulatory imaging network at Sutter Health, and she is excited for what is next. With her degrees from Excelsior, she is sure she can go anywhere and do anything. “You can be anything. Here I am: this is my story from a radiologic technologist in diagnostic imaging and now vice president. There is no ceiling, you can be anything.”

 

More from Pamela Addy

 

What is the most important trait for someone to succeed in health care?

I think you need to be humble. Keep learning. Ask for feedback. And reflect. I reflect on everything… . One more thing which is critical is relationships. It is invaluable to build solid relationships along the way. It means you always have someone to reach out to when you have a need or a question. I still reach out to people I worked with 20 years ago and they reach out to me. It is part of the continuous education process.

 

What is the best business advice you have received?

I was taught to have integrity in everything you do. That is the best advice. I grew up in health care management with leaders who demonstrated integrity. It builds trust. I’m also very transparent. I’m probably a lot more transparent than some other leaders. If you’re always demonstrating integrity, there’s no downside to being transparent. It’s absolutely the foundation.

Teaching Students and Hunting Killers

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Douglas Gilbertson, a veteran of the U.S. Army, earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College in 1995 and went on to earn a master’s and then a Ph.D. Now a professor of criminal justice at St. Cloud State in Minnesota, most people know him as a teacher. Others recognize him as one-third of a team that investigates the cases of the Smiley Face Killers.

 

In 2005, Gilbertson was looking for a final project for his Crime Analysis, Mapping, and Profiling graduate-level class when he came across names of young men who had gone missing and presumably died of the same cause. He gave the topic to his students to research and profile, and also called a television producer he knew in the Twin Cities to record the students’ final presentations. The video was posted on the internet and that’s when things took off.

 

In October 2006, retired New York City detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte approached Gilbertson with a request that he join them as they investigated the cases of those men, which they believed fell under the work of a murderer(s) dubbed the Smiley Face Killers. The moniker comes from the graffiti smiley faces that were found near the victims. Gannon and Duarte, and later Gilbertson, believed the young men found dead in bodies of water across several midwestern states from the late 1990s to the 2010s did not accidentally drown, as concluded by law enforcement.

 

Duarte, Gannon, and Gilbertson brought new media attention to the deaths of the young men and appeared on the documentary series “Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice” that aired on the Oxygen channel from January to February 2019. Gilbertson and Gannon have also co-written a book, “Case Studies in Drowning Forensics,” and Gilbertson has appeared on several television shows, including “Larry King Live,” “Dr. Phil,” and “Dr. Oz.”

 

He continues to spend summers with Gannon, visiting the families of the deceased young men. “Every summer, every June, Kevin will fly in here to Minnesota. I’ll pick him up at the airport, we’ll hit the road for a couple of weeks, and we go check out some of the old cases that are still open,” says Gilbertson, adding that they always make sure to visit with the families of the deceased. It’s usually not hard to work with law enforcement to obtain files because by now the information is public record, and they are able to obtain the data with the Freedom of Information Act. What is hard, however, is talking with the parents, Gilbertson says, because they are often looking for end-all answers about their family member that Gilbertson and Gannon cannot give.

 

Gilbertson is glad to work on the Smiley Face Killers cases but has also worked on other controversial and high-profile cases. For instance, he says his biggest triumph so far is having brought to light the possible innocence of Rodney Reed, who was convicted in Texas of murder. With new evidence, Gilbertson and others were able to get a stay of execution for Reed in 2019, and Reed is now working with the Innocence Project to prove his innocence.

 

Gilbertson’s career is the outcome of his military experience and educational journey. When he was just leaving the Army and lacked educational experience, Gilbertson didn’t have many options for work. He happened to find a flyer for Regents [now Excelsior] College at his base, Fort Hood. Regents awarded 21 credits in Czech Studies for the language training he completed at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California, and then he took history courses at St. Cloud State University that he also transferred into Excelsior.

 

After earning his bachelor’s degree, Gilbertson pursued a master’s in criminal justice and specialized in gangs to complement his time as a signals intelligence analyst in the Army, where he was exposed to different groups of peoples’ ways of operating and communicating. “I’m like, ‘how can I translate, transfer those skills as a signals intelligence analyst into criminal justice?’ It’s just like trying to keep track of gangs; you’ve got the Crips; the leader’s name is this, and he goes by Scoop, and their colors are blue. And these are their symbols…And so it was the same skill set, just a different group of people,” Gilbertson says, explaining that being a signal intelligence analyst meant you also had to look closely at the uniforms, colors, and flags of different groups of people.

