Career Spotlight: Nursing Home Administrator

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

Nursing home administrators are responsible for all facets of running a nursing home facility including staff, finances, and more. One of their main responsibilities is to ensure all residents are provided with proper care and have the best quality of life while residing at the facility.

Some people consider nursing home administration to be one of the most important yet underrated professions in health care. While the duties may vary from facility to facility, or state to state, the underlying goal of nursing home administrators is to provide the best care that always affords residents their dignity.

Nursing Home Administrator Job Responsibilities

Nursing home administrators manage staff, admissions, finances, and facilities, as well as the care of residents in the nursing home. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following are key job responsibilities:

鈥 Develop departmental goals and improve efficiency and quality in delivering services.
鈥 Ensure the facility is up to date and compliant with laws and regulations.
鈥 Recruit, train, and supervise staff, as well as create work schedules, and communicate with staff and department heads about residential needs.
鈥 Monitor budgets and manage the facility鈥檚 finances, such as patient fees and billing.

Nursing home administrators may also work with other facilities, doctor鈥檚 offices, or local hospitals to provide the right care for their patients.

Nursing Home Administrator Qualifications

Higher education is key to gaining the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful nursing home administrator. While a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing, health care, or a related field (combined with work experience) will increase your chances of securing a job, most states and facilities require a master鈥檚 degree in health care administration or a related field. Great candidates for these positions would also have work experience in either an administrative or clinical role in a hospital or other health care facility. In fact, many nursing home administrators were registered nurses before moving into this role and continuing their education.

According to the BLS, these are the most important qualities candidates should have:

鈥 Analytical skills: It is imperative to understand and follow regulations and adapt to new laws.
鈥 Interpersonal skills: Nursing home administrators discuss confidential information with other health care professionals and need to deal with any staffing or resident issues.
鈥 Leadership skills: Administrators need to be flexible, creative, and adaptable to find solutions to administrative problems, as well as to train and lead staff.

All states require licensure for nursing home administrators; requirements vary from state to state. For more information on specific state-by-state licensure requirements, visit the . In New York state, a nursing home cannot operate without a nursing home administrator who holds a valid nursing home administrators license and registration.

Why Become a Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing home administrators can make a positive impact on residents and their families, as well as on the staff of their facility. Employment is projected to grow by 32 percent by 2030, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby-boomer population ages and people remain active much later in life, there will be an increased demand for health care services, particularly nursing home administrators, and the staff who work in the facilities. The median annual salary for a nursing home administrator was $104,280 in May 2020. If you are looking for a significant role in the health care industry, a nursing home administrator job is for you. Learn more about your educational path to a rewarding career.

Call to Service

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

In 1968, Richard 鈥淩ick鈥 Huffstetler, of Mooresville, North Carolina, was working three jobs and attending college when he decided he needed a break and took a semester off. That one semester turned into 32 years.

He decided more than 30 years was long enough to go without a degree, and after his wife, Wanda earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Excelsior College in 1997, he also looked into the online school. From the 1970s into the 2000s, Huffstetler had taken a few college courses at various universities but never completed a degree. Once he decided it was time to restart on that goal, he earned an Associate in Liberal Arts from Excelsior in 2000 and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts in 2002. In the following years, Huffstetler pursued a higher calling to help others and today owns his own chaplain service and volunteers for the Billy Graham Association.

鈥淚 felt called to go into some type of ministry,鈥 says Huffstetler, referring to 2009 when he felt encouraged by a higher power to follow a career serving God and his fellow man. Huffstetler had worked mainly in sales, for a time selling Chevy fleet vehicles for General Motors, but in 2010, he switched gears and joined the Billy Graham Association. Since then, he has answered the national prayer hotline, offering comfort and prayers to callers.

