Winter 2020 issue

Posted on by Excelsior Staff
Magazine cover

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

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Featured

[su_ec_featured image=”https://www.excelsior.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CareerTools.jpg” alt=”” title=”Career Tools” blurb=”When it comes to preparing for success in a changing workplace, mastery of general education career competencies matters” link=”https://www.excelsior.edu/article/career-tools/”]

[su_ec_featured image=”https://www.excelsior.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/AStepAhead.jpg” alt=”” title=”A Step Ahead” blurb=”A new internship program gives undergraduate students an opportunity to boost skills and explore options, positioning them to stand out when making career moves” link=”https://www.excelsior.edu/article/a-step-ahead/”]

[su_ec_featured image=”https://www.excelsior.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/3plus1.jpg” alt=”” title=”3+1= More” blurb=”Excelsior partners with community colleges to keep associate degree students at their college for one more year, giving them a break on the cost of a bachelor’s degree” link=”https://www.excelsior.edu/article/31-more/”]

President’s Perspective

Fulfilling the Promise

New & Noteworthy

John Caron Becomes Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Celebrating the Class of 2019
President Baldwin to Retire in July 2020
Excelsior Welcomes New Members to Board of Trustees
Two-Time Graduate Kane Tomlin Becomes President of the Alumni Association
Rep. Paul Tonko Receives an Honorary Degree
From Cornerstone to Capstone
Alumni Receive Awards in Recognition of Achievements
Course Prepares Faculty to Improve Student Writing
Welcome Back

Lifelong Learning

You’re More Creative Than You Think

Interview Q&A

Scott Dolan

Profiles

Sonya Borden Earns Her Degree Through Partnership with Pizza Hut
Akila Sooriyabandara Is Going Places
Rosendo Ramos Aspires for More than Degree Completion

Archives

The Rex Reports Newsletter

 

More Past Issues

 

Excelsior College’s 49th Annual Commencement to be Held Virtually on July 10

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Albany, NY — Excelsior College’s 49th Annual Commencement will be the first 100 percent virtual ceremony for the distance-learning college. The College has historically broadcast Commencement for those who couldn’t attend the in-person event. However, this year due to COVID-19, graduates received their cap, tassel, and other items by mail to participate in the event virtually. The new format will be even more inclusive as all graduates will have the opportunity to participate without travel concerns related to health, finances, or schedule.

The Commencement celebration will take place online on Friday, July 10 at 3 pm ET with speakers, alumni tributes, and awards. To accommodate time zones and the schedules of Excelsior’s working adult students, a link will remain on the webpage for all to enjoy at their convenience. Graduates will also engage with their peers on social media by sharing photos and stories of their Excelsior celebrations from around the world.

Excelsior’s Class of 2020 is approximately 5,000 graduates representing 49 states and 21 countries. The oldest graduate is 75 years young. Twenty-eight percent of graduates are members of the U.S. military and 772 graduates are U.S. veterans.

“Excelsior students are known for their perseverance and resilience. We kept their commitment to degree completion in the forefront as we adapted for this virtual celebration. The Class of 2020 will be remembered and celebrated for their academic accomplishments and for their grit and determination in the face of adverse circumstances. We are proud of them and extend the best wishes of the College community to all,” said James N. Baldwin, president of Excelsior College.

All graduates are invited to participate in this year’s virtual celebration, and as always, graduates will also have the option to walk in a future Commencement ceremony.

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 ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College (excelsior.edu) is a regionally 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 Media Contact:

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

The Role of a Compliance Professional in the Cannabis Industry

Posted on by Katie Reiter

When it comes to working as a compliance professional in the cannabis industry, there is no such thing as a typical day. Whether working as a compliance director, manager, or analyst, a cannabis compliance professional is sure to encounter a variety of challenges across the supply chain.

What Does a Cannabis Compliance Professional Do?

