Joy Garratt, BS in Liberal Arts, 1986

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Representative Joy Garratt is currently serving Albuquerque’s House District 29 in the New Mexico State Legislature.  Elected in 2018, she also works as an instructional coach and teacher.

Since graduating from Excelsior in 1986, Garratt has gone on to obtain a MA in Educational Leadership at the University of New Mexico. She reports that her Excelsior College experience continues to inform her work on the House Education Committee in the State Legislature saying: “Excelsior taught me out-of-the-box thinking for how to compile diverse experience and credits to equal to a diploma.  Now I apply that in developing innovative ways for adults to obtain high school equivalency diplomas.”

Steve Carriere BS ’18

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Steve Carriere, BS ’18, of Jacksonville, Florida, recently accepted a volunteer leadership role with Team Rubicon, a veteran-based disaster relief non-profit organization, to lead volunteer growth, training, and provide administrative support to Team Rubicon city administrators and volunteers from Pensacola, FL to Jacksonville, FL.

Andrew LaMothe, BS in Computer Technology, 1991

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Andrew LaMothe, BS ’91, of Malta, NY is a sales representative for IBM in the systems group where he focuses on data protection and preservation for large enterprises like the state of New York, insurance companies, and higher education institutions like MIT and Harvard. He previously worked for multinational technology companies like Dell and Hewlett-Packard. LaMothe credits Excelsior (then Regents) College with his successful, decades-long career in IT saying: “Regents College made it possible for me to earn my BS while working and raising a family. Earning my BS from Regents gave me the credential and confidence to grow in my career – and I’m still enjoying that career 29 years later.”

Denise Boroughs-Fitch BS ’14

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Denise Boroughs-Fitch, BS ’14, of Woodland, CA, has worked as a director or manager in health care administration for more than 25 years. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Management and Leadership program at Western Governors University and says earning her bachelor’s in liberal arts from Excelsior prepared her well for WGU’s online competency-based program.

Jeffrey Gilfor BS ’82

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Jeffrey Gilfor, BS ’82, of Tampa, FL, completed his degree with Regents College while in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Program. He then moved into the Pre-Health Specialized Studies program at the University of Pennsylvania, took the Medical College Admission Test in 1992 and was accepted into Jefferson Medical College. He earned his medical degree in 1998 and completed his residency in anesthesiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He is now an anesthesia director for a large ambulatory surgical center in Tampa and says if it wasn’t for the Regents program, he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish any of this.

Looking Toward a Successful Future

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Brooklin Gilbert benefits from what Excelsior has to offer

When Brooklin Gilbert received the Entrepreneur: Business and Technology Scholarship from Excelsior College in May 2019, she was shocked. As a previous graduate of Excelsior with an associate degree, Gilbert had decided to re-enroll to pursue a bachelor’s degree. However, with working full-time and money being tight, she struggled. Receiving the scholarship helped with educational finances and enabled her to continue her education. She earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies in September 2020.

The bachelor’s degree sets Gilbert, of Capon Bridge, West Virginia, on a new career path. Her first dream was to be a physician’s assistant, probably because as a young girl, she used to tag along with her father, an EMT, on ambulance calls. When she got older, she pursued a degree in biology and earned an Associate in Science from Excelsior in 2017. Gilbert realized the medical world was not for her, though. From her experiences as teenager working at a country store with her mother, she learned the importance of being financially stable. So, she didn’t wait long before deciding to return to school to pursue a different career and secure her future. Gilbert tried majoring in accounting for a semester but quickly realized it wasn’t for her. She decided to pursue general business management and professional studies. “Pursuing a business degree was important because I wanted to be very diversified in a degree field,” says Gilbert, adding that with a general degree, she would have the background and be prepared to enter any career field.

The business program suits Gilbert, who has been working for a private financial institution since 2016. She helps customers to set up accounts and spends much of each day interacting with customers on the phone. Although the job can be stressful, she finds it gratifying because she enjoys helping people and making a difference in their lives. Helping them obtain the finances they need is rewarding. “I enjoy the financial world so much that I have even thought about becoming a personal finance manager to assist and help others with finance management in the future,” she says.

Gilbert’s options are open thanks to earning her degrees from Excelsior. A civilian Department of Defense worker recommended Excelsior College to Gilbert and she decided to take the plunge. She says at first it was hard to return to school, especially for her bachelor’s, but luckily her father and friend were there to continuously support and encourage her. “Sometimes we don’t really know our own potential until someone gives us a nudge in the right direction,” she says, referring to her father’s words of encouragement. She says she is happy she listened to her father and now feels better about herself and her future than ever before.