 

Gilbertson went on to earn a Ph.D. in Sociology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to further understand the inner workings of criminal activity. “I need to understand the sociological theory to understand the criminological theories and that’s what led me to sociology,” he recalls.

 

Gilbertson’s work doesn’t stop at tracking down killers; he continues to speak at conferences and has the privilege of saying he is the only person to have done a content analysis on gang theory from the 20th century. He has also worked with George W. Knox at the National Gang Crime Research Center since the 1990s and is the executive editor for the Center’s Journal of Gang Research. He is also able to boast that even before he finished his master’s degree, he was invited to speak on war crimes at a conference in Amsterdam.

 

Whether he’s investigating old cases or teaching a class of future criminologists, Gilbertson has pride in his work and has fun doing it. While recording an episode for the Oxygen documentary, Gilbertson offered to jump into the Charles River in Boston when no one else would. The producer loved it —Gilbertson’s determination, vigor, knowledge, and dedication make for good tv.

 

More from Gilbertson:

 

What advice would you give somebody who wanted to pursue a career similar to yours?

“You need to figure out first where you are. Are you concerned about victims or the offenders’ rights?

Because criminal justice is multidisciplinary. It’s not just biology. It’s not sociology or social work. You know, it’s chemistry, biology, it’s law…so if you think [offenders] can be rehabilitated, then maybe you should be a probation or parole officer. If you don’t; you’re okay with just babysitting them, well, you might make a good prison guard or correctional officer. If you want to go out and get the bad guys on the street, then maybe you should be a cop. But if you’re out there for the thrill of the chase, and you might be shot at, do us all a favor and don’t put on a badge; join the Army or the Marine Corps.”

 

What do you think is the best piece of advice you ever received on the job?

“The guy who started our program was an Ohio state trooper. He had all kinds of little gems. ‘If you’re hunting raccoons, don’t let your dogs go chasing after rabbits.’ In other words, stay focused. Another one was, ‘Unless you’re willing to go to court with it, don’t record it. Don’t write it down. Say it and be done with it.’”

 

Is making ethical decisions something you find that you come across daily?

“They’re about the biggest challenge. Ethics-wise, don’t lie to the family. Don’t tell them what they want to hear…Because it’s more important for them to know the truth, so they can have closure. Never lie. Never.” Follow Gilbertson’s education path by learning more about Excelsior’s Liberal Arts degrees.

 

A Thriving Career

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Kelly Sharpe, of Highland, California, has a passion for business and helping people. She quickly found a way to combine the two by getting a job with Pizza Hut when she was 17 years old. Twenty-six years later, Sharpe is a senior manager of training and operational excellence. Thanks to her drive and determination, and with Pizza Hut’s support and flexibility, Sharpe was able to achieve her dream of earning a degree from Excelsior College.

 

Sharpe started working for Pizza Hut in a part-time capacity and then worked her way up into a shift manager position. She intended to begin college, but she kept finding herself doing more with the company. “It turned out that I loved the company and had many opportunities to grow, and I did just that,” she says, and adds, “I have worked in several positions over my tenure, including restaurant general manager, district manager, restaurant training leader, and now senior manager of training and operational excellence.” In her role, she oversees training and communication, and development for 276 restaurants throughout Southern California and Utah.

 

Sharpe had always desired to earn a college degree. She had previously tried enrolling at another online college but shares that she was denied because she spent too much time at work and the institution felt she would not succeed. Sharpe was devastated, but then she found out about Pizza Hut’s partnership with Excelsior. Through the partnership, Excelsior awards degree credit for Pizza Hut’s Learning Zone training. “What happened next was unbelievable,” says Sharpe. “I learned that I could receive credits based on Pizza Hut’s virtual learning courses I had completed, receive a 50 percent discount, and complete the courses needed for my degree in a timeframe that worked for me,” she says, recalling the process of applying to Excelsior.

 

After speaking with her family and boss—who were all supportive of her decision to attend college—she jumped into Excelsior’s online learning and is forever thankful for Pizza Hut’s partnership benefits. Thanks to Pizza Hut’s support, she was able to reach the milestone of completing a degree. “Without a doubt, I would not have gone back to school if it was not for our partnership benefits. Not only was I able to receive a half-off tuition discount, but I also began my degree program with 63 [credits]. Without having these benefits, I know I would not have enrolled.”