Depending where in the supply chain a cannabis business is located, compliance can look very different. A compliance professional working for a cannabis distributor might spend a significant amount of time engaging with inventory control while other compliance pros work at outdoor cultivation sites, mitigating environmental concerns. The principal task that compliance pros across the supply chain must deal with, though, is ensuring that their licensed cannabis business does not lose its license. Where compliance professionals in other industries are largely concerned with finances, their counterparts in cannabis are focused on regulations placed on operations by licensing agencies. Failing to comply with these regulations could mean losing the ability to do business, and such regulations do not just cover finances, but extend to control inventory tracking, transportation, security, waste destruction, quality control, employment, training, recordkeeping, emergency response, and more. It is up to the cannabis compliance pro to find a way for their business to follow all of these regulations.

Ensuring that a cannabis business complies with regulations requires more than just identifying areas where a business fails to comply. Compliance pros must create lasting programs that guide a cannabis business’s current and future operations to flourish within applicable regulations. This can be done in a variety of ways and will require a number of strategies within a given business.

How to Maintain Cannabis Compliance

The primary way that cannabis compliance pros ensure regulatory compliance within their facilities and among their coworkers is through the implementation of compliant standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are then refined through a continuous cycle of training and auditing. It is the job of the compliance pro to translate regulatory language into words and actions that can be understood and adopted by coworkers that will train on and perform company SOPs. A compliance pro can then determine the efficacy of training and SOPs in maintaining compliance by conducting a compliance audit and responding by adjusting SOPs and retraining. This perpetual auditing, adjusting, and retraining not only supports continued licensure, but also every aspect of operations that is regulated, from security and emergency response procedures that protect staff, to quality assurance and quality control procedures that protect patients and consumers.

Ultimately, a cannabis business will have to deal with inspection by its licensing agency and potentially other governing agencies, and it will likely fall to the compliance pro on site to see the business through the inspection. Facility inspections can be unannounced or scheduled, so the cannabis compliance pro must execute perpetual auditing with applicable remedies or risk being caught off guard. And because cannabis regulations frequently change, keeping a business compliant becomes a very dynamic job that requires not only the ability to digest legislative speak, but also high analytical skills, an understanding of how government agencies operate, and the patience to put it all into practice.

Cannabis Compliance Training

Are you interested in learning more about cannabis compliance or pursuing a career as a compliance professional?  Excelsior College is preparing professional-level students for roles like compliance professionals by offering a 9-credit graduate certificate in cannabis control. Learn more at https://www.excelsior.edu/program/graduate-certificate-in-cannabis-control/

An Early Gathering of Alumni

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Alumni are an important part of the Excelsior College community. Since the College’s inception as the Regents External Degree Program and through name changes, they have supported the institution’s goals and worked to strengthen ties among outside communities, students, alumni, and the College. Above, alumni meet in 1978 in New York City.

To gather alumni more formally to discuss Excelsior and its alumni presence, the Alumni Association was formed by the mid-1980s and holds an annual meeting, typically with the newest graduates.

Editor’s Note: Do you recognize the gathering in this photo? If so, we’d like to hear from you at magazine@excelsior.edu.

 

Recruiting Talent in the Cannabis Industry

Posted on by Katie Reiter

As the legal cannabis industry grows, career options have begun to diversify. To help fill their human resource needs, many cannabis companies have turned to recruiters. To find out more about what a cannabis industry recruiter does, Excelsior College spoke with Candice Miles, senior recruiting manager at coNectar Recruiting, a recruiting, staffing, and payroll agency focused solely on providing growth solutions to the cannabis and hemp industries.

Miles describes her role as a cannabis recruiter as both helping cannabis companies find talent and helping people find jobs within the cannabis industry. What this looks like in practice is a lot of networking, and a lot of connecting with professionals who are passionate about cannabis. Miles spends most of her day on the phone, conducting video interviews, and searching LinkedIn and other sources for both talent and companies seeking talent. Since she spends so much time sending emails, making calls, and interviewing people, Miles relies heavily on the writing and communication skills she has honed throughout her education and career.

While Miles is a veteran recruiter, like many of her candidates, she hasn’t always worked in the cannabis industry. However, when the opportunity arose to join a start-up cannabis recruiting agency, she knew she had to make the jump. As Miles recounts, one of coNectar’s co-founders came from a nationally held recruiting agency that, after California legalized cannabis for adult use, announced it would not allow employees to work with any cannabis or ancillary companies. In response, organizers formed coNectar to help new and newly legal companies that are growing and need talent acquisition support but can’t always get it from traditional places.

