Rogue Robots and Human Flaws: AI in Cybersecurity

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

When most people hear the term Artificial Intelligence (AI) they think about science fiction movies that portray robots that go rogue and try to annihilate humans. The truth of the matter is AI is so much more than that. The combination of machine learning in security, neural networks, and decision making can and has taken the technology to new heights.

The earliest implementations of computer AI can be traced back to 1951, and there have been major advancements as the computational power of computers has increased (Buchanan, AI Magazine, 2005). There are individuals who believe AI will play a large part in the future of cybersecurity. This is apparent because AI and neural networks can do more work than humans in shorter amounts of time. They also do not need vacations and do not get sick. Once programmed, they have a very small error rate, and if there is an error, it is typically in the programming, which is a human error.

The real problem is that AI is always going to react to a cyber incident following a specific algorithm, based on the decision tree analysis and the algorithms it uses for 鈥渓ogic.鈥� This is a fundamental flaw with all computer systems. If a software program can be programmed, then it can be unprogrammed. Flaws and weaknesses can be found to exploit a weakness in the system. If this algorithm is known, then hackers can work to avoid the security safeguards that initiate a cyber response therefore bypassing and prolonging the reaction from the system. The ideal solution is to have human and machines working together. It has been documented that humans have a profound fear/hesitation of working with computers if they do not know how the computer is expected to react (Rouse, Human Factors, 1988).

I believe this research is outdated and that individuals are becoming more accustom to working with and relying on computers. With the incorporation of AI and neural networks, most cybersecurity experts may not trust the algorithm being used to make the AI decisions; therefore, the individual experience will play a large part of how they use the output from the computer. I would suggest not putting the computer in the position of ultimate response to a cyber incident, but instead allowing them to suggest responses that can be carried out by the human partner in the relationship. The AI could be programmed to analyze large amounts of data for anomalies or specific patterns that have already been known to be a cyber issue and then report that information to the human counterpart. If the human counterpart feel comfortable with the data that the AI is producing, then they would have the option to allow the AI to automatically respond to the cyber incident. I think this option will take a period for the trusted relationship to be formed. Once this relationship is formed cyber incidents will be handled more efficiently.

AI is used in many areas of the cybersecurity industry. There are needs in military scenarios to use AI robotics to make decisions in dangerous situations. Putting an AI robot in harm鈥檚 way is a better alternative than risking human lives (Yeh, P. Z., & Crawford, J., AI Magazine, 2017). Using AI robots to inspect manufacturing is a way to automate a human鈥檚 role in production (Norman, D., Research-Technology Management, 2017).

Using AI in manufacturing means that we won鈥檛 have as many line engineers doing inspections of products. Computers and cameras would do the initial checks and then a human could do a follow-up if issues arose. Therefore, the role of a line engineer must now evolve into someone who can read and understand the output of the computer system. The same can be said for a network defense or infrastructure hardening engineer/analyst: let the robotic AI do the first pass and put the foundations in place. Then have the human check to make sure it meets standards. Let the neural networks do data analysis and report on the outlying data. This will speed up the daily task, while integrating computers, AI, cybersecurity, and humans. The overall goal should be to become more secure if integrating artificial intelligence in security systems.

To fully rely on AI to handle all tasks would be a foolish endeavor and it may very well lead to the horror science fiction stories. To use AI to do tasks that can speed up the production and output of humans is an idea that is scary at times but should be embraced as technology evolves.

Degrees At Work: How Terry Evans Turned Four Excelsior Degrees Into a Career Fighting International Cybercriminals

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The moment was pretty distinct for Terry Evans. Working in the New York State Attorney General鈥檚 fraud division in 2012, he had to make a tough phone call to a widow in Buffalo to tell her she was scammed out of $80,000 by foreign criminals.

鈥淚 had to tell her her life savings was gone and there was nothing the government could do about it. I wanted to do more and we couldn鈥檛,鈥� says Evans. 鈥淭hat was the final catalyst: I knew I had to do something else.鈥�

He started Lighthouse Business Consulting Services Inc. in 2013, and began looking into further education on cybersecurity. He quickly decided to return to Excelsior College for a fourth degree, having already earned an Associate in Science in Liberal Arts with an area of focus in criminal justice in 2008, a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts with focus areas in administrative/management studies and criminal justice in 2009, and a master of business administration in 2012.