 

With a 70-mile commute to work, a 50-hour plus work week, and family demands, pursuing her degree was hard, but Sharpe was determined to do well. “Online learning was a little intimidating at first but realizing that I am often an independent worker at work, I knew that this could be the right path for me with dedication and discipline,” remembers Sharpe. “No doubt, I was tired, but knowing when everything was due, having the flexibility of posting early, and responding to my professors or peers throughout the week, no matter the time, school became a normal process and allowed me to stay on track.”

 

Sharpe did stay on track and earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business and Management in February 2021. Around the same time, she also earned a promotion that she had been working hard toward.

 

With her bachelor’s degree, Sharpe thinks Pizza Hut will see that she is dedicated to developing herself to help better the company. The company saw her dedication in her day-to-day job but also saw that going back to school was a way for Sharpe to continue to educate and develop herself to better help the company. She has also applied what she has learned in her Excelsior courses to her work. For example, she says, “I think I have become more detailed and structured when developing programs, planning for the future, managing multiple projects, delegating, and communicating as a whole.”

 

Sharpe says others can do what she has done and feel just as accomplished. She encourages other employees to take courses with Excelsior to continue their educational journeys. “Sure, there were challenges and hard times, but after completing each class, you get a sense of excitement that you got through that one…Pace yourself, plan out the courses you need in the order that makes the most sense…Finally, believe in yourself — you can do it!”

Paper, Pencils, Potential: Excelsior College Provides Backpacks to Students at Albany Housing Authority

Posted on by Erin Coufal
Photo by Steve Smith, Public Information Officer at Albany Police Department

Albany, New York—On Friday, August 27, 2021, Excelsior College is distributing backpacks to students who are residents of Albany Housing Authority. Excelsior knows that learning is a lifelong journey and is providing a backpack to students to help start their journey off right.

“Excelsior College is dedicated to helping students of all ages get back to school,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College. “We are pleased to supply backpacks to the elementary, middle, and high school students of our partners at Albany Housing Authority. We believe in the potential of all students, regardless of age or stage in life.”

Albany Housing Authority recently partnered with Excelsior College to provide the residents of Albany Housing Authority a clear path to an associate and/or bachelor’s degree at little to no cost. Through scholarships from the Carl E. Touhey Foundation, residents have the opportunity to earn a degree at no cost. In addition, employees of Albany Housing Authority and their partners are eligible for discounted tuition at Excelsior.

“Albany Housing Authority is proud to partner with Excelsior College,” said Chiquita D’Arbeau, executive director of Albany Housing Authority. “By equipping students with this basic school supply, we hope to not only satisfy a practical need, but to demonstrate that we believe in them and their potential.”

 

# # #

 

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 Can You Do With A Criminal Justice Degree?

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

When you were young, you may have been captivated by the criminal justice system. Maybe “cops and robbers” was one of your favorite games or maybe your dreams were to become a superhero. If this sounds like you, then it is time to consider a degree in criminal justice.

Earning a criminal justice degree can lead to successful careers in law, politics, law enforcement, advocacy, and more. Obtaining a degree is no simple task, therefore, it is important to do your research. While some entry-level positions in the criminal justice field do not require higher education, many find it necessary. At Excelsior College, you can earn an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in criminal justice, as well as degrees in the homeland and national security. Check out the different avenues you can take with a degree in criminal justice and some popular jobs in the field.

Law Enforcement

 

When people hear the term law enforcement, they may think of policing; however, the field is much wider than that. It includes all levels of enforcing laws in the public and private sectors. Law enforcement jobs can be quite stressful, but most people also find them rewarding.

Police Officer

Police officers cover all law enforcement duties. Police officers must attend a 6-month police academy, and most academies encourage people to have some higher education before applying. While a bachelor’s degree is not required, a degree in criminal justice will put you ahead of the game. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), on average, police officers make $65,600 per year.

FBI Agent

 

FBI agents are highly trained special agents with jurisdiction to investigate federal violations. FBI agents investigate crimes that cross state lines. For any FBI job, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree, but you are more likely to get a job with a master’s degree. The entry-level salary for an FBI agent is $52,700 per year.

Private Security

 

Private security includes a range of services including security guards, bodyguards, and loss prevention coordinators. Because private security is so vast, education and salary ranges vary depending on the company and job.