According to Miles, there are a number of reasons why a cannabis company might need a recruiter. Many companies and operators got their start on the illicit market, where they did very little hiring, and may not now be familiar with operating within legal realms. Miles says these companies are trying to be more compliant and using a recruiter that can connect them with top compliance, finance, and legal talent can help get them there.

Further, many cannabis companies are growing and scaling rapidly and find themselves in need of assistance due to time constraints. A cannabis recruiter like Miles can provide talent within a few days, whereas a hiring manager at a cannabis licensee may not have the extra time to spend networking, reviewing resumes, and posting ads. If that cannabis licensee calls Miles, she will have already done the legwork of pre-qualifying candidates through interviews and reference checks. Ultimately this can save a company on hiring costs, but the savings on time are important as well since an open job can affect the costs of a company and put a strain on human resource allocation.

Throughout her tenure as a cannabis recruiter, Miles has worked with all types of companies within the realm of cannabis and ancillary businesses, from brands that are sold in dispensaries to marketing agencies, packaging companies, extraction labs, and even the companies that make the equipment used in extraction labs. But while these are different positions and types of businesses than she recruited for in other industries, Miles says that the main differences between recruiting in cannabis and elsewhere are not necessarily what you would expect.

According to Miles, if you look at a resume for somebody in the cannabis industry, they might appear to be a “job hopper” due to tumult in the industry. “2019… was a pretty crazy year for cannabis, so people have a lot of short stints at their company, which outside of cannabis can be seen as a negative, but within cannabis, we all understand the nature of the market and what’s caused people to have to do that. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they meant to or want to jump from job to job very quickly,” says Miles.

The other main difference Miles sees with the cannabis industry is passion: “In other industries that I’ve worked for or recruited for they didn’t always care if the person had a passion for their job. ‘Why did you get into this industry?’ wasn’t very often a typical question to be asking somebody, but with cannabis it’s always on the forefront of our minds: ‘Why cannabis? Why did you choose this industry?’ And we find the people that really have that passion are those that connect with the companies that we’re hiring for.”

For Miles, the best part of her job as a cannabis recruiter is when she gets someone an offer for a job that they’re in love with. “You get to just hear the excitement in their voice and know you helped somebody,” she says. As far as advice for recruitment and human resources professionals in other industries looking to move into cannabis, Miles says to first make sure you have a passion for it, and then to focus on networking or working with a recruiter that can help get you into the industry. She adds that professionals in the human resources field, in particular, should start looking into cannabis compliance issues because they are going to encounter a lot of nuances that are different for cannabis than for other industries.

Miles wishes that before entering the industry she had known more about the evolution of different brands and cannabis product types over the decades prior. Once she entered the industry, though, she dove head-first into educating herself on everything legal cannabis, from seed to sale, and she encourages her candidates to do the same.

If you’re a professional looking to learn more about the cannabis industry, check out Excelsior College’s 9-credit graduate certificate in cannabis control.

 

How Students Will Benefit from Excelsior’s Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The cannabis industry is a diverse place with lots of job opportunities for professionals, ranging from compliance and certification officers, risk management professionals, strategists, accountants, laboratory testers, plant growers, packagers, marketers, executives, and administrative professionals. Once an illicit industry run by cartels, the U.S. cannabis industry today is an established green market that resembles many mainstream industries.

Because of the size of this industry niche, there is a massive need for educated professionals to fill these positions, but many lack the professional skills or education required to be hired. While some are choosing to start at the counter as budtenders and work their way up, that’s not always an option for those who have already started their careers and can’t afford to take entry-level positions or are looking for ways to transfer their existing professional skills.

Recognizing the need for professional certification and a leg up on the competition, Excelsior College is one of the first academic institutions in the country to offer a professional certification that can be earned online, allowing folks from all across the country to participate.

Our Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control

Excelsior College’s Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control will educate anyone interested in entering or securing their place in the cannabis industry on the opportunities, challenges, and complexities of the cannabis industry and its accompanying regulations.