With his degrees from Excelsior in hand, Huffstetler earned a master鈥檚 in Christian leadership from Liberty University and took basic chaplain training in Houston, Texas, through the International Fellowship of Chaplains. He became a senior chaplain in 2013 and opened Workplace Chaplain Services in 2015. He is the owner and sole employee, although he can call on others for assistance if needed. As a chaplain, he offers support and encouragement to staff at local companies. 鈥淭he chaplain is there to minister to those people in whatever way it seems fit. The role of a chaplain is we鈥檙e there to help you do your job,鈥 says Huffstetler. 鈥淣o matter what that job may be鈥攊t could be a soldier, it could be a police officer, or it could be somebody making widgets in a factory. But whatever your job is, I as a chaplain, my job is to help you do that job better.鈥 Chaplains, Huffstetler says, help employees sift through the emotional and mental 鈥済unk鈥 they may bring to work with them and need to talk about.

In addition to running his own chaplain services and working with the Billy Graham Association, Huffstetler is a chaplain with the Motor Racing Outreach Association, which fosters and encourages fellowship and faith for the racing community and its fans. He says, 鈥淎ll the major NASCAR teams are probably within 10 miles of where I鈥檓 standing right now鈥 Motor racing outreach administers to the racing community. And it鈥檚 not just NASCAR鈥攎otorcycles, boats, drag racing, whatever it may be.鈥

Huffstetler says sometimes it鈥檚 hard being a chaplain because he runs into rejection. 鈥淣ot everybody wants what I have to offer for whatever reason. And sometimes when I鈥檓 rejected, it鈥檚 hard not to take it personally,鈥 he says. But the good outweighs the bad. It makes him feel good to know that he has helped people. 鈥淚f I have just made a small difference in somebody鈥檚 life, that鈥檚 good enough.鈥 Learn more about Excelsior College’s Associate Degree in Liberal Arts.

More from Richard Huffstetler

What鈥檚 the best advice you鈥檝e received?

鈥淛immy Valvano said don鈥檛 ever give up. I saw him give his last speech, and they had to carry him off stage. And you know, he鈥檚 telling me, you know, not to give up, so how can I give up? So I don’t know, it just always stuck with me.鈥

What would you tell someone who wanted to go back to school?

鈥淚 tell people all the time, especially if you have any credits, you need to check out Excelsior because they鈥檙e one of the few schools that will really give you credit鈥ou鈥檙e not starting at ground zero.鈥

What kind of legacy do you hope to leave?

鈥淢y legacy is my two grandchildren out in California. They call me 鈥楶oppa鈥欌 feel like I live on through them.鈥

What do you do when you are not working as a chaplain?

鈥淚 started making these walking sticks because at the time I had my knee replaced, I thought, well, if I鈥檝e got to have a walking stick model, I鈥檒l do something cool, and I made this walking stick with a baseball on top. I made a bunch of them for friends… I love building model cars because that鈥檚 one thing I love about Motor Racing Outreach: it combines my two passions which is chaplaincy and automobile racing. I鈥檝e built stuff around the house: I built a fire pit; I found out that I could build these cascading waterfall things鈥 You know just anything like that.鈥

Excelsior College Named a Top 10 Online College by Newsweek

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Albany, New York鈥擭ewsweek announced that Excelsior College placed No. 9 on its 2022 list of America鈥檚 Top Online Colleges. The America鈥檚 Top Online Colleges 2022 list ranks 150 colleges and universities that offer online degree programs, including hybrid programs.

鈥淓xcelsior is thrilled to be ranked a Top 10 Online College by Newsweek,鈥 said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College. 鈥淲e take great pride in being the largest, fully online higher education institution in New York state and to be recognized nationally by Newsweek as an online leader reinforces Excelsior鈥檚 strong reputation.鈥

Newsweek Top Online College RankingsOn behalf of Newsweek, Statista surveyed more than 9,000 individuals who participated in online college degree programs and/or online learning courses in the United States. Respondents shared their experiences by rating the institutions on accessibility, support service, program cost, reputation, expected success, practical relevance of programs, and overall satisfaction with the institution. The rankings are based on the online survey results.

Founded in 1971, Excelsior began to offer courses online in 2004 and set the bar for academically rigorous and engaging education at a distance. Overall, Excelsior College鈥檚 success can be attributed to an unyielding resolve to meet students where they are, academically and geographically. With more than 187,000 alumni, Excelsior alumni can be found in all 50 states and more than 20 countries. Excelsior offers online associate, bachelor鈥檚, and master鈥檚 programs as well as certificates.

