How to Choose a Degree

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Some students have no difficulty when it comes to choosing a degree program. They have already decided on their profession. But many others feel uncertain about the path they want to follow and even unsure about where to start. For those who are less certain about a profession, it is helpful to make an honest assessment of talents as well as investigate the salaries, job outlook, and quality of life associated with different careers.

Fortunately, students have plenty of options when it comes to finding a degree program that aligns with their career plans. Online education has freed students from the restrictions of geography, allowing them to enroll in a degree program with any school that offers online programs. Still, deciding between those options can prove challenging.

A quick way to jump-start a career search is to look through a college program catalog and see the type of courses are required for different majors. Excelsior College offers online academic program catalogs that include course descriptions for undergraduate degrees in business, health sciences, liberal arts, nursing, public service, and technology.

Reviewing a program catalog is a smart first step for those at the beginning stages of choosing which degree to earn.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Degree

Most students start their higher education journey with a simple question: “What college degree should I get?” This question is not always easy to answer, but the following tips can prove helpful in reaching a decision.

What Are Your Talents?

A career search must start with an honest assessment of your talents. It’s also important to choose a degree that offers the chance to improve skills in an area of interest. Passion for the career is also critical and will keep you focused on completing your degree when faced with challenging course material.

Career Pay

The potential salary for a specific career should not become the sole factor for choosing a degree program. Few people enjoy working at jobs they don’t like even if they make a great deal of money. However, it’s important to set expectations for what your potential career will pay. Check with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the official source for salaries in the United States.

Career Outlook

Another important factor is the outlook for future job growth. This is especially important as technology continues to rapidly change the workforce. The BLS provides projections in this area. Some of the jobs expected to grow the fastest include nursing, software developer, general operations manager, financial manager, and management analyst.

Quality of Life

This area is more difficult to quantify. Everyone has their own opinion about the type of life they would like to live. For some, the long hours of a business entrepreneur sound fine. For others, a schedule that allows more time for family, friends, and relaxation is better. This is a very personal decision, but it helps to talk with people who currently work in a field you are considering so you can better understand the life they lead.

Earning an Associate Degree

Deciding on a lifelong career is difficult to do at a young age. Even working adults may not yet know exactly what they want to do. An option that makes sense for many is to first earn a two-year associate degree before moving on to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Excelsior College officials know that an associate degree can offer a great stepping stone for students who remain unsure of their full-time career choice. By earning an associate degree online, they knock out many of the general education requirements found in almost every academic program.

Those include general education requirements in English, Ethics, Humanities, Social Sciences/History, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Arts & Sciences electives, and Information Literacy.

By taking their time to carefully consider all options, potential students can eventually choose a degree and arrive at a solid choice for a career field. Whether they start with an associate degree or move immediately into a bachelor’s program, the options offered through online learning increase the chances they will choose a degree program that suits them best. Learn more about Excelsior College’s Associate in Nursing Degree.

Excelsior Celebrates International Women’s Day

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Dr. Amelia Estwick Interviews Cybersecurity Student Stephanie Barnes

My name is Dr. Amelia Estwick, director of the National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College. In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, I’m joined by current Excelsior College graduate student Stephanie Barnes to discuss her experiences in the cybersecurity field. Stephanie is an IT/cybersecurity dual degree student, completing her graduate studies. Previously, she graduated with a BS in psychology from Florida A&M University. After years of working as a direct hire for the federal government and then as a federal government contractor overseas, she decided on a career change due in part to her interest in coding and hobbies involving tinkering with computers. A lifelong learner, Stephanie finds cybersecurity an endless well of puzzles and emerging knowledge that keeps her interested and invested in discovering solutions. I thought it would be a great opportunity to ask Stephanie some questions about her interest in the cybersecurity field.

Q: Why did you decide to even pursue a master’s in cybersecurity?

A: Well, like you said, I was overseas working as a contractor doing low-level security in Iraq, actually. And I decided that when I came back home that I couldn’t go back to the job that I had been working, and I wanted to basically change my life. And I had always been interested in technology, but I’d never really pursued it. So I started teaching myself to code in Python. I did a little bit of learning HTML and CSS. And then I just started doing MOOC classes online and took it from there, and then started looking at master’s degree programs, because I already had my bachelor’s. So I wanted to move forward.