Homeland Security

 

In the United States, homeland security encompasses all efforts to ensure safety, security, and strength against foreign and domestic threats. This can also include protection against natural and manmade disasters. A bachelor’s degree in homeland security will prepare you for a career in this field.

Customs and Border Protection Officer

As a customs and border protection officer, you will secure the border and enforce immigration laws. An officer can make up to $122,700 per year throughout their career.

Federal Air Marshal

A federal air marshal is responsible for protecting all commercial passenger flights from terrorism, drug smuggling, and more. The Transportation Security Administration requires that all federal air marshals have at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in criminal justice. The median salary for a federal air marshal is $67,100.

Forensics and Investigation

Criminologists

 

A criminologist works with law enforcement to understand criminals and offenders. They also research why people commit certain crimes and ways to see signs of criminal behavior before a crime is committed. An advanced degree is a necessity in a job like this; most recommend a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminal justice or psychology to start. On average, criminologists can make up to $70,000 per year.

Judiciary Services

Court Reporters

 

Court reporters create word-for-word transcriptions during a court hearing or trial. On average, they earn $61,700 per year. If you want to be a court reporter, an associate degree in criminal justice will help.

Bailiff Officer

 

Bailiff officers provide protection within the courtroom. They are responsible for keeping law and order throughout a trial or hearing. Bailiffs must have at least a high school diploma, however, some facilities require a bachelor’s degree. The average annual salary for a bailiff officer is $45,760.

Social Justice Services

 

Victim Advocate

 

A victim advocate is a liaison between a victim and criminal court. They advise the victim on a course of action. At a minimum, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in an area such as psychology or criminal justice to become a victim advocate. On average, victim advocates earn $49,500 per year.

 

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Jumpstarting an IT Career

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

Information Technology Job Outlook

Since the start of the 21st century, using technology has become second nature to most. Computers, phones, networks, and smart equipment dominate our daily lives, whether we are at work, out with friends, or at home with our family. With more technology, comes more responsibility and a greater need for trained workers in this field. Earning a bachelor’s degree in information technology will open many career opportunities in this ever-growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in the computer and information technology field are expected to grow by 13 percent before 2026—that’s much faster than average.

Earn a bachelor’s degree in information technology at Excelsior College today, and you might find yourself in one of these positions in no time.

Software Developers

Software developers create programs that allow users to do specific tasks. Think Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, two of the most famous software developers. Software developers look for ways to increase efficiencies within a company by using computer applications. Mark Zuckerberg found a gap in communication and building relationships, which led to Facebook and a change in the way people connect with others for years to come.

The median annual salary for software developers is $110,140.

Database Administrators

Database administrators use specialized software to organize and store data for an organization. They are responsible for managing data, making sure it remains secure, and allowing other members of the organization to access it if needed. Database administrators must be analytical thinkers and problem solvers. They are responsible for monitoring a database’s performance and decide when action is needed.

The median annual salary for database administrators is $98,860.

Computer and Information Systems Manager

Computer and information systems managers (also known as an IT managers) plan, coordinate, and manage computer-related activities for an organization. They work to develop the organization’s technology goals and implement them across departments. An IT manager oversees the information technology department, which usually includes a team of support staff.

The median annual salary for a computer and information systems manager is $ 151,200.

What Industries Do People With IT Degrees Work In?

With a degree in information technology, you can work in almost any field you can imagine. Maybe you always thought you would work in health care, but do not want to do bedside care. Why not become a software developer for a hospital? Maybe you thought you would work in education, but teaching is not for you. You might become a database administrator at a local college to ensure their student information is secure and accurate. Interested in helping people with day-to-day technology needs? You could become an IT manager. With this degree, you can work for a variety of industries, in a variety of settings. Many information technology jobs can be executed in a work-from-home position. Take advantage of this flexible and rewarding career today. Learn more about Excelsior College’s Online Technology Degree programs.

Top 5 Emergency Management Career Paths

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

Careers Emergency Management

Emergency management provides a framework that helps communities recognize and reduce vulnerabilities in the event of an emergency. A career in emergency management can be a rewarding and exhilarating experience for people who want to protect their communities, prepare for disasters, and help sustain government laws and regulations in the event there is an emergency. What is most exciting about this field is that there is no straight path to follow. There are many options to get involved and depending on what you like and what your career goals are, most people can find a job in this field that works for them. Even better, the careers in emergency management are projected to grow by 4 percent in the next ten years.

So, are you interested in finding your career in emergency management? Check out the top five emergency management career paths.