 

# # #

Media Contact Excelsior College:

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

听ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College is an accredited, not-for-profit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥 academically and geographically 鈥 removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.

 

 

 

Excelsior Students Place Third in IACBE Case Competition

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

In fall 2021, four Excelsior College students participated in the 2021 IACBE Live Business Case Competition and听placed听3rd out of 24 teams.听鈥淲orking with peers and leaders to accomplish a goal was rewarding,鈥 said Skyler Sharp, a Master of Science in Management student and one of the team members.

The team was mentored by faculty member Janice听Tucker, with support from faculty program directors Michele Paludi and Leah Sciabarrasi.听鈥淭his was a wonderful experience to work with students on a real problem for a real company,鈥 said Tucker in appreciation of coaching the student team.

The case competition was a unique opportunity to get students in front of real-world executives as they competed to come up with the best insights based on real company challenges. The competition was fully remote. Each competing team was tasked with developing a USA Go-to-Market Strategy for GENUINO, an Italian start-up that connects NFTs (non-fungible tokens that allow holders of art and collectibles to track ownership) to real-world objects. The specific focus for this project was how GENUINO could leverage its blockchain certification technology and community engagement platform across multiple sectors, including sports, music, art, and fashion, to build and grow revenue streams for all points of engagement in the life of the collectible (NFT + Physical).

Teams looked at how all points of contact (athletes, teams, artists, musicians, fashion designers, collectors, and fans) can monetize opportunities within the U.S. as they look to gain value and enrich their experience with athletes and teams through the use of NFTs proprietary to the GENUINO marketplace, which uniquely incorporates physical asset blockchain certification protocol.听Team member and Master of Science in Management student LeRoy Greene II said that it was a 鈥渧ery unique听project that had involvement with Excelsior centered around new and innovative technology platforms.鈥疘t鈥檚 how educational experience should happen!鈥

A total of 126 students from around the world competed in the fall 2021 competition and 24 final deliverables were submitted. Teams had two weeks to research the case and submit a听final deliverable听that听included a 鈥済o-to-market鈥 proposal听and a video presentation. 鈥淭his competition epitomized what teamwork truly means,鈥 said Mario Ramdial, another team member and Master of Business Administration student.

Competing as Team Ever Upward, the students鈥 proposal fully explored and addressed adoption across three target consumer audiences: the web-savvy, veteran crypto user who understands the NFT concept; the sports fan with no prior experience or understanding of NFTs; and the collector who may or may not understand the NFT concept. 鈥淥ur challenge was to truly create a way to harness the wild west of crypto-trading鈥 said team member Keila Peters, a Master of Science in Management student.

The competition was sponsored by IACBE, an outcomes-based professional accreditation agency for business and management degree programs, and听Capsource.

Congratulations, Team Ever Upward!

Leah Sciabarrasi

Excelsior College Welcomes Chair, Alumni Representative to Board of Trustees

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Albany, New York鈥擡xcelsior College named new board chair Don Dea, co-founder of Fusion Productions, to a two-year term beginning January 2021. Dea previously served as treasurer for the board of trustees. Dea is a recognized authority on the internet, association, and non-profit organizations, online education, mobile, and technology deployment.

鈥淎s the largest, fully online higher education institution in New York state, Excelsior is fortunate to benefit from Don Dea鈥檚 depth of technology knowledge,鈥 said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College. 鈥淲e are proud to welcome Don Dea to the position of chair of the board of trustees.鈥

Dea has served as a trustee since 2012. 鈥淏eing the son of an immigrant family, the value of education and hard work was part of my household vocabulary. My understandinand appreciation of Excelsior鈥檚 mission and students have been forged in my relationships with the Excelsior community,鈥 said Don Dea, chair of Excelsior鈥檚 board of trustees. 鈥淔rom my previous years of experience as a trustee, it is clear that we must continue to advance Excelsior鈥檚 mission to help adults and those who are underserved attain their degree and sustain their career and life goals by leading with innovation and differentiation in academic quality and student success in serving our military, nursing, healthcare, and business ecosystem.鈥

Dea succeeds former chair Helen Benjamin, whose term ended December 31, 2021. She will continue to serve as a trustee.