Q: How would you say your degree has benefited you thus far?

A: I think that when hiring managers look at my resume and see that I’m on track to get my master’s, I think that it really has helped me, because I’ve had people mention it in interviews. And I think it’s been really impressive for them, because it shows that I have the go-get-it kind of attitude that they’re looking for, that I’m ready to self-start and take it on my own. I don’t have to have somebody driving me to do anything, because I’ve already shown them that I’m driven.

Q: You’ve been an active participant in our student chapter of the National Cybersecurity Student Association where you’ve been a team captain. How has that experience been for you?

A: Oh, that experience has been great. I really love doing NCL [National Cybersecurity League]. When I first got into doing it, I did not know what I was going to be doing. I hadn’t really done any competitions. It was one of the first ones that I’d ever done. But all the students that participated, they’re really helpful. The chat has been great. They helped me out a lot.

Q: I’m so glad that you’ve mentioned the camaraderie because I think it’s so important in this field to build a network and to build a support team, especially as a woman. Unfortunately, when we talk about International Women’s Day, one of the themes is to take action for equality and according to recent reports, women are holding only 20 percent of cybersecurity positions. That number is much less when you take into account race and ethnic women holding cybersecurity positions. As an African American woman, how do you think your race or your ethnic background has impacted your cybersecurity career pathway?

A: I feel like I might be lucky in that extent only because of the location where I live. I live outside of Atlanta so there is a good multicultural community, and there are a lot of women cybersecurity groups, both in Atlanta and online. And I’ve been able to connect with a lot of women, and especially a lot of Black women not only online, but in the community. And so I’ve seen a great deal of people that look like me in the workforce. But I know that it’s still an issue nationwide.

Q: What are some of the skills that you have acquired as an Excelsior student that you think employers would be interested in?

A: I think people think that employers look basically for employees to know a certain technology, but I don’t really feel like that’s the case as much. I think it’s more so about the attitude that you bring. [I’m] not saying that hands-on skills are not worthy. They are. But there are things that you can learn very quickly on the job. Like, when I first got the first position I held in cybersecurity, I was a junior stock analyst. And I didn’t know half the tools that I learned while on the job. But because I had a willingness to learn, I think that that is something that’s really important. I think that’s something that managers look for, that you have a willingness to learn, that you have an attitude in that you can do it. Like, you can’t do everything, and we know that. But you’re willing to reach out and say, hey, I don’t know this. I think in any position, you need to be able to ask for help, you have to be able to seek help, and you have to have the willingness to learn. And I think that’s helped me in my career and [to] move forward in it.

Q: What advice would you give anyone pursuing a cybersecurity field?

A:  Oh, I would say dive in. Like I said, I started doing just MOOC classes online, taking Coursera classes…I took that course, everything that I could get my hands on. But bottom line is kind of just dive in. Find the small courses first. The small, free things that they offer online and try it. You’ll find the path that you’re meant to take if you try little bits at any time, if you’re open to it.

 

Re-starting a Dream

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Nicole Carr benefits from Excelsior’s partnership with Re-Up Education

Nicole Carr, of Brooklyn, New York, had some college experience but no degree, and through a partnership between Excelsior College and ReUp Education, she is now on her way to earning an Associate of Science in Administrative/Management Studies.

ReUp Education helps support students like Carr who have some college experience and are balancing other life commitments outside of their studies to return to school and graduate. The company uses predictive analytics technology, data, and personalized coaching to re-enroll these students—who had previously stopped out of college for one reason or another—and keep them progressing through their courses to degree completion.

Carr enrolled at Excelsior in May 2020 and has seen immediate correlations between her work and the courses. A financial arbitrator with The Debt Management Group, a debt consolidating firm, she negotiates contracts for clients to help minimize or eliminate their debt. “I’m reading contracts and reading statements, and I try to either eliminate the debt or get into payment plans or settlements and lower their [the client’s] costs or what they’re trying to pay,” she says. Her Excelsior courses have helped in her work because they cover various business topics, including negotiation tactics, working with Excel spreadsheets, and dealing with global solutions—all themes Carr deals with on a daily basis.