While doing her studies, Gilbert put a lot on the backburner. She prioritized school over her personal life and hanging out with friends, for instance. She knew she had to push through and that her hard work would pay off. This mentality was difficult to maintain, however. “A lot of times I always felt I had to choose between something I wanted versus something I was forcing myself to do.” Earning the Entrepreneur: Business and Technology Scholarship reinforced Gilbert’s belief that she was working hard for a reason: to better herself and her future.

Gilbert has worked hard to get where she is today. She says she thinks her degrees will help her obtain other employment and even open her own business. “I believe that my degrees from Excelsior will help me stand out against my competitors and make me the better candidate,” she says. Explore all of our Bachelor’s Degrees in Business.

Excelsior College Hires Vice President for Enrollment Management

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Albany, NY – Following a national search, Excelsior College announces the addition of Breanne Simkin as associate vice president for enrollment management. This is a new role in the Provost’s Office.

Breanne SimkinA goal-driven and data-informed leader, Simkin was most recently the associate vice president for enrollment management at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., where she worked closely with campus faculty, staff, and administration to develop long-term enrollment strategies, improvements in student service, and a shared vision that ensures long-term enrollment success.

Simkin implemented a need-based institutional aid model to coordinate better financial access for students to the institution. With a focus on student engagement and holistic admissions, Simkin managed multiple areas to grow enrollment and net tuition revenue while improving the student experience. Serving as a member of the provost’s team, she will provide leadership in the development, implementation, and assessment of strategies to support the College’s enrollment goals. Primary areas of oversight include Admissions, Student Financial Services, and the Records Office. In collaboration with the provost and the other members of the provost’s team, Simkin will be responsible for the development of data-driven strategies to increase student enrollment, while working collaboratively with various stakeholders to ensure positive enrollment growth.

Simkin has presented at multiple national conferences, including most recently at the Ruffalo Noel Levitz National Conference 2019 on Developing a One-Stop-Shop, Combining Multiple Divisions to Serve Students. She is also a member of the National Association for Financial Aid Administrators and National Association for College Admissions Counseling. Simkin earned a Master of Science in pharmacy research and regulation from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

“I was drawn to Excelsior because of the mission of creating affordable and equitable access to education. Higher education is at an important crossroads, and Excelsior is well-positioned to be a leader in defining how the educational needs of the adult learner can be met. I look forward to bringing my enrollment expertise to work on important initiatives, for both the students and the institution, and continuing upon the successes at Excelsior College,” Simkin said.

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About Excelsior College
Excelsior College (excelsior.edu) 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. Learn more at excelsior.edu.

Media Contact: Alicia Jacobs
Email: ajacobs@excelsior.edu
Phone: (518) 410-4624

Breaking Down Different Career Paths Within the Cannabis Industry

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Jobs in the Cannabis Industry

The cannabis industry has many different options when it comes to choosing your career path, allowing you ample opportunities to get into the industry from just about any angle. To help you figure out which path you’d like to take, we’ve broken down some common jobs you will find, and what those positions entail.

Risk Management for Cannabis

Risk management is the practice of identifying and evaluating potential risks and strategizing how to reduce them as well as to control them should they happen. Since cannabis is federally illegal, operating in the cannabis industry poses many potential risks. Businesses of all types— from dispensaries and grow operations to ancillary companies—face risks, and they do not have access to the same risk management tools that other industries do, such as bankruptcy law protection or credit cards. An individual in this position is responsible for mitigating risks that are considered a liability to the company, such as faulty security measures, defective product packaging, expired licenses, and more. As a result, a position in risk management in the cannabis industry is a firm choice, as it is one of the most important departments a cannabis business can have.

Cannabis Compliance

Compliance professionals ensure their businesses are following all ethical and legal requirements, and they stay up to date on regulations and laws in an effort to minimize the risk of violating them and potentially losing licenses. Compliance risks can include violating regulations related to cannabis-growing, product packaging, and security requirements, as well as making false claims and failing to disclose required information. As regulations and laws are constantly changing for cannabis, and are different for every state, keeping up with them and ensuring the company adheres to their nuances is extremely important in keeping cannabis businesses from being shut down. Just like risk management, this is a vital role in any business, and being a compliance manager will make you an invaluable asset.

Marketing for Cannabis

If the legal side doesn’t spark your interest, then perhaps a more creative role such as marketing will. As a saturated and crowded market, cannabis companies are looking for new and different ways to break through the noise and get their product or services noticed. This can include email marketing, blogging, social media marketing, search engine optimization, advertising, market research, and more. This is an area in which you can expect to work closely with compliance, ensuring all content aligns with current laws and regulations so the company isn’t at risk of getting into legal trouble.