Attracted to Excelsior鈥檚 experience in this rapidly evolving but still somewhat new field, as well as to the college鈥檚 experienced faculty and diverse students, Evans earned his Master of Science in Cybersecurity in 2014. In 2017, he used his multifaceted work experience (law enforcement, corrections, fraud investigations) to launch Cybersleuth Investigations Inc., after getting an influx of Lighthouse clients asking about personal situations dealing with online predators.

In less than a year, he鈥檚 attracted an international client base, become a fellow with the National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College, and been quoted as an expert in publications that include Allure magazine.

It鈥檚 certainly been challenging: as a sole proprietor, he鈥檚 on call seven days a week and often starts working at 5 a.m. He鈥檚 also investigating and tracking dangerous criminals in places like the Philippines, Jamaica, Yemen, Russia, and Nigeria. And since his goal is to cut off their income sources (鈥渃ash pigs鈥� is what he says cybercriminals call their victims), he鈥檚 even received death threats.

He鈥檚 more focused on the success stories than the potential for danger.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very gratifying for me to have a client call up and say 鈥楾hank you for giving me my life back,鈥欌�� Evans says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a cool rush for me.鈥�

Evans admits that people skills and empathy are critical to his job. He also stresses the value of separating work and family, a skill that came in handy as the father of three children (ages 16, 24, 27) who earned four degrees in six years through Excelsior.

鈥淏alance is a tough thing,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to really have someone in your family who has a string on your balloon and pays attention so you don鈥檛 lose sight of the key areas you don鈥檛 want to lose sight of. You can鈥檛 rush through things. It鈥檚 critical to slow all that down.鈥�

Evans鈥� next step is to focus on education and training, in the hopes of helping more people spot and avoid cyber scams. With cybercrime damage costs estimated to reach $6 trillion annually by 2021 according to Cybersecurity Ventures, the risks are only going to increase as criminals get smarter and more sophisticated.

鈥淚 want to turn to the piece of the business that really focuses on education and training,鈥� Evans says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe you can solve this issue with legislation. It鈥檚 about doing preventative kinds of things. The joy is in getting to people early enough.鈥�

His goal is to make more of the positive phone calls than the negative ones.

 

More advice from Terry Evans:

On Networking:

I strongly encourage current students to connect with their peers and professors. Building a solid network while in school will serve to provide a connection to the industry and assist graduates to remain current and cutting-edge. My peers and the contacts I鈥檝e made are as valuable as the degree itself. Keep a spreadsheet of the people you鈥檙e in contact with. Don鈥檛 get busy and lose sight of making those networking contacts.

On Time Management:

As most Excelsior College students realize, it can be a difficult task indeed to balance work, home and school. Time management isn鈥檛 about sacrificing one critical area over another but rather involves organizing oneself so that time is equally dedicated and delegated to all of these essential areas. I strongly recommend that students avoid overwhelming themselves by trying to speed through their education.

On His Excelsior Experience:

I earned two advanced degrees from Excelsior College, specifically an MBA and an MS in Cybersecurity. This combination is somewhat unique and provides me with considerable advantages over others with single-focused disciplines. In particular, I am able to translate complex technology into the language of business and individuals. Further, I am able to operate a successful cybersecurity consulting firm without the need for expensive outside business management.

Business Advice:

I have learned that trappings are a waste of money and time. I only invest in resources that further my ability to meet the needs of my clients.

听Best Podcast for Cybersecurity:

The comprehensive series of podcasts offered by Excelsior Colleges鈥� National Cybersecurity Institute provide an ongoing and current stream of information.听 Cybersecurity is an ever-changing science and thus requires continual education. The NCI podcast offerings allow me to pick and choose what is most relevant to me in rather quick, concise, and clear presentations on a time frame that meets my needs.