Excelsior alumnus Mark Bowman, NASA Soyuz Spacecraft Systems and Crew Operations lead, is the new chair of the Alumni Leadership Council and ex-officio trustee to the board. Bowman received his bachelor鈥檚 degree from Excelsior and has been an active alumnus. In 2014, he received the Alumni Achievement Award.

鈥淚 chose Excelsior, then Regents College, for my degree because I had returned from an overseas assignment with over 125 hours of accumulated credits from three different schools and no clear path to complete my degree. I was discouraged and ready to give up until I found Excelsior with its generous credit aggregation,鈥 said Mark Bowman, chair of Excelsior鈥檚 Alumni Leadership Council. 鈥淓xcelsior provided the distance learning solution that I needed. I was happy and most important, my employer was happy that, at last, I had my college degree! This eventually led to my career with NASA.鈥

In his impressive career at NASA, Bowman has spent more than six hours weightless in nearly 20 flights aboard NASA鈥檚 zero-G research aircraft and has served as an attach茅 at the U.S. Embassy in Russia. He currently serves as the NASA Flight Operations lead for the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) of Gateway, an outpost that will orbit the Moon to facilitate human exploration of the surface.

 

# # #

Media Contact Excelsior College:

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

听

ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College is an accredited, not-for-profit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥 academically and geographically 鈥 removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.

 

Social Media as an Investigative Tool and the Rise of Citizen Detectives

Posted on by Emily Miller

If the activity of citizen detectives is any indication, social media can become a useful tool for law enforcement and other agencies as they work to investigate and solve crimes.

Amateur crime solvers are turning to sites such as websleuths.com and Reddit to use the collective power of social media for the good of solving cold cases and crimes. This is publicized by none other than , an investigative journalist, and co-host of the podcast 鈥淭he Murder Squad,鈥 which tells some of these unsolved stories and invites listeners to help crack the cases. The podcast urges listeners to upload their DNA to international databases to help solve cold cases and, in fact, got its in 2020.

Many of the first of these citizen detectives are not without qualifications, as they are also investigative journalists whose work experience and skill set have continued to prove useful as they cross over into this area of solving crimes. Jensen has a new documentary miniseries on Discovery+ called 鈥淯nraveled鈥 in which the public gets a glimpse into the real-time work behind the scenes of solving unsolved cases, such as the Long Island Serial Killer. Jensen is well known for his best-selling book, 鈥淐hase Darkness With Me,鈥 in which he chronicles his rise as what he deems a 鈥渃itizen detective鈥 as well as his connection with the late Michelle McNamara, a true-crime journalist who started the website TrueCrimeDaily.com. McNamara eventually wrote the book 鈥淚鈥檒l Be Gone in the Dark,鈥 which took a deep dive into her almost obsessive search for information on the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer, who she hypothesized may still be alive. Through her digging, Jensen鈥檚 help, and working with law enforcement, this serial killer was eventually identified through DNA, arrested, and took a plea deal admitting guilt to all of the crimes in exchange for being spared a death sentence.

Social Media鈥檚 Role in Crime Investigations

TikTok, a social media platform where users generate video content, is becoming a haven for these citizen detectives, particularly as very public cases such as the recent homicide of Gabby Petito unfold in the public eye. Previously, you would have seen platforms like Twitter being used to instantaneously share theories and evidence in cases, but the demographic has changed. The ability of TikTok to generate video and greenscreen other platforms and photos to analyze more deeply what鈥檚 going on has made it a logical platform for this type of work.

This brings to light a two-fold idea that social media can be helpful in solving crime. Social media is not only a tool in which the public, witnesses, law enforcement, journalists, and citizen detectives can share and analyze evidence but also a source of evidence provided by the accounts of the victims and persons of interest.