Cannabis Accountant

A staple in any business, accountants can help keep track of payroll, manage taxes, budgets, and more. This remains the same for accountants in the cannabis industry, but just like any of the careers mentioned above, accountants in the cannabis industry also have the added weight of making sure things remain compliant. Records must be clear, concise, and in accordance with state and local regulations to prevent the company from incurring fines or being shut down, and to keep investors happy.

Lab Testing Cannabis

Working as a chemist or lab technician is a great career path if you’re looking to work hands-on with the plant. CBD companies and dispensaries regularly test their hemp and cannabis plants for a variety of things, such as terpene profiles, cannabinoid profiles, heavy metals, and more. Testing the plants ensures product quality and provides transparency for consumers, an important value for any cannabis company. If you enjoy science and want to work directly with the plant, then this is a great career path to take.

These are just a few of the career paths when it comes to opportunities in the cannabis industry. Our Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control program provides the proper education to prepare you for any of these career paths.

Summer 2020 Issue

Posted on by Excelsior Staff
Magazine cover

To read the Summer 2020 issue of the Excelsior College Magazine online, follow the links below. To view the print version click the buttons.

View Print Edition
Download PDF

Featured

Servant Leader

Servant Leader

Believing that his role as president is to serve the employees and students of Excelsior College, James N. Baldwin leaves a legacy of providing educational opportunity and ensuring long-term stability.

Mind Over Matter

Mind Over Matter

The practice of mindfulness helps keep thoughts focused on the here and now —producing benefits that truly last.

President’s Perspective

A Stronger, More Responsive Excelsior

New & Noteworthy

Adult Higher Education Advocate David Schejbal Becomes Excelsior’s Fourth President

Excelsior College Welcomes New Members to the Alumni Leadership Council

New Certificate Program Prepares Students for Careers in the Cannabis Industry

Excelsior Broadens Opportunities for Degree Completion Through New Partnerships

National Cyber League Competition Offers Real-World Experience to Cybersecurity Students

Excelsior College Responds to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Giving Back to Health Care Workers

Lifelong Learning

It Came from Ballroom A

Interview Q&A

Tammy Spenziero

Profiles

Lyndon Porter Knows How to Adapt

Donna Tytko Explores Various Perspectives as an Author

Alison Noone Credits the Excelsior MBA for Her Career Advancement

Aaron Alexander Uses His MBA to Succeed in His Civilian Career

Archives

An Early Gathering of Alumni

 

More Past Issues

 

Social Justice at Excelsior College

Posted on by David Schejbal

Excelsior College will establish a center for social justice in 2021. In some ways, the center will be a new direction for the College, but in others, it is a continuation of our mission and values. After all, Excelsior College was founded on the belief that access to higher education — particularly for those who have been historically underrepresented — is important to individual and societal progress.

Social justice is a central component of our economic, moral, political, and environmental ecosystem. Components of social justice include racial justice; gender justice; economic justice; environmental justice; equity; housing, water, and food security; fair employment practices; and fundamental human rights and respect. How these issues are addressed determines whether people are treated fairly and justly. When one or more are missing, discrimination, oppression, and unfair treatment of people throughout the world increases.

Our focus on social justice is all the more important in light of the polarization in our society and the inaccurate portrayals of social justice as little more than disagreements between special interest groups. Justice is not relative to individuals or groups; it is a foundational element of any society based on moral and ethical principles. In fact, justice requires that we not focus on our individual interest, but rather base fairness and equity on our commonalities as human beings.

One helpful way to consider social justice is through a thought experiment introduced by John Rawls in his seminal book, “A Theory of Justice.” Rawls argues that the only logical system of justice is one that treats people equally, regardless of race, gender, or class, showing that if we put aside our own biases that favor us, we will come to the same conclusion about justice as a matter of fairness.

Specifically, Rawls argues that a system of justice based on fairness must include the following. First, each person must have the same basic liberties as everyone else. We must all be free to pursue the lives we want to the same extent as everyone else. Second, social and economic inequalities must satisfy two conditions: There must be fair equality of opportunity, and the greatest benefits resulting from inequalities should benefit the least well-off. In other words, everyone should have the same opportunity to get a job or seek public office as anyone else, and an unequal distribution of wealth and services is justified only if that distribution benefits those who are least well-off.

Although not explicit, the history of Excelsior College subscribes to Rawls’ theory of justice. We strive to serve those who have not had the opportunity to benefit from traditional higher education, and we are an equal opportunity educator and employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, financial background, or other characteristics.