Carr had decided it was time to go back to school when she learned about ReUp Education. “I actually saw a commercial for ReUp…and then once I called them and got the information, I immediately fell for the program,” she says. “What I like best about their program is their ability to understand what you want and help you to navigate those steps. Then once you’re actually at the point where you figure out what school you want to go to, they also help you with registration. …They stick with you. And I think that is so amazing.” Carr also liked that ReUp Education partners with Excelsior, which she says she was drawn to because it caters to adult learners with other life responsibilities. Carr also says she appreciates Excelsior’s hands-on learning opportunities and staff and instructor support.

Carr also receives support from her coaching advisor, N’Digo, at ReUp Education. The assistance ReUp’s coaches provide help students like Carr stay engaged in their studies and find answers to any questions and concerns. “I love her [N’Digo]. She’s so amazing. I told her when I graduated, I wanted her to come to my graduation. She is so personable, and it wasn’t just about like the basic stuff with school…. It was almost like a life coach,” says Carr.

Carr plans to use her degree to advance in her career. “I want to run my own business, and I want to be a CFO. That’s my ultimate goal for my degree,” she says. It runs in the family; Carr’s father, an U.S. Air Force veteran, started his own real estate business in Puerto Rico after retiring from service. Carr plans to pursue a master’s degree with Excelsior to meet her goal, and she encourages others to look into Excelsior and ReUp Education when pursuing their educational dreams. She says, “If you go to the ReUp program, not only do they help you step by step along the way, but they also take the initiative to help you reach out to Excelsior if you have questions…they bridge that connection for you.” Excelsior’s Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business and Management is a great way to prepare graduates for a successful career in business. Learn more!

What is the Difference Between Deferment and Forbearance?

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Both deferment and forbearance allow students to postpone student loan payments. The biggest difference, however, is that federal subsidized loan interest does not accrue during a deferment, while it does with a forbearance. A forbearance can still be a good choice if a student needs to stop payments and does not qualify for deferment.

In addition to interest, deferment and forbearance have other key differences students should understand. Excelsior College offers both deferment and forbearance information and support for students who need to delay loan payments.

Qualifying and Applying for a Deferment

Deferment and forbearance can temporarily postpone payments on a federal loan, according to the U.S. Department of Education. One key difference between the two involves how students qualify.

Students can seek a deferment if they have:

  • Made payments on time, are in a grace period after graduation, or have previously been granted a deferment or forbearance.
  • Enrolled in school as at least a half-time student, defined as 6 credit hours per term for undergraduate students and 3credits per term for graduate students.

The first step to seek a deferment is to contact your lender. Ask them for the form that matches your reason for seeking deferment. These reasons can include economic hardship, unemployment, Peace Corps service, and military service.

Lenders may still charge interest on loans, even with a deferment. It depends on the type of loan. The Department of Education lists the types of loans for which students typically do not have to pay interest with a deferment. That list includes direct subsidized loans, subsidized federal Stafford loans, and federal Perkins loans.

Qualifying and Applying for a Forbearance

A forbearance is typically easier to obtain than a deferment. That’s because a forbearance is not tied to the type of loan or when you obtained it. However, it’s important to remember interest will accrue during a forbearance, which typically lasts for one year.

Students become eligible for forbearance because of a variety of reasons, including financial hardship, poor health, inability to pay the loan back during the repayment term, and monthly payments that exceed 20 percent of a borrower’s monthly income.

To obtain a forbearance, students should contact their lender, explain the situation, and ask for appropriate forbearance application forms.

Other Financial Aid for Excelsior College

Excelsior College works with students if they experience difficulties with their loan payments. The College also offers special rates for students who work through one of its partners, which include private companies and the military. If applicable, check with your employer or branch of the military to find out if they have a partnership with Excelsior College.