Danielle Radin, a digital journalist with CBS LA, has taken to TikTok to post a more than 30-part video series in which she dissects Petito鈥檚 social media accounts and alleges that Petito鈥檚 boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, took over Petito鈥檚 accounts. She has been trying to determine what is authentic to determine what may have occurred to Petito. The first video she created has over 300,000 views. Another account, @red.white.andbethune, who posts content that has nothing to do with true crime, happened to be the person who found Petito鈥檚 van and captured that on video. The TikTok they posted of her van has been seen 8 million times and is now a major piece of evidence in the case. Consider too, that Miranda Baker, a woman who unknowingly picked up Laundrie hitchhiking in the hours after Petito鈥檚 death, didn鈥檛 have a TikTok account prior to this encounter, but she created one simply to share a video of her story while simultaneously working with the authorities. In the video, she tells about how she picked up Laundrie and how he seemed and was acting. Her original video posting has 17 million views, and she alone has 320,000 followers.

Similarly, Brian Entin, a correspondent for News Nation Now out of Miami had been stationed outside the Laundrie family house in North Port, Florida, for weeks covering the comings and goings and any updates from law enforcement in the Petito case. He is seen on social media as the go-to for information, even before agencies like the Denver field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for his thorough investigation and explanation of what certain actions mean.

Law enforcement is also using social channels. Twitter is a platform that sees a lot of what-if and conspiracy theories. More and more law enforcement agencies such as the FBI have taken to using Twitter to release statements, arrest warrants, etc., in highly publicized cases. The FBI has the main Twitter account, and then each corresponding field office has its own account. It鈥檚 unclear as to whether or not there are specific standard operating procedures to be followed, but not only can they disseminate information this way, they can also use the power of the internet to gather tips, gain awareness, etc.

Using Social Media to Effectively Solve Crimes

It is estimated that 45 percent of the world鈥檚 population is active on social media. To make social media an effective tool in criminal justice, a more effective process and training is needed.

In a , 8 out of 10 police officers were using social media as a tool in their investigations, with the majority of these uses focused on crime investigation as opposed to crime prevention. I can only imagine that in the seven years since this report was published, these numbers have risen dramatically. However, 52 percent of all agencies admitted to not having a process for social media; documented procedures for what can be used and how it can be used; what鈥檚 considered usable evidence and admissible in court; and even access to the platforms while they鈥檙e working, let alone training for agency employees.

The focus for law enforcement agencies has been more on creating guidelines for officers and other law enforcement professionals on how to use and structure their personal social media accounts and what content is appropriate for them to post, and less on the way social media can be used in investigations and in bringing perpetrators to justice. To be most effective, there needs to be a collaboration between law enforcement agencies and citizen detectives to provide real-time help in solving current and cold cases.

 

What You Need to Know to Become an Epidemiologist

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

COVID-19 has seriously disrupted daily life worldwide. Doctors and nurses fight to keep patients alive in hospitals, teachers are struggling to help students learn, and more parents and caregivers are working full-time while also caring for their families. There are also people fighting to learn more about the vaccine, discover how this virus will affect people long term, and identify ways to reduce the overall risk. Some of these people are epidemiologists.

Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease. Their main job objective is to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes. This is done through research, community education, health policy, and public health. Epidemiologists typically specialize in a specific public health area, such as environmental health, infectious disease, mental health, or public health preparedness.

Main Duties of an Epidemiologist

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the typical responsibilities of epidemiologists across all industries are:
鈥 Plan and direct studies of public health problems to find ways to prevent or treat them
鈥 Communicate findings with health professionals, the public, and policymakers
鈥 Collect and analyze information to find causes of diseases or other health problems

Epidemiologists may also supervise professional, technical, and clerical personnel and manage all programs through planning, progress, and improvement.

Important Skills of an Epidemiologist

To be successful as an epidemiologist, it is important to have the following skills:
鈥 Proficient in biology, chemistry, and behavioral sciences
鈥 Critical thinking and attention to detail
鈥 Math and statistical skills
鈥 Scientific research and writing

How to Become an Epidemiologist

It takes time, education, and work experience to become an epidemiologist. Epidemiologists must be passionate about their work, education, research, and serving the public.

Step 1: Earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree

There is no specific degree required to become an epidemiologist. However, it is recommended to complete a degree at the undergraduate level in public health, biology, health sciences, or nursing. Most schools do not have a bachelor鈥檚 degree specific to epidemiology, but the courses in these fields will prepare you for this career.