Emergency Management Director

Emergency management directors prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters and other emergencies. They are responsible for leading the response during and after an emergency has occurred. Emergency management directors work with public safety officials, government agencies, and emergency services. You can find emergency management directors in a variety of industries including government, health care, education, law enforcement, and more. Emergency management directors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field, public health, or emergency management.

On average, an emergency management director earns $76,250 per year.

Homeland Security Officer

A homeland security officer is responsible for protecting U.S. borders, airports, seaports, and other waterways. Some homeland security officers work overseas and are responsible for international affairs and national security from distinct locations around the world. At Excelsior College, you can earn a bachelor’s degree in homeland security or national security that will prepare you for a career in homeland security.

On average, homeland security officers earn $46,596 a year.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Hazardous materials removal workers, also knowns as hazmat workers, identify and dispose of harmful substances. These substances can include asbestos, lead, mold, and radioactive waste. They also clean up materials that are flammable, corrosive, or toxic. Hazmat removal workers respond to natural or human-made disasters and accidents. Anywhere there is a chance of hazardous or dangerous materials, a hazmat team will respond. Following guidelines set in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers may also prepare and transport hazardous materials for treatment, storage, or disposal. While higher education is not required to become a hazmat removal worker, it certainly will help you move up into leadership and management roles. Excelsior College offers a variety of degrees in public service that will help you advance your career in hazardous materials management.

On average, hazmat removal workers make $45,270 a year.

Public Information Officer

A public information officer creates a relationship between the agency they represent and the media and public. They are responsible for clear and concise communication between each party involved in any public health disaster or situation. A public information officer typically works for state or local governments. In other industries, public information officers are referred to as public relation specialists or communication specialists. A vital part of this job is to promote a positive public image to the community to ensure government guidelines are being enforced. Over the past 16 months, we have found public information officers necessary more than ever before, with the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers prefer at least a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts or public administration.

On average, a public information officer earns $58,134 a year.

Hospital Emergency Preparedness Administrator

A hospital emergency preparedness administrator develops emergency plans and trains employees on how to implement them. Not only do hospital emergency preparedness administrators create plans for emergencies, they also create plans to mitigate an emergency’s impact if it comes to it. They play a vital role in any crisis by providing leadership and clarity to upper management, middle management, and the entire community. A hospital emergency preparedness administrator must build strong relationships with other hospital leaders, facility leaders, and local emergency services. To become an administrator, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in public health administration, emergency services, homeland security, health sciences, or another related discipline. While a master’s degree is not required, it will put you at a competitive advantage in the job market. At Excelsior College, there are many, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration and homeland and emergency management to choose from.

On average, a hospital emergency preparedness administrator earns $69,000 a year.

Start your career in emergency management today by contacting an admissions counselor at Excelsior College to learn more.

So you want to be a nurse?

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

Nurses are well-known in hospitals and doctors’ offices for bedside care; however, many people don’t realize that a career in nursing does not need to involve hands-on care at all. There are endless job opportunities in a variety of settings that nurses play a crucial role in. Nurses are also needed in schools, large companies and organizations, and even your living room. Picture yourself in your ideal work environment, and there will most likely be a nursing job available for you. Nurses can be an advocate for the patient or hospital, they can help prioritize incoming emergencies so doctors can tend to the most critical first, they can be an educator, a consultant, and so much more. Explore these other nursing possibilities to find the right fit for you.

Triage Nurse

Triage nurses evaluate a patient’s symptoms and perform assessments before identifying the next steps of care. Most of the time, they determine the treatment plan, but in some cases triage nurses do have to perform emergency treatments. Triage nurses field patients and categorize them into different priority levels, so patients with the most critical needs are being treated first. Triage nurses are needed in all medical settings, including hospitals, combat fields, and doctor’s offices. You can even work from home as a telephone triage nurse. As a telephone triage nurse, it is your responsibility to get information from the patient to determine their next steps and categorize them into a priority level. Now more than ever, nurses are looking into triage nursing as a great opportunity for a flexible, non-bedside, rewarding career.

Legal Nurse Consultant

A legal nurse consultant provides invaluable expertise to attorneys about medical issues. They tend to work on cases that involve medical malpractice, insurance fraud, criminal cases, injury cases, and more. A legal nurse consultant helps clarify any information and to avoid any misunderstandings that could complicate a case. Legal nurse consultants tend to work with a medical company or law firm, but there are also freelance opportunities in this field.