Students will develop critical thinking skills and deepen their knowledge base to understand the impact of cannabis legalization in our communities, states, and nation, enabling professionals entering the market to keep pace in this fast-changing environment. With a unique interdisciplinary approach, combined with years of experience, Excelsior College is well-positioned to train students on how to converse with policymakers, industry leaders, proprietors, and other stakeholders across the many professions that the cannabis industry touches.

Digital Education to Train Cannabis Industry Professionals

Excelsior offers this certificate as a fully online program that includes three graduate interdisciplinary courses focusing on policy, risk assessment, and commerce. The certificate can be earned in as few as six months and is an excellent specialization for students already pursuing a business, health sciences, or public service degree.

Excelsior College Cannabis Courses

The cannabis control certificate program is taught by industry experts and designed around a career-focused compliance and regulatory framework. The three courses in the cannabis program include:

CBC 600 Implications of Legalization of Cannabis: Policy and Compliance

In this course, students will consider the impact of legalization on various institutions, entities, and individuals, and address aspects including safety, testing/regulation, marketing, dilemmas between policy and legal regimes they live in, and budgetary implications.

CBC 601 Interstate/International Commerce: Policy and Regulatory Environment

In this course, students will analyze the complexities of interstate/international commerce and explore the differences in regulations at the federal and state levels, as well as the different regulatory environments across states. Specific focus will be on issues related to cybersecurity, supply chain management, and inventory control, and their implications for business organizations that might operate across markets with varying regulatory environments.

CBC 602 Risk Assessment in Cannabis Control

In this course, students will learn about risk assessment in cannabis control and gain skills necessary to evaluate risks in the field related to: cultivation, harvesting, genetic testing, containment, water supply, pests, cybersecurity, grants, product safety labeling, and workplace testing/safety. Students will discuss harm reduction strategies when moving from an unregulated to a regulated market. They will also learn to conduct risk assessments in their communities.

Excelsior College is one of the longest-running distance education providers in the United States and has nearly two decades of experience in online education and almost 50 years of helping students earn their degrees. This Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control offers students a unique opportunity to propel their careers forward in one of the newest markets in the country, with wide potential. With the need for increased education and professionalization of the industry, students will acquire the tools necessary to secure and expand their careers. Visit our program page and contact us today to get started.

Excelsior College Launches Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Albany, N.Y. – Excelsior College is excited to announce the launch of its Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control. The three-course, 9-credit certificate will support professionals currently working or aspiring to work in the relatively new and rapidly expanding legal cannabis industry.

Some economic forecasts predict that legal cannabis will be a $73 billion industry by 2025, and recent analyses show employment opportunities expanding in concert with industry growth. Leveraging a fully online delivery model, the program will provide high-quality, academically rigorous courses to support adult learners from diverse academic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds.

James N. Baldwin, president of Excelsior College, shared, “This new certificate program shows our commitment to supporting individuals seeking employment in emerging industries and will provide the needed tools for employees to stay current while working in this field. The demands and realities of an increasingly globalized economy have reshaped the higher education landscape, and Excelsior College is responding with opportunities like this graduate certificate. We see this certificate as a component of a larger ecosystem that enables learners to pursue degree programs, non-credit professional development opportunities, and micro credentials at any time to meet their personal and professional goals.”

Admission to Excelsior’s cannabis control certificate program requires students to have completed their bachelor’s degree. This graduate-level certificate program takes an interdisciplinary approach and can be taken alone for college credit and career advancement or applied toward four of Excelsior College’s master’s degree programs.

The three courses in the certificate program include:

  • Implications of Legalization of Cannabis: Policy and Compliance
  • Interstate/International Commerce: Policy and Regulatory Environment
  • Risk Assessment in Cannabis Control

The certificate program will enhance students’ understanding and interpretation of a complex regulatory environment that has significant variation across jurisdictions—federal, state, and municipal.