According to the BLS, entry-level epidemiologist positions require at least a master鈥檚 degree, so a bachelor鈥檚 degree provides you the foundation to continue your education. At Excelsior College, you can complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree in health sciences fully online. With this degree, you will learn about the organization, purpose, and quality of U.S. health care, and excel in subjects important for your career, including health care policies, federal regulations, cultural competencies, and strategic approaches for regional health issues. You will take courses in statistics, natural sciences, and psychology that will provide the foundation needed to continue your education and become an epidemiologist.

Step 2: Complete a master鈥檚 degree

Typically, a master鈥檚 degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology will prepare you for this career. Coursework includes community health, environmental health, and research methods that prepare students for the data analysis and research required of epidemiologists.

Step 3: Work experience

Along with completing your education, gaining work experience is recommended to enter this field. Fieldwork is critical to this career, as many of the daily responsibilities of an epidemiologist are taught on the job. In addition, work experience gives you the opportunity to use your academic skills in a real-world setting. Experience in public health, research labs, or any related field will prepare you for a career in epidemiology.

Job Outlook

With the ongoing public health crisis of COVID-19, now more than ever is a great time to enter the epidemiology field. In 2020, the BLS reported that this career is expected to grow by 5 percent by 2029, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. Many jobs are in state and local governments where epidemiologists are needed to help respond to emergencies and to provide public health services. While the average salary for epidemiologists was $74,000 in May 2020, the highest 10 percent earned more than $126,000 a year.

Chat with Excelsior College today to start on your educational journey.

Excelsior College Announces Founding Director of the Center for Social Justice and Chief Diversity Officer

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Albany, New York鈥擡xcelsior College is pleased to announce Daniel Pascoe Aguilar, PhD, MDiv, as the founding director of the Center for Social Justice and chief diversity officer.

Daniel Pascoe Aguilar

Pascoe Aguilar brings a holistic view of social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion to this role and is committed to developing a diverse and interculturally developed next generation of leaders. He has extensive experience as a leader in higher education and has served on think tanks and strategy groups like the Future Talent Council. His thought leadership on social justice has both national and international reach.

鈥淒aniel brings great experience and a rich perspective to this role,鈥 said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College. 鈥淗is collaborative approach to both the student and employee will be important to the work of DEI and social justice at Excelsior.鈥

Pascoe Aguilar has more than 30 years of leading and managing a diversity of higher-education, social service, and religious organization professional teams and programs. He also has more than 20 years of progressive performance in student development systemic leadership, proactive collaborations, tactical administration, strategic planning and assessment, technology innovation, and theory/data/practice-informed management.

鈥淚 am deeply honored to become part of the leadership of an institution with such a keen and moving focus on equitable access to higher education, on the integration of the student story into their curriculum and development, and on our necessary collective and individual fight for social justice,鈥 said Pascoe Aguilar.

Excelsior鈥檚 commitment to social justice and diversity, equity, and

inclusion are deeply rooted in the mission, vision, and values of the institution. For more than 50 years, Excelsior College has opened doors for those who haven鈥檛 seen themselves reflected in traditional higher education. Through a Center for Social Justice, Excelsior will have a hub for its efforts to elevate the understanding and appreciation for diversity, equity, and inclusion and social justice among the College鈥檚 stakeholders, and incorporate the principles of social justice into the College鈥檚 culture and operations so that they are reflected in the student experience and in the day-to-day running of the College.

# # #

听Media Contact Excelsior College:

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

听ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College is an accredited, not-for-profit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥 academically and geographically 鈥 removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.

 

 

 

The Write Stuff

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Paul Kingsbury of Carrollton, Virginia, is an organizational leadership and management consultant, author, and president of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA). While in the Navy, Kingsbury attended Excelsior College to prepare for his future career. It was at Excelsior that Kingsbury developed a love of writing, and he has made the art form part of a communications career.