On Upcoming Cybersecurity Trends:

I am particularly concerned about the public鈥檚 adoption of technology offered by marketing and data collection for-profit companies. Smartphones and other internet-enabled devices requiring excessive permissions are particularly troubling. While the lion鈥檚 share of cybersecurity needs remains with national security and banking, attention needs to be given to less obvious targets such as public schools, small businesses and individuals.

Click here to discover more information about Excelsior鈥檚 master鈥檚 degree offerings in cybersecurity.

<img src= 鈥渉ttps://life.excelsior.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/01/EXCEL-15981-Degrees-At-Work-Terry-Evans-PIN.jpg" alt="Terry Evans, 4 time alumnus and CEO of Cybersleuth Investigations, Inc.鈥�

Course Feature: Conflict Management

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

How do your conflicts typically play out? Do you sense there are patterns in your conflicts? Students in COMM 324 explore the causes, processes, and outcomes of conflict as well as the principles and techniques for improving the handling of conflict. Key topics include interpersonal violence, stress and anger management, forgiveness, negotiation, and mediation.

Though conflict might be hard to face for some people, Hector Gonzales, one of the course instructors, indicates it is important to learn to manage. He says, 鈥淭he course exposes students to recognize that conflict, while considered by many as a negative experience, 听is a part of life and if managed properly could lead to stronger relationships and build self-confidence.鈥�

Another of the course鈥檚 instructors, John Hetherington, adds that 鈥渃onflict is not necessarily a negative process, and there are positive ways to engage in productive conflicts that help all parties achieve at least some of their goals.鈥�

Gonzales explains the course applies to various settings, including how to deal with interpersonal relationships. 鈥淭herefore, it applies to family, social, and professional relationships,鈥� he says. Hetherington adds that the course is relevant to students from a wide range of backgrounds. He explains, 鈥淏usiness students will find this course helpful in understanding office politics as well as the negotiation process. Students in the social sciences and human services will find this course useful in understanding interpersonal conflict and methods for managing it.鈥�

According to Gonzales, the most significant takeaway for students is their changed perception 听about conflict and how to manage it., 鈥淚 think they recognize they cannot control other people鈥檚 behavior, but they can manage how they react to a conflict situation,鈥� he says.

Students have agreed with Gonzales鈥檚 assessment and have had positive reactions to the course. 鈥淭he class is therapy for me because I recognize how I reacted to specific situations. I now try to respond logically rather than emotionally,鈥� mentioned one student. Another added, 鈥淭he class makes me want to be a better person. By reflecting on how my reactions made other people feel, I recognize the importance of empathy.鈥�

Hetherington has enjoyed instructing COMM 324. 鈥橧 am consistently amazed by the depth and quality of our discussions, and the interesting and important conflicts that students share with me and one another,鈥� says Hetherington 鈥淟earning to manage conflict is an ongoing process, and it is immensely gratifying to see that students put what they learn in the course to work right away and often see dramatic changes in their own conflict style and the results of those conflicts before the course even ends.鈥�

Gonzales provides a similar view about the impact of the course on personal communication. 听鈥淎lthough not geographically, the world is smaller because we are more exposed to other people and cultures,鈥� he says.鈥淯nderstanding the world around us will help us to communicate with others.鈥� So, if you want to improve the relationships in your life, COMM 324 is the course for you.

<img src= 鈥�/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Conflict-Management_Pintrest_v1.jpg” alt=”How do conflicts plan out? Learn about managing interpersonal relationships in COMM 324.鈥�

Course Feature: Consumer Behaviors

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

At this busy shopping time of year, let鈥檚 step back and take a closer look at the deeper motivations and societal beliefs that shape consumerism. In BUS 225 Consumer Behaviors, students examine consumer psychology and look at how consumers鈥� motivations, perceptions, and attitudes can shape the choices they make and their purchase behavior.

Students learn that just as there are internal influences upon a consumer, there are also group influences that shape purchasing behavior and decisions, such as the impact of life-style choices, demographics, and family. Students also look at how, from a marketing strategy perspective, consumer behavior affects the successful development of products and services that fulfill the wants and needs of individuals in the marketplace.