Excelsior College offers partnership rates for the application fee, tuition, the student service fee, and the graduation fee. The rate applies to students in undergraduate and graduate programs.

To explore whether you qualify for those rates or for a deferment or forbearance on your student loan, contact the Excelsior College’s financial aid office.

 

 

 

AEFIS Academy Virtual Community Event: Democracy and Assessment Series.

Posted on by André Foisy

Democracy & Assessment Series— Your Voice Matters! Episode 1 Setting the Stage

First episode in a four-part series focused on exploring and unpacking the relationship between democracy and assessment. In this episode, Foisy discussed this topic with Dr. Gianina Baker, Acting Director, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment, Dr. David Dees, Chief Administrative Officer, Kent State University at East Liverpool, and Natasha Jankowski, Higher Education & Assessment Consultant.

Excelsior College Partners with United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce (USVCC) to Help Servicemembers and Veterans Achieve Educational Goals

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Albany, N.Y. — Excelsior College is pleased to announce an educational partnership with the United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce (USVCC). Since its inception in 1971, Excelsior has provided dedicated service to helping servicemembers, veterans, and their family members achieve their educational goals.

The United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce supports veterans by focusing on five pillars: education, employment, wellness, business, and family. The organization hosts various events to help veterans, such as career and education fairs, as well as provides support for the U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games and the Invictus Games.

“Excelsior College is proud to support our armed forces and members of their family through the education pillar,” stated Jim Lettko, chief operating officer at Excelsior College. Lettko is an Iraq War veteran who served in the U.S. Army and New York Army National Guard for nearly 30 years. “I personally understand the value of service, military training, and on-the-job learning our servicemembers experience in their military careers. At Excelsior, we have academic advisors who specialize in working with servicemembers, their families, and veterans to help them with career paths and their individual goals, and to maximize the value of their training toward degree completion.”

The educational partnership with USVCC fits well with Excelsior College’s efforts to meet the holistic needs of veteran students. Excelsior offers degree programs that align with military experiences, professional development opportunities, career guidance, and other resources. By coordinating efforts with veteran-focused partners, like USVCC, the College can provide these resources and opportunities for more transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and spouses.

Larry Miller, a 31-year retired Marine officer, shared, “The partnership is part of the key pillar of education for us. Not everybody wants to go right into the workforce; folks want to take their GI Bill® and do great things with education. They want to go to another field, or they may want to discover … because [they] haven’t even figured out what they want to do …. Excelsior College brings this capability online and allows folks to study anywhere.”

Miller also notes, “Excelsior College comes with a great reputation. This was a phenomenal opportunity between the USVCC and Excelsior College to give back to our veterans, our active duty, and their families.”

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/.

#  #  #

Media Contact Excelsior College:

Alicia Jacobs, ajacobs@excelsior.edu, 518-410-4624

 

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.

 

Excelsior College Partners with the International Association for Administrative Professionals (IAAP) to Provide Training & Career-Building Opportunities

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Albany, N.Y. — Excelsior College, an online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees, announced a new partnership with the International Association for Administrative Professionals (IAAP). IAAP is dedicated to helping office and administrative professionals advance their careers in a demanding and ever-changing business environment. Through this partnership, administrative professionals will gain knowledge, skills, and insights from Excelsior College’s undergraduate business courses. Some are drawn to the AAS Administrative/Management Studies and BS in Business programs, while others have interest in an MBA.

IAAP logoA formal education can help individuals in administrative support roles. As technology continues to change with work, keeping attuned to software and efficiency systems can help both individuals and an organization optimize performance and improve efficiency. A business education can help lead to career opportunities and job security.

Through this partnership, IAAP members can bring in up to 17 credits for their Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credential and apply the credit toward a degree program. The amount of awarded credit was determined through a review conducted by Excelsior College’s evaluation unit.

Excelsior College’s chief marketing and business development officer, Dawn Gerrain, stated, “In the workplace, administrative professionals are an extension of the leadership team as a facilitator, advisor, and a partner. Their diligent work, behind the scenes as unsung heroes, is vital to the operational success of leaders. Excelsior College is excited to help individuals to advance their career, as the role of an administrative professional is ever-changing. Professional development in communications, technology, project management, digital technology, and people management are required skills of tomorrow.”