 

Kingsbury joined the Navy at 17 years old and after many years in service, decided he wanted to pursue a college education to prepare for a civilian career after his retirement. In the 1980s, he completed Naval Nuclear Power Program training, and then in the 1990s, he attended classes at Adirondack Community College. He continued to chip away at a degree until he earned an associate degree from Tidewater Community College in the early 2000s. At this point, Kingsbury was a chief petty officer and wanted an advanced degree. He stumbled upon Excelsior College and was impressed by how many credits he could earn with DANTES and CLEP exams, as well as by transferring in credits from his previous attendance at community colleges and receiving credit for nuclear power school.

 

While on his second tour as command master chief for an aviation squadron based out of Oceana, Virginia, between 2005 and 2008, Kingsbury worked on his Excelsior studies. 鈥淚 was doing courses on American Civil War and African American history. I remember everything being heavily writing-intensive. There was a lot of writing, but at the same time, because I was at sea, I had all this time to focus on it,鈥 he recalls. Kingsbury grew to enjoy writing due to the coursework, and he earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts in April 2008.

 

After 31 years with the Navy, Kingsbury retired from service, but his relationship with naval service was not over. Kingsbury had developed such good writing skills while taking his Excelsior courses that he found an outlet through the U.S. Naval Institute鈥檚 Proceedings magazine. 鈥淚 got into writing articles for Proceedings magazine and I won prizes in their general and enlisted essay contests. After having several articles published, and given my insight as a Fleet Master Chief, the U.S. Naval Institute asked me to join their editorial board, so I did that.鈥

 

The Naval Institute Press then reached out to Kingsbury to rewrite the second edition of the Chief Petty Officer鈥檚 Guide, a basic leadership and management guide for chief petty officers and those who aspire to be one. Toward the end of his Navy career, Kingsbury was offered a position at the Naval Institute, which he couldn鈥檛 resist. 鈥淚 landed in this great place where I can write about making the Navy or Marine Corps and the Coast Guard better. So, I got brought on to reach out and engage in enlisted audiences, to introduce them to Naval Institute, and encourage them to join as members and to write,鈥 says Kingsbury. He is currently working on the first edition of the Petty Officer鈥檚 Guide and the next edition of the Bluejacket鈥檚 Manual, which is the guide that each recruit receives upon entering the Navy.

 

Kingsbury鈥檚 good communication skills also landed him in a volunteer position as president of the NCOA. In 2019, the former NCOA president approached Kingsbury with the offer to take over when he would be leaving in 2020. Initially, Kingsbury wasn鈥檛 sure he would live up to the position, but after reflecting on it, he felt he could help grow the NCOA. As president, Kingsbury works to help the organization stay organized and keeps internal communication working smoothly. 鈥淚t became less about being the face man and more about, 鈥榦kay, let鈥檚 get internally organized, let鈥檚 get refocused.鈥 Building relationships and maintaining them with senior service enlisted is important. Our work with our partner organizations like Excelsior College is equally as important, and the next thing I鈥檒l help them work on is writing and implementing our strategic communication plan,鈥 he says.

 

Kingsbury believes in the NCOA working closely with its partner organizations. For example, he is a proponent of keeping the NCOA鈥檚 ties with Excelsior strong and growing, so that members can take advantage of discounted tuition. He comments, 鈥淚 think that our servicemembers and family members can take advantage of the benefits and resources available to them. And educational benefits and resources is one of them.鈥

 

Kingsbury writes for a living, and he also writes in his personal time. He tells people it鈥檚 a form of artistic expression that he finds to be a creative process. He even has a podcast called the Cutlass Podcast through which he and his guests offer insights and advice on how listeners can use social science and the experience of others to improve their leadership, communication, and management skills to achieve their goals and bring out the best in their people. He says, 鈥渋f you鈥檙e going to go after something, go after something that鈥檚 going to support your career.鈥

 

Excelsior鈥檚 President Schejbal Joins AGB Council of Presidents

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Albany, New York 鈥 Excelsior College is pleased to announce that David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College, has been appointed to the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) . The council leverages the experience, perspectives, and insights of its members with active leadership roles for the development of AGB expertise designed to strengthen strategic board governance across higher education.