鈥淏ecause marketing is such an integral part of the management function, students interested in gaining an overview of the influences that shape consumer behavior will find this course relevant,鈥� says Will Trevor, faculty program director for marketing. Trevor explains that if you鈥檙e going in the field of marketing or becoming a general manager, it鈥檚 important to have an understanding of the role of the consumer and consumer thinking.

One student reported that BUS 225 鈥渨as a fun and interesting class. I have found that I find marketing very enjoyable and would like to take additional marketing classes in the future.鈥� Another noted how enjoyable the course was thanks to their instructor: 鈥淭his was the most engaged instructor that I have experienced. Every assignment received thorough feedback with great advice. I received a midterm evaluation from him that listed everything I had performed with encouraging words for the upcoming weeks…鈥�

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this course, explains Trevor, 鈥渋s in providing a current or future manager an insight into consumer thinking and the way that this influences behavior and the implications that this has for both strategy and product development.鈥�

If you鈥檇 like to register for BUS 225 Consumer Behaviors, speak with your academic advisor today!

Utilize your notes using Mind Maps 鈥� Attention Nursing Students!!

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Reading the title, you might be asking yourself what mind maps are.听 This blog post is going to cover how to effectively take notes while studying for an exam, quiz, or preparing for a paper.听 For as long as we can remember, most of us have been taking notes to capture everything which makes for very inefficient notes.听 Your notes do not need to contain everything, just the most important things.听 If you鈥檙e feeling overwhelmed by material or not sure where to start, mind maps will be a great method to try.

If you feel that you are more of a visual or tactile learner, mind maps will be a good fit for you as it will allow you to draw connections to your learning. Watch the short Youtube video below by Carissa, a former nursing student who used mind maps to successfully graduate from nursing school.听 Please note that mind maps are not just for nursing students and can be applied to any subject.

Please share your thoughts below regarding Mind Maps.听 We are excited to hear about your note taking methods.

Savannah White, Student Success Coach
Savannah White, Student Success Coach

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Growth Mindset

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Do You Have a Growth Mindset?

I speak with many students each day here at Excelsior College. One thing I often hear over and over goes something like this:

鈥淚鈥檝e always been bad at math! I鈥檓 just no good at it, and so my next course will most likely be a struggle for me.鈥�

I think we鈥檝e all experienced this type of thinking from time to time regarding something in our lives. Due to past experiences or beliefs, we draw conclusions that our abilities are somehow less than, and we are powerless to change an innate trait. Unfortunately, there is no room for growth in this type of thinking, and if/when we are presented with these challenges again, our mindset is now fixed.

What Experiences Are Holding You Back?

So when encountering such a statement from a student, my first question is always this:

鈥淲hy do you feel you are bad at math?鈥�

My goal with this question is to dig deeper, and expose those past experiences and beliefs which led to that conclusion. What I often find is that there was a cause for why the student feels this way. For example, a student might tell me 鈥淚n high school, I slacked off, and didn鈥檛 put much effort in, and therefore did very poorly鈥� or 鈥淢y parents often reinforced that I wasn鈥檛 smart enough to get good grades in math,鈥� or perhaps 鈥淲hen I received poor grades, I stopped trying as I didn鈥檛 believe I could do any better.鈥�

Exposing Your Growth Mindset

When breaking down why a student feels a certain way about their abilities, it almost always comes down to the student admitting they could have put more effort in, and/or that outside circumstances played a role. My aim is to expose this fact to the student.

So what is the significance in this? Well, we often have the mistaken belief that successful people were born with natural talent, that they are naturally smarter, faster, stronger. However, the greatest common denominator among those who experience success is that they exhibit a .

A person with a true growth mindset accepts failure as part of the learning process, believes in their own ability to persevere, and that the biggest thing holding them back is themselves. Overall, they see ability as something that can be developed, instead of a fixed trait. They believe that through sheer determination, will, effort and practice, that they, too, can achieve!

I challenge anyone reading this struggling to overcome a particular obstacle, goal or challenge to take a moment to reflect. Do you experience a fixed mindset in regard to any of your abilities? If so, why do you think you feel this way? Is it really lack of ability, or maybe a fixed mindset?