Rachel Reynolds Suman, IAAP Rachel Reynolds Suman, certification and programs director at IAAP, said, “IAAP is committed to elevating the administrative profession through certification, community-building, and leadership development. We are thrilled to have found a partner in Excelsior College that will result in three primary benefits. First, Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) designees who are returning to school are eligible to receive 17 college credits. Second, graduating administrators entering the workforce have access to a community of like-minded peers and potential mentors. Finally, new administrators who obtain the prestigious CAP designation will further distinguish themselves from the rapidly evolving workforce of administrative professionals. These career-building opportunities will provide value for both administrative professionals and the organizations they support. We are truly grateful for institutions like Excelsior College that work alongside us for the benefit of this vitally important profession.”

 

For more information on this partnership, visit https://www.excelsior.edu/partner/international-association-of-administrative-professionals/.

#  # #

Media Contact:

Alicia Jacobs, ajacobs@excelsior.edu, 518-410-4624

 

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.

 

ABOUT IAAP

International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is a non-profit professional association serving the administrative profession. IAAP is dedicated to helping office and administrative professionals advance their career in a demanding and ever-changing business environment. They are focused on preparing admins and stakeholders for what matters now and what’s ahead, enhancing the value that admins bring to the table and advocating for the profession as it evolves to encompass the role of business partner and leader. IAAP provides admins with the knowledge, skills, and insights that build toward job advancement, success, and recognition. They also provide a community of individuals who have shared goals, responsibilities, challenges, opportunities, and strengths.

Q & A with Paul Coble: Attorney and Founder of Thalo Technologies and Advisor for the Cannabis Control Certificate Program

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Our next blog post about members of the Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control’s Industrial Advisory Committee spotlights Paul Coble, attorney and founder/CEO of Thalo Technologies. Thalo is not only a member of the program’s IAC, but also the subject matter expert for the program’s Risk Assessment in Cannabis Control course. Read on to learn more about him!

Background

Coble is an intellectual property attorney and cannabis software executive with an extensive background in science and technology. He studied molecular biology and chemistry in his undergraduate program before turning to study law.

Coble attended Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and graduated cum laude with a concentration in law, science, and technology. He studied how science and law interact and affect each other’s trajectories. As a practicing attorney, Coble has helped clients navigate and mitigate risk relating to intellectual property and heavily regulated markets such as alcohol, personal data, pharmaceuticals, and, of course, cannabis. He is a registered patent attorney and has litigated complex intellectual property cases across the country.

After a decade of practicing law, Coble decided to enter the cannabis industry and launched a startup, Thalo Technologies, to develop software to help cannabis and hemp manufacturers better capture and interpret their lab data to make more profitable decisions. He is currently serving as vice-chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Cannabis Manufacturing Committee and is sitting by designation on the NCIA’s Policy Council. He also volunteers as general counsel of the Social Justice & Engineering Initiative.

Q & A with Paul Coble

 

Q: How did you get started in the industry?

A: I always wanted to start a company and my unique background in chemistry and data products led to a unique opportunity in cannabis manufacturing.

 Q: Do you hold any certifications? If so, which one(s)?

A: Member of the IL bar and U.S. Patent bar.

Q: What do you hope students will take away from the Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control program?

A: Students will gain a better perspective of how cannabis policy affects the major stakeholders in the industry (regulators, operators, consumers) and how policy affects risk throughout the supply chain.

Q: What is a piece of advice you’d offer someone getting into the industry?

A: The industry is growing so quickly, [that] there is something that everyone can offer to improve the industry.

Q: What is one thing you wish you had known before entering the industry?

A: For an industry that changes as quickly as it does, there are also times where it moves very slowly and with great difficulty.

Q: You mentioned students will benefit from the course CBC 602 Risk Assessment in Cannabis Control by gaining a better understanding of cannabis policy effects. In addition to this, how do you think the cannabis control certificate program, as a whole, will benefit students?