鈥淚 am pleased to be a part of this distinguished group and to contribute to conversations about how higher education can help improve the lives of our students, engage our communities, and help address the myriad of challenges that face our society,鈥 听said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior College. 鈥淗igher education is a public good that is needed more today than ever before, and I look forward to exploring, with my colleagues, ways that we can work together for positive change.鈥

The AGB Council of Presidents regularly convenes to discuss strategic priorities across higher education and includes representatives from a range of institutional types, including public and private, large and small, single institution and multi-campus system, two- and four-year, religious and secular, and domestic and international. This diversity affords the group a broad pool of experiences that help inform AGB about the obstacles and macro-level trends that governing boards face. In turn, AGB leverages its advisory groups to create tools and resources that benefit more than 2,000 institutions and 40,000 members.

鈥淥ur council members generously agree to lend their time and talent to advancing strategic governance across higher education,鈥 said Henry Stoever, AGB president and CEO. 鈥淎longside the AGB Board of Directors, AGB consultants, and other board governance experts, the AGB Council of Presidents ensures that boards across the country are receiving leading and practical guidance on salient topics throughout the year. These council members help to ensure that we are aware of not only what鈥檚 going on at that moment but also what they need to know from AGB to lead with confidence and knowledge in the boardroom. It鈥檚 a crucial partnership, and I appreciate their hard work.鈥

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Media Contact Excelsior College:

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

听ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College is an accredited, not-for-profit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥 academically and geographically 鈥 removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.

ABOUT AGB
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is the premier membership organization that strengthens higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they serve within their organizations. Through our vast library of resources, educational events, and consulting services, and with 100 years of experience, we empower 40,000 AGB members from more than 2,000 institutions and foundations to navigate complex issues, implement leading practices, streamline operations, and govern with confidence. AGB is the trusted resource for board members, chief executives, and key administrators on higher education governance and leadership.

 

 

 

 

Excelsior Faculty Director Elected President of Missouri State Board of Nursing

Posted on by Erin Coufal

Albany, New York鈥擝onny Kehm, PhD, RN, faculty program director at Excelsior College, has been elected president of the Missouri State Board of Nursing (MSBN). Kehm will serve a two-year term beginning December 2021. Kehm has served on the board since 2017 and previously served as vice president and secretary. The MSBN consists of members selected by the governor and confirmed by the senate.

鈥淭he Missouri State Board of Nursing is fortunate to have such an accomplished health care professional lead the board,鈥 said Lori Scheidt, executive director of MSBN.

The mission of the Missouri State Board of Nursing is to protect the public’s health and safety through regulation of nursing education, licensure, and practice. A board member is a public official who exercises legislative delegated duties in the regulation of the nursing profession. Among other responsibilities, board members develop rules and regulations that set the standards for nursing practice and education, set the qualifications for licensure, and ensure that the disciplinary process is implemented in a fashion that guarantees due process and public protection.

As president, Kehm will have the additional responsibilities of presiding at all meetings of the MSBN and serving as a delegate at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing鈥檚 meetings.

鈥淩epresenting Missouri nurses on the state board and being elected president by my fellow board members is an honor. The experience of presiding over the regulation of nursing education, licensure, and practice has truly enriched and enhanced my work at Excelsior,鈥 said Bonny Kehm, managing faculty program director at Excelsior. 鈥淢y work with the MSBN has positively influenced my ability to design curriculum, educate, and mentor the next generation of nurses here at Excelsior College.鈥

Excelsior College School of Nursing offers programs for associate, bachelor鈥檚, and master鈥檚 degrees. The online nursing degree programs are accredited and tailored for working nurses. The School of Nursing provides access to quality nursing education for a diverse and underrepresented population of adult learners who bring varied lifelong knowledge and experience to the academic journey.

鈥淏onny Kehm鈥檚 election as president of the MSBN is an acknowledgment by her professional peers of her strong leadership abilities and her expertise as a nursing clinician and educator,鈥 said Mary Lee Pollard, dean of the School of Nursing at Excelsior College. 鈥淭he faculty and students in the Excelsior鈥檚 School of Nursing are fortunate to have Kehm as a faculty member and a colleague, and the citizens of Missouri can be assured she will do everything to make sure they have access to safe nursing care.鈥

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Media Contact Excelsior College:

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

听ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College is an accredited, not-for-profit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥 academically and geographically 鈥 removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.