Author: Chris Faulkner
Student Success Coach
Student Success Center

Photo Source: https://medium.com/@fabiosinibaldi/the-two-mindsets-that-determine-our-destinies-a3f87e6c7da7#.hh670jgai

There’s an app for that: Coffitivity

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

There鈥檚 an app for that: Coffitivity

Hello! It鈥檚 Kelli and Hannah your Student Success Coaches again with another monthly app! With the Spring I term halfway gone we wanted to share an app that can offer some helpful background noise. The app we are featuring this month is Coffitivity, a simple app that recreates the sounds and feel of being in your local caf茅. We know it鈥檚 not always possible to get to the caf茅, but this app can drown out any distracting noises in your home (for instance your neighbor鈥檚 dog howling all day).

This isn鈥檛 your typical white noise machine. It will literally sound like you are sitting in a caf茅 at any point in the day. Some of the featured sounds include Morning Murmurs, Lunchtime Lounge, University Undertones (for that college feel at an online school!). As Success Coaches we speak to lots of students who always tell us they like to study in cafes, so we brought the caf茅 to you.

Coach tip: use this app in conjunction with your phone鈥檚 timer to give yourself ample breaks!

https://coffitivity.com/

From your Student Success Coaches,

Kelli & Hannah

 

Five Minutes with Savannah White, MSM

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

鈥淭he lesson is to think about where you see yourself in the future and how this degree impacts that path.听听If you see there are many barriers to getting where you want, a bulletproof plan will mitigate and even remove some of these barriers.听听So, remember that anything is possible, should it be your priority.鈥澨�-Savannah White, MSM

In my interview with Savannah White she gets real about her experience as a student at Excelsior College. Masters degree in hand, Savannah is on the fast track and is not looking back. She will be starting her new position as an Academic Advisor with a concentration in nursing and health sciences in our Student Success Center very shortly and is excited to utilize her skills as a Success Coach in this role. Read more to learn more about Savannah as you may find that you relate to her as a student yourself at Excelsior College.

Hannah Lynch: What challenges did you face while getting your Masters of Science in Management at Excelsior College? 听

Savannah White: My overall challenge is motivation.听听It was hard for me to see the importance of it towards the end of the degree.听听I had a lot of motivation in the beginning.听听Courses go by fast for eight weeks and that three week break over the holidays helped me recoup.听听As I reached the end of my program I was really struggling with energy, positivity, and effort to produce quality work.

How did you push forward?

For me it was reminding myself of the benefits that a Masters degree would provide for me and what sort of doors would open up upon its completion.听听Also, just know there is a means to an end, so I knew at some point in time I would never have to do this again.

A very big one is support.听听I think a lot of people don鈥檛 think it is a big deal to tell others they are in school or what they are working on, or even if it is relevant.听听Because I think for some it could seem random to have a conversation about being in school, or it is just expected.听听But the more people I told and the more I spoke about it with them they asked me about it.听听Whether it is coworkers, my superiors, they hold me accountable because they are expecting me to finish this.听听It can help give you some motivation if you know others are counting on you.

What did you do to stay motivated?

This is a hard question.听听Sheer determination and willpower were helpful, but I do not have a good answer for this.听听I would say, referring back to support is the accountability piece.听听The accountability from others is what sustained my motivation.听听If I didn鈥檛 have that I don鈥檛 know if I would have finished this course.

What was the hardest part about getting your degree?

I would say maintaining my momentum.听听I went straight through with no breaks and doubled up one term, taking two eight week classes.听听Would I recommend this approach to others?听听I鈥檓 not sure.听 Because I know for some it is not feasible.听听However, should you take a break there must be a plan in place for you to start again.听听In terms of my motivation problem, I think that since I motored through the degree I felt burnt out a little.听听Maybe if I had some scheduled breaks this last course would not have been as much of a struggle.

As a Student Success Coach at Excelsior College you help students daily making sure they have everything they need to be successful.听 Did you find yourself using some of your own advice that you give to your students?

Yes. Be kind to yourself.听听There will be some weeks where you will ask if it is all worth it. And there will be times when you feel very accomplished.听听Remember those times.听听I think there can be a stigma around not making progress quickly and that is false.听听Little progress is better than no progress.听听And when you feel that you are stuck remember how far you have come.