 A: A major shortcoming in the cannabis industry today is a lack of understanding. Too often, regulators do not understand the needs of consumers or operators. Operators are frustrated with the lack of transparency and practicality in regulations, and consumers don’t understand why they have to jump through bureaucratic hoops and pay exorbitant prices. Some of this lack of understanding comes simply from the fact that this is a relatively new industry and the conventional knowledge base is still playing catch up.

The Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control program is designed to introduce students to all the issues that shape the cannabis and hemp industries, not just the issues important to any one particular demographic. The issues present in the cannabis industry range from the expected business considerations to niche considerations driven by the unique scientific and legal nature of cannabis. Students will be able to move into the cannabis industry with a complete understanding of the various components of the industry and a comprehensive understanding of how they relate to each other. Furthermore, they will create as part of the program a bespoke toolbox of resources to help them navigate and thrive in the evolving industry.

Q: What are some organizations or associations that you recommend industry newcomers join? How could they benefit from joining them?

 A: There are two organizations that anyone in the cannabis industry should become involved with: (1) the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), and (2) their state industry association (often MITA or HITA). Both organizations are helpful for meeting others who are interested in similar aspects of the industry. Like all industries, cannabis has niches and specialties and the more people that you know working on similar issues, the easier it will be to stay current. Trade industry associations are also critical in effectively lobbying lawmakers to make better cannabis policy.

Q: Which cannabis industry career path do you think is best for students who complete this program? Why?

A: One of the great parts of the cannabis industry is that there are very few standard career paths. People are moving into the industry from all types of backgrounds and there are career paths for just about anyone. That said, the two careers that stick out to me as benefiting the most from the certificate in cannabis control program are those related to creating cannabis policy or regulations and those that are related to operating a cannabis business. Future regulators will gain a better understanding of the science, history, business, and risks of the cannabis industry. Entrepreneurial students will gain a high-level view of the inner workings of the cannabis and hemp supply chains. Students will walk away with a wiki designed to include evergreen resources that will benefit any cannabis career path.

Q: As the subject matter expert for the Risk Assessment in Cannabis Control course, what information/content did you feel was most important to include in the curriculum? Why?

 A: The risk assessment and control course starts with the premise that risk is relative to one’s perspective and, therefore, risk may be understood differently by different stakeholders in the cannabis industry: regulators, operators, and consumers. For example, government regulators are incentivized to reduce diversion for a variety of reasons, but unless they understand why the diversion is happening in the first place, they will never be able to create a policy to curb it effectively. Effective risk assessment and mitigation relies on understanding the motivations of the stakeholder groups and the industrial repercussions of policy decisions.

I feel that it is necessary at the outset to have the students place themselves in the shoes of each group to understand how each views the cannabis industry. Students will use the different values and drives of each group as they explore the different sources of risk in the cannabis supply chain.

=

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Megan Keenan Administers COVID-19 Vaccine to First Responders

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

Megan Keenan, DNP, MSN, RN, is proud to be serving as the Regional Hub coordinator for COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Albany, NY. The 2015 Excelsior graduate and 2018 commencement speaker is the associate director of clinical registries and quality management at Albany Med and currently leads a team who generate data that is used to support quality improvement initiatives across the Medical Center. In her volunteer role, Keenan helps coordinate COVID-19 vaccine distribution to Albany Med employees as well as other first responders in her community.

To read more about Keenan, visit:
https://www.amc.edu/pr/administering-the-vaccine-and-a-winning-spirit-of-optimism.cfm

Advice for Transitioning into the Cannabis Industry

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Transitioning into the cannabis industry can be tricky if you’re not prepared. One of the advantages of entering this booming industry is that there are open opportunities just about anywhere you look, but success comes from being prepared.

Find Your Niche Within the Cannabis Industry

When you’re thinking about working in cannabis, it’s important to make sure your passions and skills align with what you want to do. The industry has many different options when it comes to choosing a career path. Careers range from working on the legal side of things, such as in compliance and risk management, to creative career paths like digital marketing and advertising. It’s important that you choose a career path that you feel confident and passionate about. This will not only make you happy, but also help you be successful in your career.