Nurse Educator

Were you torn between becoming a teacher or becoming a nurse? If so, then why don’t you become both? Nurse educators teach future nurses. A nurse educator typically works at a college or university, creating courses and teaching materials. Generally, nurse educators have experience working as a nurse in a particular field, and after a few years of field experience, they move into an educator role.

School Nurse

If you enjoy working with children and want to be on a school schedule (aka summers off) then a school nurse position is for you. Spend your day fielding belly aches, bruises, and cuts. In some cases, you will also provide hearing and vision exams to students. School nurses are necessary for all K-12 schools. As the school nurse, you are the face of all things medical at the school and are one of the main point persons in an emergency.

Home Health Nurse

A home health nurse provides individualized care to a patient in the comfort of their own home. Their medical responsibilities vary depending on the health of the individual and the reason they need medical assistance. If you want to work somewhere with different hours and even days, then this field might be for you.

How to Become a Nurse

Now that you have learned about opportunities outside of bedside care, you may be asking yourself how to become a nurse. Registered nurses have two options for education: an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Graduates of either program qualify for entry-level nursing positions. To specialize or move into upper-level positions, work experience, and in some cases, a master’s degree, is required. Excelsior University has degree programs for nursing at all levels that will give you the knowledge and confidence to pursue your nursing career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses make on average $75,500 per year and the nursing field is projected to grow by 7 percent by 2029. Take the next step, and chat with a member of the Excelsior admissions team today.

What Does a Supply Chain Manager Do?

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

What Is a Supply Chain Manager?

If you are looking for a career that is demanding but rewarding, fast-paced, and never boring, then supply chain management is for you. Supply chain managers are the key to an efficient business and are necessary in every industry. They analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, there is more to it than you might think.
Supply chain managers must be detail-oriented and true leaders because they are involved in every stage of the production process. They manage all the steps that go into purchasing raw materials, delivering the materials, and ensuring the company is reaching customer demand. In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the average salary for a supply chain manager was $76,270 per year.
At a quick glance, you might think supply chain management is all about the product. While delivering the best quality product in the most efficient way is the goal, supply chain managers manage not only production but also people and clients. No supply chain can exist without the clients who want the product and the teams who carry out the production process.

Supply Chain Manager Responsibilities

The supply chain manager coordinates, organizes and manages all logistics involved in the production and distribution process of a company’s goods. According to the BLS, supply chain managers oversee the entire life cycle of a product. The following are their main responsibilities:

• Create business relationships with suppliers and clients. Supply chain managers must be excellent networkers and understand the demands of the client in order to meet their needs.
• Direct allocation of materials, supplies, and products. Supply chain managers must be successful leaders to lead teams, manage a financial budget, and develop a product that meets the needs of current and future clients.
• Develop high-quality products. Supply chain managers need to develop and deliver high-quality products as efficiently as possible. They are required to continuously review logistical functions and identify areas of improvement. It is their responsibility to propose strategies to minimize the cost of time required to deliver goods.

Qualifications for Supply Chain Managers

Now that you have learned what a supply chain manager does, how do you become one? Typically, a bachelor’s degree is required for most positions related to supply chain management. To go even further in the career, some industries require concentrations or certificates. At Excelsior College, you can advance your career with a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in logistics management. This program includes coursework in operations and database management as well as in project management, inventory management, and quality control. The ideal candidate for a supply chain position would have education in these areas as well as strong problem-solving and communication skills to handle unforeseen issues and build rapport with clients and colleagues.

How to Become a Supply Chain Manager

Are you interested in becoming a supply chain manager? Follow the steps below to get started:
1. Bachelor’s Degree
Aspiring supply chain managers should earn at least a bachelor’s degree. Ideally, finding a degree that focuses on supply chain management and operations will set you up for success. Contact an Excelsior admissions representative today to learn more.
2. Gain work experience
Maybe you already have this, and if so, you are ahead of the game! Any work or internship experience in supply chain analysis, product distribution, inventory management, operations, or project management will prepare you for a management-level position.
3. Stay detailed oriented
It’s important to be detailed oriented and take on leadership roles and network constantly.

Organization is key to any successful supply chain management position. Take all leadership opportunities as they arise to gain experience in managing people. Networking is essential for building relationships, establishing sources, and continuing to learn. Knowledge of current industry standards is needed in this profession.
Follow these simple steps and you will find yourself in a supply chain management position in no time!