A center for social justice will build on Excelsior’s open-access mission to serve those who have not been well served by traditional higher education. The center will help our students and staff better understand social justice issues, including diversity, equity, inclusion, equality, and liberty for all. This is a natural step in Excelsior’s development, and a clear statement of our commitment to the principles of social justice.

David Schejbal, PhD
President

 

First Graduate Research Symposium Highlights Student and Alumni Work

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

On October 2, 2020, Excelsior College held its inaugural Graduate Research Symposium, during which graduate students presented research in health sciences, business, cybersecurity, nursing, criminal justice, and public service. The goal was to provide graduate students with an avenue to share their research, practice conference and presentation skills, network, and foster interprofessional collaborations.

“The Graduate Research Symposium was a tremendous opportunity for the College to recognize the research achievements of our students,” said Scott Dolan, dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “I was incredibly impressed with the quality of the work and the talent of our students — especially the timeliness of the research and its applicability to real-world organizational and societal issues. The symposium is aligned with one of the key goals we have established for ourselves at the graduate level: to help students assume positions of leadership in their fields.”

“The Graduate Research Symposium was a tremendous opportunity for the College to recognize the research achievements of our students.” —Scott Dolan, Dean, School of Graduate Studies

    Students and alumni were invited to participate in the symposium, and presenters were selected after a review of proposals. Presentations included:

  • “Military Veterans Obtaining Post Service Employment” by Matthew Baird, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Management program;

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  • “Presenting a Pilot of an Educational Internship for Online Nursing Education” co-presented by Jennifer Bastien, a student in the Master of Science in Nursing Education program, who previously earned associate and bachelor’s degrees from Excelsior, and Robin Dewald, a senior faculty program director for Excelsior’s master’s in nursing program;

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  • “Quantitative Analysis of Self-Efficacy Between Mentored and Non-Mentored Nurse Faculty” by Maureen Walls Sileo, a registered nurse who earned a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Excelsior;

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  • “Revising an Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol to Optimize Outcomes” by Bernadine Claus, a graduate of the Master of Science in Nursing Education program;

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  • “Assessment of Nurse’s/Caregiver’s Competencies in Donning and Doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the Era of COVID-19” by Mohamed Jalloh, student in the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems program; and

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  • “Nursing Implications and Findings from a Portal Activation Study” by Mary Anne Theiss, adjunct instructor in the Master of Science in Nursing Education program.

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Students conducted their research using case analysis, website analysis, original research, primary research, and secondary research, and translated research into health care practice on nursing, mentoring, and other topics.

Invited speaker Nelson Tuazon presented “Adopt, Adapt, Abandon: Building a Culture of Inquiry and Discovery.” Tuazon is the vice president and associate chief nursing officer at the University Health System in South Texas and teaches in the School of Nursing at Excelsior. In his presentation, he spoke about learning to adopt, adapt, or abandon practices when creating new programs and projects, particularly in health care settings.

During the symposium, Srikanta Banerjee, PhD, the keynote speaker, spoke about “Loneliness in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic” from his perspective working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the area of infectious diseases. His presentation addressed how social isolation can increase mortality rates, especially during times of pandemic. “Social psychology, computer-mediated research — these can be strategies that are used to increase social presence,” Banerjee said. He explained how using emoticons in text messages and video chat can help people feel more connected during this pandemic. Banerjee’s discussion was particularly relevant since the symposium was the first time that Excelsior students shared their research via a virtual conference setting due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

The Ever Upward prize for outstanding presentation at this year’s symposium was awarded to Mohamed Jalloh for his presentation, “Assessment of Nurse’s/Caregiver’s Competencies in Donning and Doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the Era of COVID-19.” During his presentation, Jalloh, an assistant director of nursing at a continuing care retirement community, addressed the importance of having a constant supply of PPE for nurses and their ability to use them effectively during COVID-19. His research concluded that, when used properly, PPE can improve staff competency, reduce patient mortality rates, and reduce costs associated with COVID-19 infections.

“The presentations were outstanding,” said Michele Paludi, faculty program director for graduate human resources and leadership programs, and cochair for the Graduate Research Symposium. “They have far-reaching implications for several disciplines. It was an exciting opportunity to have collaborative relationships with the School of Graduate Studies and School of Nursing.” Mary Lee Pollard, dean of the School of Nursing, added, “I was so pleased to see graduate students and graduate faculty across all disciplines engaged in sharing information about their scholarly work. I look forward to having a similar event next year.”