Scott Dolan, dean of School of Graduate Studies at Excelsior College, stated, “The Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control will help students navigate the sector’s complex regulatory environment. By aligning the program with our master’s degrees in business, public administration, health sciences, and criminal justice, we are looking to foster dialogue across disciplines that often approach the regulatory environment from different perspectives. Skills learned in the courses will prepare students to analyze, interpret, and advocate for sound policies and regulations that work to the benefit of all stakeholders in the legal cannabis industry. The curriculum will also put students in the context of the industry—utilizing realistic case studies—to ensure students graduate from the program career-ready.”

Students enrolled in the certificate program will gain political acumen, expand their professional networks, and receive formal training in a dynamic field.

Provost John Caron stated, “As more states move toward the legalization of cannabis and cannabis-related products, organizations in a variety of sectors—both public and private—will require a deeper understanding of the newly emerging regulatory environment. Cannabis is projected to hit a job-creation rate of 110 percent in just three years from 2017 to 2020. By 2021, the cannabis industry is expected to create 414,000 jobs in the U.S.” To view the salaries in various communities, visit https://info.vangst.com/hubfs/2019SalaryGuide.pdf.

For more information about Excelsior College, visit https://www.excelsior.edu/program/graduate-certificate-in-cannabis-control/ 

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 ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College (excelsior.edu) is a regionally 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 Media Contact:

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

NisonCo Media Contact

Zane Bader, zane@nisonco.com, 470-342-5440 (for Cannabis specific)

 

 

Smooth Transition

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Robert Trawick’s Excelsior degrees prepare him for life after the military

Robert Trawick, of Fayetteville, NC, retired from the U.S. Army in 2018 after 30 years and began the process of transitioning to civilian life. Transitioning from the military to civilian life can be different for everyone and fortunately for Trawick, he started pursuing his higher education while still in the Army so his shift to civilian work would be more comfortable. He earned an Associate in Applied Science in Business from Excelsior College in 2006 and then returned to earn a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts in 2019.

Trawick joined the Army in 1988 and became a gunner and assistant gunner for the 7th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery in Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. During his time with the Army, he also served as a computer programmer, information technology specialist, program manager where he planned, developed, and implemented security programs, special operations project management, security policies, and advanced telecommunications and network security solutions. By the time he retired, Trawick was a sergeant major and the senior signal operations manager for the U.S. Army Forces Command and the principal senior enlisted advisor to the Army’s general officer-level commanders.

In 2005, Trawick decided to go back to school to improve himself, earn credits to become promoted to the next grade, prepare for life after the Army, and to take on the challenge of attending college. Even though Trawick had a difficult time in high school when it came to studying and homework, he was still an honor student, president of the National Honor Society, president of the Math Club, voted most likely to succeed, and voted most versatile. In fact, he earned two basketball scholarships to attend college but decided to join the Army instead. “I chose the Army because I felt like it was time for me to become my own man and start living my life as an adult taking care of myself,” he says, adding that he felt he would not be successful in college due to his study habits.

Trawick had heard about Excelsior’s good reputation with military servicemembers and their families and liked the College’s generous credit transfer policy. “Excelsior College has always been military friendly. Serving in the military requires lots of travel and moving every two to three years. Most colleges and universities didn’t transfer credits from other institutions at the time. Excelsior College accepted credits from other sources,” he says. Trawick transferred in credits from his Army education and experience as well as from previous institutions like Park University in Missouri; Miami-Dade Community College in Florida; University of North Carolina—Fayetteville State University; Fayetteville Tech Community College in North Carolina; and Georgia Military College in Georgia.

Trawick also had a good experience with Excelsior’s Center for Military and Veteran Education, saying, “The military service department [CMVE] was always helpful, knowledgeable, understanding, and available.” With a helpful online experience from Excelsior, Trawick’s transition to civilian life after the Army was made that much smoother and easier. He says it was helpful to have his family and friends supporting him and says taking care of his family throughout his military career was the most important part of transitioning because they were there for him. “I also built meaningful and trusting relationships throughout my military career. These relationships paid off during my transition because these same individuals offered me opportunities for employment after retirement,” he says, and encourages other servicemembers to make connections and form relationships.