Any lessons learned?

Being busy is a myth.听听You make time for what you think your priorities are.听听Are there certain obstacles and challenges that prevent progress in school? Yes.听 However, bulletproof plans do exist.听听The lesson is to think about where you see yourself in the future and how this degree impacts that path.听听If you see there are many barriers to getting where you want, a bulletproof plan will mitigate and even remove some of these barriers.听听So, remember that anything is possible, should it be your priority.

Flipping the Nursing Classroom

Posted on by Nursing Staff

Caroline K. Mosca, RN, PhD

Recently I had a manuscript published in Nursing Education Perspectives in November 2017, titled听 This article was based on research implementing a flipped classroom with nursing students in a traditional, brick-and-mortar setting.

A flipped classroom is student-led, with a focus on application and discussion of content. The instructor does not stand at the front of the class and present content; rather, they turn over the classroom to the students, facilitate discussion, and encourage critical thinking. It is thought to be a more effective way of learning; in a study, student course grades improved by approximately 8 points after the flipped classroom.

You may be asking yourself 鈥淗ow is this research pertinent to me as an online student at Excelsior College?鈥� That鈥檚 a very good question!听 These results are quite relevant to online learning because the online classroom is by nature a 鈥渇lipped鈥� classroom. As a student, you must independently prepare for weekly 鈥渃lass鈥� in the discussion board. There is no sitting in the back row passively listening to the instructor review content, or waiting until the night before the exam to read the text. As you know, your evaluation in the course is dependent on your participation in weekly discussions, which requires independent preparation, extensive course participation, and thoughtful analysis of content. Your education is already student-led, and this research, along with other studies demonstrates that student-led learning environments may lead to better student outcomes.

Meet Our Advisors: Allison Konderwich 鈥� Academic Advisor in the Office of Student Success Services

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The advisors are the main point of encouragement and support for our students.听 Many advisors develop a long relationship that helps the students with whom they work through the inevitable ups and the downs of life and study.听 In this article, Excelsior met with Allison Konderwich, from the Office of Student Success Services, to find out more about one of the unsung heroes who daily help give our Excelsior students the support and guidance that they need.

Excelsior: Can you tell us a little more about yourself: interests, home, favorite teams, etc?

Konderwich: I live in Albany, NY with my husband, Mike, who works in IT.听 When I鈥檓 not working, you can usually find me running.听 I have been a runner for as long as I can remember, thanks to my parents!听 I鈥檝e run 16 marathons, but nothing beats the Boston Marathon.听 My husband is also an endurance athlete, and there is a great community of runners and cyclists in the Capital Region, so it鈥檚 become a big part of my social life, too. I鈥檓 incredibly competitive and goal-driven, so it鈥檚 fun to see how far I can push myself in my training.听 I also rely on running as an outlet for stress, so it helps to keep me balanced.听 We are big New England Patriots fans, so you鈥檒l find us cheering in front of a TV, or occasionally at Gillette Stadium during football season. 听I love Celine Dion and Hamilton (the musical), and love spending time with family and friends.

Excelsior: What is your role at Excelsior College and can you describe a typical day?

Konderwich: We are in the process of transitioning into our new centralized student services unit- the Office of Student Success Services, or O3S.听 Up until now, I鈥檝e been an academic advisor for students in our technology degree programs.听 That position has involved both academic evaluation and academic advising, which are both incredibly involved.听 In centralizing, evaluators can focus on the evaluation piece, and advisors can focus on the advising piece, which will truly allow each person to develop in their position.听 I am looking forward to moving into my academic evaluation position, where my day will be centered around the evaluation of academic credit- reviewing and classifying transfer credit, completing initial evaluations, and updating student files.听听 Evaluators must be especially well versed in Excelsior College policy, degree curriculums, and course classification, especially as it relates to their specialization. 听听Beyond that, Evaluators represent the unit on committees, take on special projects, and collaborate with many other colleagues in O3S and other units in the College.

Excelsior: What excites you most about your role at Excelsior?