Understand Cannabis Industry Nuances

Working in cannabis isn’t a cakewalk. Although working in a burgeoning industry can be exciting and fun, there are many nuances to understand. Since laws and regulations are constantly changing, having a clear-cut understanding of them will not always be as simple as some would like to think. The success of a business within the industry is based on operating with an understanding these nuances and making sure that every action is compliant and doesn’t push boundaries. Working in the industry means that you understand these subtleties and agree to make sure everything you do is compliant and does not pose risk to the business or client you work for.

Obtain Tools for Success in the Cannabis Industry

To be successful in the industry, you need to have certain skills and tools. One of the tools is an understanding of the laws, from the federal level down to the municipal level. If you want to stay in this industry, you must learn and follow these laws. Another tool you’ll find necessary is the ability to diversify yourself. Companies and fellow professionals want to know what sets you apart from others and why they should take note. Failure to do so will only make it harder for you to reach your goals.

Seek Cannabis Industry Education

We want to make sure individuals are well prepared before jumping headfirst into an industry that is not only new but also difficult to navigate. You can do this by connecting with local cannabis associations or pursuing formal education to gain knowledge about the field and give you a competitive over others looking to enter the field. Check out Excelsior’s Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control to learn more about this rapidly growing industry.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Posted on by Shannon Ballard Gorman

Kayleah Morris, a dialysis technician and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class, never imagined that she would be dealing with an influx of patients from a global pandemic. Stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, she handles many COVID-19 patients in the Intensive Care Unit who are suffering from organ failure.

“In the beginning [of the pandemic], many people were scared of working in hospitals. I was deathly afraid that I would bring COVID home to my family,” said the mother of two. Thankfully, there are a lot of precautions in place to prevent staff from contracting the virus, and Walter Reed, known as the Presidents’ Hospital, has tremendous resources for personal protective equipment (PPE) and containment measures; they keep COVID patients in negative pressure rooms and staff wear positive air pressure masks.

Morris works 12-hour shifts in this environment so that she can alternate workdays with her husband and avoid using outside childcare. Still, she manages to take college courses online; she is just three classes away from finishing her bachelor’s degree. “I am very excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “Nothing is going to stop me from finishing at this point.”

–  –  –  –  –  –  –  –

Originally from Albany, New York, Morris could not afford to go to college after high school, and working two jobs to make ends meet did not leave time to take classes. So at age 23, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy, went through basic training, and was stationed in Maryland. “I joined the military so that I could go to college,” she said. With her dialysis training and experience, she figured nursing school was the logical choice, so in 2014, she enrolled in Excelsior College. “I completed almost the entire nursing program before realizing that I didn’t want to be a nurse,” Morris said.

Her advisor helped her transfer her nursing credits into a different associate degree program, in Liberal Arts. After earning that degree in June 2019, Morris got to work on a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with a focus in Human Services. “One of my jobs, before I joined the Navy, was working with developmentally disabled individuals, and I loved it,” she said. “I would like to work with that population again if I could make a decent living.”

The change in program extended her time to degree completion a bit and coupled with recent changes to the military tuition assistance program, she had to apply for Pell Grant and other funding to pay for classes. “I am so appreciative of the Excelsior scholarship I received when I did,” she said. “It came at a great time and allowed me to continue.”

Not even a pandemic can stop Morris from completing her bachelor’s degree. “I have worked so hard for this for so long, there’s no slowing me down now.” After graduation, Morris plans to continue on for a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. “I want to deal directly with people and be able to see firsthand the impact that I’m having.”

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT QUOTES:

“I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and support in ensuring Active Duty Military personnel such as myself receive an education. With the recent changes to the tuition assistance funding, your help is needed now more than ever.”

“Working 12-hour shifts at the hospital and raising two children makes it difficult to pursue my degree. Financial limitations only add to my barriers to higher education. Your contributions have made it possible for me to attend college this fall and continue to work towards my bachelor’s degree. For the sake of my future and my family, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.”