Now Trawick is a business developer at eTranservices Corporation, which provides business and technology solutions to federal, state, and local agencies. He moved into this position in 2018 after retiring from the Army. Trawick works from home, planning and overseeing new marketing initiatives, and helping his team develop business opportunities with and bid on Department of Defense and federal, state, and local government contracts. He says discipline is required in his position, which is a trait that transferred over from his time in the military. He also says, “I served as a senior information technology chief in the military and now as a civilian, I find myself doing some of the same things but on the business development side.”

Going back to school allowed Trawick to pursue a new chapter in his life after the Army. Now he encourages others to take the leap and follow their own goals. He says, “Make up your mind for whatever goal you are trying to achieve. Stop making excuses, make solid plans, and stick to it.” Learn more about Excelsior’s Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts.

 

 

 

 

 

Helping Others

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Laurie Mansuy uses her nursing degrees to care for those in need

Laurie Mansuy, of Willoughby Hills, Ohio, wanted to be a nurse since she was young. She liked helping people and was fascinated with the inner workings of the human body. She knew that, with nursing, she could combine those interests and help heal people. Mansuy became an LPN and has been a nurse for several decades. In 2019, she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Excelsior College, finally completing a lifelong goal and enabling her to move up in her career.

Mansuy works 12-hour shifts at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, as a staff nurse. For the past four years, she has overseen not only several patients at a time but also nurse’s aides. She gives medications, helps give baths, and talks with doctors about patient needs and medications. “It’s a lot of sick patients we get from all over the place. And it’s challenging and tiring at the same time,” she says. Normally she is in the orthopedics unit, but much of her unit has currently been closed and reopened to help with COVID-19 patients.

She also works in home care for University Hospitals Home Care, based in Cleveland. She is a fill-in nurse responding to calls when necessary, and visits patients’ homes to check and administer medications, change dressings, check vital signs, and so forth. Mansuy is also a licensed massage therapist.

Mansuy was encouraged by her superiors to pursue her bachelor’s degree to maintain her position with University Hospitals Home Care. Since she had always wanted to earn a bachelor’s degree, she thought it was a perfect reason to go back to school. Mansuy pursued her associate degree in nursing with Excelsior, earning her degree in 1988, when the college was still known as Regents College. Only later did she discover that the Cleveland Clinic is an educational partner of Excelsior and so she decided to return to earn her bachelor’s degree and take advantage of the tuition reimbursement available through her employer.

Mansuy says the hardest part about going back to school was sticking to a schedule and posting to discussions on time. She says it was helpful to know she wasn’t alone and that others were working full time just like her. Mansuy also says she got through her schooling simply because she knew she could do it. Now she tells others to stay positive because “ . . . even though you have a lot going on in your life, if you really want your degree, you will get your degree. And everything else will work out.”

Mansuy’s job duties have remained much the same with her bachelor’s degree, but her advanced education will allow her to transfer into other positions. She intends to apply for a case manager position, in which she would help coordinate discharge for patients and work with doctors, nurses, patients, and families. In this position, she would also oversee the patient’s plans after discharge, such as rehab.

So far, Mansuy has enjoyed her journey. Now that she has her bachelor’s degree, she can take advantage of new opportunities to care for and help other people. Mansuy tells others to enjoy their journeys too, saying, “Just because there is a goal at the end — enjoy the journey along the way, because there is so much fun stuff you can learn from just the path you are on.” View our RN to MSN in Nursing options.

More from Laurie Mansuy

Best book, podcast, newsletter, etc. that relates to your profession:

“I read the American Journal of Nursing. They have articles on a variety of subjects. Also, the newsletter from Ohio Board of Nursing Education dept from Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.”

Most important traits necessary to succeed in your profession:

“A nurse needs to enjoy working with people. A nurse shouldn’t go into nursing for the money… A nurse needs time management skills to be organized…Also a nurse needs to enjoy working with other nurses and learn to resolve conflicts. A nurse needs compassion but not to the point of getting attached to a patient where that person’s judgment becomes clouded with emotion. Also, a nurse needs a good sense of humor. My motto is go to work, do my job well with patients, have a good time, and go home.”