Konderwich: I really enjoy the problem-solving piece of my job!听 Each student presents a unique case, and as an evaluator, I can review any transfer credit, consider the program of choice, take academic policies and procedures into account, and produce the best possible academic evaluation. 听Every day I see something different, so it keeps my job very exciting!

Excelsior: What is the best piece of advice that you would give a student to make a success of their studies?

Konderwich: Take some time thinking about how much time you have, and what you can realistically take on in each term.听 听Excelsior students are driven and committed, and sometimes we focus on the end goal and don鈥檛 other obligations or life stressors into account, which can make for some challenging terms.听 The main objective should be to be successful in each class, and if that means sometimes only take one course per term, then it is important to consider that.

I also recommend becoming familiar with the different resources that Excelsior College offers, and making the most of them!听 If you haven鈥檛 yet, check out the Library and Career Center.听 We have excellent Student Success Coaches to provide additional support if needed. 听Our Faculty Program Directors across the different schools offer webinars and other ways to connect with and support students in their areas. 听This just scratches the surface!听 At Excelsior College, are all committed to the student, and we have the same resources and tools that most traditional brick and mortar schools offer- just ask and we鈥檒l lead you to them!

Excelsior: Who is the one person, whether in business or from history, who most inspires you and why?

Konderwich: I鈥檓 inspired by Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first woman to earn a major party鈥檚 nomination for president of the United States.听 She is brilliant, she is strong, and she stands up for what she believes in.听 As a young woman, I am inspired by her tenacity.

Excelsior: What is the most memorable thing that you have ever done? And what made it so memorable?

Konderwich: I would have to say the most memorable day of my life thus far is my wedding day!听 Marrying my husband, and sharing the day with so many of my friends and family was incredibly special.听 In the busy world that we live in, it鈥檚 hard to get everyone together in one place, so I will always treasure that day.听 Beyond that, breaking 3 hours in the Boston Marathon was special.听 I will never forget running down Boylston Street to my first sub 3-hour marathon!

Course Feature: Study Great Military Leaders

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

鈥淚 would definitely recommend this course to others. Military personnel and civilians can learn a lot about leadership from this course鈥︹��

This is one student鈥檚 comment after taking the eight-week course MIL 301 Great Military Leaders. In this course, students examine the qualities of military leaders throughout history and analyze specific traits that contributed to their excellence in leadership. By so doing, students isolate leadership traits and qualities that make a great leader and then apply them to new situations. Brenda Roth, faculty program director in the School of Public Service, explains that examples of the leaders studied are from ancient history, like Sun Tzu; from more recent history, like Rommel and Montgomery; and include U.S. military leaders like Washington and Patton.

Many Excelsior students are in the military and so they would especially benefit from the course topics. Roth explains students are encouraged to write essays based a series of posed questions and to hone their research skills through a final paper on a contemporary leader of their choice.

The course is required in the Military Leadership major, but can also be considered a social science elective for 鈥渁ny student interested in history or military history as part of their program of study,鈥� says Roth. 鈥淭he course focuses largely on comparing past leaders to contemporary ones, and students define for themselves which leadership traits stand out over time.鈥�

So far, students have had high praise for the course saying, 鈥淗ands down one of the best classes I have taken at Excelsior,鈥� 鈥淚 cannot think of a single thing to make this course better. It was honestly a really great experience that has forever changed my thoughts about online classes favorably,鈥� and 鈥淚 found this course to be both challenging and interesting.鈥�

Roth reports that 鈥渢his is the favorite course out of the military leadership courses for faculty to teach.鈥� In fact, she never has any challenges finding volunteers to teach the course. 鈥淔aculty have told me that they love the students and wouldn鈥檛 want to teach anywhere else. I have faculty who are retired or still active duty and can identify with the students,鈥� says Roth.

So, what are you waiting for? Speak with your academic advisor and sign up for MIL 301 Great Military Leaders for next term!

 

Meet Our Advisors: Dan Palladino 鈥� Academic Advisor for the Technology Degree Programs

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Academic advisors are a point of encouragement and support for our students. Many advisors develop a long relationship that helps the students work through the inevitable ups and the downs of life and study. Excelsior Life met up with Dan Palladino, from the Office of Student Success Services to find out more about one of the unsung heroes who gives students the support and guidance they need.

听Excelsior: Can you tell us about your interests, home, favorite teams, etc?

Palladino: When I am not advising, I enjoy spending time with my wife (we have been married for two years). We take walks, watch a little TV, and travel. We have also been in the process of moving into our new house. This has been a very long process; we bought the house over a year ago but it was abandoned at that point. It was built 200 years ago so we have carefully been fixing it up while not destroying its original charms. We finally moved in at the beginning of October, and it is fantastic!

When I do not have a house project, I enjoy reading, or fixing or building something in the garage. I also have a classic car that I have done almost everything to (mechanicals, welded in new floor pans, installed new convertible top, repaired the body, and prepped for paint, etc.), so I enjoy driving that in the summer months. I feel that my garage and home improvement interests pair well with advising technology students. I truly enjoy being an advisor. I originally started my advising career as a liberal arts advisor, and found it to be very fulfilling; when a position opened up to be a technology advisor, I applied. It has been a great experience to work with students in the various technical disciplines. I can honestly say that I am learning a lot about the different technology fields, from both the students and the faculty. Everyone seems friendly and happy to share their knowledge.

Excelsior: What is your role at Excelsior College and can you describe a typical day?

Palladino: 听My main responsibility is to communicate with students enrolled in technology degree programs about college policy, procedure, and academic planning. These communications are听typically done via phone, email, or via the My Excelsior portal. As an academic advisor, I talk to students about what is an ideal course workload given a student鈥檚 situation, how a student is paying for courses, which courses or exams a student should take each term (to ensure prerequisites are met), how long it will take to complete a degree program, or what other degree program might be a better fit. On a typical day, I take calls and respond to messages from students to discuss these topics and a variety of other items that can arise. I also do outreach for students if there is an issue with their academic status or something that needs to be adjusted in their course plan, or sometimes if I have not had contact with a student for a while. I also update student academic plans as more coursework is completed, and I work with faculty program directors as necessary to find solutions when a contingency arises.

Excelsior: What excites you most about your role?

Palladino: The exciting part for me is watching students progress through their degree program. I really like talking to a student and by talking through a problem, such as how to finish their degree in a timely manner, we hit upon a solution that both of us are excited about…In those moments, it truly feels like a connection has been made and a problem has been overcome!

Excelsior: When do you feel that you went the extra mile to help a student?

Palladino: I try to do my best to do whatever I can to advocate for a student. I had a student who was overseas. She would call to get advisement on what courses to take next before each term, and often the call would disconnect in the middle of the conversation. I would follow up via email and we would go back and forth on email for a few days to finish the planning for the next term. It took a lot of time, but she did graduate. She came to Commencement and we met! Another time I had a student who needed a second degree. He already had a degree from an institution in Puerto Rico, but he needed a technology degree for his job, and needed it quickly. The course descriptions from his other institution were in Spanish, so I worked with an advisor in another unit to translate them, then worked with my director to determine which ones could be used toward his technology degree. Then he asked if we could apply more of his credit. He provided more information on some of his courses, and I worked with the faculty program director. It took quite a bit of time and effort, but it got the student a little bit closer to his goal.

Excelsior: What piece of advice would give to a student?

Palladino: Stay in touch with your advisor to ensure that you are taking the best courses in the best order, and make sure you have time to successfully complete the course load you have planned for a given term.

Excelsior: Who is the one person either in business or in history, who inspires you the most and why?

Palladino: I don’t think I am able to narrow this down to one person. I am inspired by people who have the courage and grit to achieve success. There are many people in history and in business who I could name. Conversely there are people that I know and meet during a day that inspire me. I often get inspired and then re-inspired as I talk to students and hear the different challenges each has faced during the pursuit of their degree.

Excelsior: What is the most memorable thing that you have ever done?

Palladino: The most memorable thing I have done was when I traveled to Europe for the first time when I was 18. I went as part of a collegiate wind ensemble made up of young people from all over the U.S. I played the French horn. We traveled to several different countries and performed once or twice each day. It was memorable because it was my first time abroad and we did so many different things. It was an exciting experience!