Best advice you’ve ever received:

“Enjoy the journey. Just enjoy the time, enjoy the now. Enjoy the journey, because you learn so much. You learn organizational skills, more so. And you learn: just the desire of learning, you’re learning something different.”

Joint Statement from Dr. James N. Baldwin, President; Dr. David Schejbal, President-elect; and the Excelsior College Board of Trustees:

Posted on by James Baldwin

The deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, are tragic examples of the racial divide and culture of intolerance with which our nation continues to struggle. We are outraged and saddened by recent events, and we grieve for all who are victims of bigotry, hatred, and social injustice.

Although neither of these individuals were members of the Excelsior College community, the tragic circumstances of their deaths highlight the effects of systemic racism and tensions that fester throughout our society. Let us reflect on the challenges before us and reaffirm our commitment to equality, justice, inclusion, and respect.

The mission of Excelsior College is to provide academic opportunities for those who are historically underrepresented in higher education. Given the role of higher education as an equalizing force and social good, this mission is even more important considering the current, tragic events.

We join together with the Excelsior College community to renounce racism in all its forms, reject hatred and bigotry, and urge that we come together as a community of learners who strive to be wiser, kinder, more respectful, and more inclusive of all people.

Jobs for Health Science Masters Graduates

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The health sciences include multiple disciplines that focus on a better understanding of human health and the application of that knowledge to improve the delivery of healthcare. Graduate program students in the health sciences move on to jobs in clinical and non-clinical settings, including public health planners, health professions educators, health informatics technicians, quality assurance coordinators, and healthcare administrators.

Health sciences graduates work in locations across the healthcare industry, including hospitals, laboratories, public health agencies, community health centers, government research centers, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms.

Excelsior College’s Master of Science in Health Sciences prepares graduates for these jobs and many others within the health sciences. Graduates leave the program with expertise in developing quality medical services and the business processes that drive success in healthcare.

Topics in the graduate program include health assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention as well as the impact of politics on healthcare and the complex network of local, state, and federal healthcare regulations.

Excelsior College offers the graduate program online, providing flexibility to working adults who want to take the next step in their career.

Growth in the Health Sciences Field

The Excelsior College program prepares post-bachelor’s students for a variety of careers in one of the fastest-growing areas of the U.S. economy. Jobs in healthcare will increase 14 percent between 2018 and 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In the health sciences, jobs in healthcare management (18 percent) and health education (11 percent) are expected to grow much faster than the average occupation.

Many factors are driving the growth, according to the “2020 Global Health Care Outlook” from Deloitte. These include an aging U.S. population, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, advances in technology, evolving care models, and expansion of healthcare in developing markets.

The growth is not just in the United States. Deloitte noted  many countries address workforce shortages by using incentives “to attract foreign talent or to encourage health care professionals to work in remote regions.”

Jobs and Careers in Health Sciences

Excelsior College’s Master of Science in Health Sciences — with an optional concentration in public health — is designed for people headed for or working in the healthcare industry who want to pursue the educational immersion necessary to advance in career areas such as:

  • Health administration
  • Health education
  • Health policy
  • Community health

What jobs can you get with a master’s degree in health sciences? They include CareLink director ($125,552), executive director, healthcare ($122,040) and health program manager III ($96,095).

What You Learn in a Health Sciences Graduate Program

Excelsior College’s Master of Science in Health Sciences helps you gain the necessary industry skills and information, including:

  • Proficiency in using multiple strategies of communication to convey complex thoughts and ideas
  • Utilization of research findings to explain and direct the resolution of practice-related issues and challenges
  • Leadership skills in managing people and programs
  • Analysis of issues and challenges, including new and emerging trends within the healthcare industry, using an ethical framework
  • Knowledge of healthcare policy and delivery systems to guide professional practice
  • How to analyze issues and challenges, including new and emerging trends
  • Implementation of specialized knowledge and skills in an advanced practice role

A master’s degree in health sciences gives graduates the skills and knowledge they need to succeed at the top level of health sciences jobs. With the expertise and leadership skills learned in such a program, graduates are well-prepared to handle the challenges of this growing area of the healthcare industry.