AI-Powered Cyberthreats and Defenses: A Systems Approach to Securing Trust

Posted on by James Tippey

Artificial intelligence is transforming听nearly every听aspect of our digital lives, and cybersecurity is no exception. Early conversations about AI in cybersecurity often focused on tools鈥攈ow machine learning could improve threat detection, automate responses, or analyze large volumes of data. While those capabilities听remain听important, they no longer tell the full听story.

Today, AI is reshaping cybersecurity at a systems level. It influences how attacks are designed, how defenses respond, how decisions are made, and听ultimately how听trust is built or eroded in digital听environments.

At 杏吧原创, and particularly within the School of Technology, we view this shift as more than a technological evolution. It听represents听a fundamental change in how cybersecurity must be understood, taught, and practiced in an AI-enabled听world.

What Are AI Systems?

Thinking about artificial intelligence solely as a tool, something turned on or off within a product,听limits our understanding of its real impact. That framing听suggests that听AI is passive, predictable, and easily controlled. In practice, AI rarely听operates听in听isolation.

Instead, AI functions as part of a broader sociotechnical system that includes data pipelines, infrastructure, organizational policies, human decision-makers, and institutional goals. These elements interact continuously, shaping how AI behaves and how its outputs are interpreted and acted听upon.

Within cybersecurity, AI systems influence what information is surfaced to analysts, how threats are categorized and prioritized, and which actions are automated versus escalated to human review. Over time, these systems shape analyst workflows, risk tolerance, and organizational responses. As a result, artificial intelligence does not merely affect outcomes;听it influences how decisions are made, who makes them, and how responsibility is听distributed.

How Do AI-Driven Systems Work in Cybersecurity?

Artificial intelligence is a globally transformative technology, utilized by black hats, white hats, and everyone in between. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of AI systems in cybersecurity necessitates examining their role from the perspective of both attacker and听defender.

AI-Driven Systems in Cyberattacks

On the offensive side, attackers increasingly rely on AI-driven systems rather than isolated techniques. can produce phishing campaigns that adapt in real time based on user behavior, language patterns, and response rates. Automated malware frameworks can test, refine, and redeploy code at a pace that outstrips traditional, signature-based听defenses.

In these scenarios, AI听operates听within听a continuous feedback loop,听collecting data from each interaction, adjusting tactics, and听optimizing听future attacks.听This transforms听cyberattacks from discrete events into evolving systems designed to learn, persist, and听scale.

Understanding attacks as adaptive systems, rather than one-off incidents, is essential for effective defense. Without this perspective, organizations risk responding tactically to听symptoms while missing the underlying dynamics that allow attacks to evolve and succeed over听time.

AI-Driven Systems in Cyber Defense

Defensive applications of AI increasingly integrate machine learning across monitoring, detection, response, and governance workflows. These systems help security teams process vast amounts of data, surface patterns that would otherwise be missed, and act more quickly in high-pressure situations. As a result, AI can significantly improve both efficiency and听responsiveness.

At the same time, this integration introduces new dependencies. AI-driven systems influence what analysts see first, which alerts receive attention, and when automated actions are triggered. Errors, blind spots, or poorly governed models can therefore propagate risk at scale, making human oversight听essential.

In this environment, AI reshapes the role of cybersecurity professionals. Rather than simply operating tools, they become system stewards, responsible for听validating听automated insights, understanding system behavior over time, and ensuring that defensive actions听align with听organizational values, risk tolerance, and ethical听obligations.

Ethical and Societal Implications of AI in Cybersecurity

When AI听operates听at a systems level, ethical and societal considerations are no longer optional鈥攖hey are built into how cybersecurity functions. Automated security decisions can reflect hidden biases in data, misclassify legitimate behavior as malicious, or obscure accountability when systems act without clear human intervention. As these systems scale, small design choices can produce large, unintended听consequences.

AI-enabled monitoring and surveillance technologies further complicate this landscape. While they may enhance protection, they can also blur the line between security and intrusion, raising critical questions about privacy, proportionality, and consent. Who is being watched, why, and with what safeguards听in听place becomes just as important as whether a threat is听detected.

Cybersecurity is no longer only about stopping attacks. It鈥檚 about governing complex, intelligent systems in ways that protect people, institutions, and public trust. Ethical judgment, transparency, and accountability are therefore not peripheral concerns;听they are core requirements for responsible cybersecurity in an AI-enabled听society.

How Excelsior Prepares You for a Systems-Level Future

As artificial intelligence becomes embedded across cyber operations, technical听skills听alone are no longer sufficient. Cybersecurity professionals must be able to reason听about听systems鈥攈ow AI-driven decisions unfold over time, how automation interacts with human judgment, and how governance and policy shape real-world听outcomes.

贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 and 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree programs in cybersecurity emphasize adaptability, ethical reasoning, and systems awareness. Students are prepared to evaluate not only how AI-enabled security technologies function but also how they听behave at听scale, where they introduce risk, and how their deployment affects people, organizations, and society. This approach reflects the reality听that听graduates will face听environments where intelligent systems evolve faster than policies and where responsible leadership matters as much as technical听expertise.

Cybersecurity is constantly evolving and now must factor in the role of AI in cybersecurity. Today, attack prevention is only one aspect of a more comprehensive strategy. Modern cyber defense is about designing, governing, and sustaining intelligent systems that secure trust and ensure that emerging technologies serve the public good. That is the challenge听and the responsibility facing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, and as a ,听杏吧原创 is dedicated to preparing them to lead the听way.

Rarely Idle: Kylie Ackerman鈥檚 Journey to Student Advocacy

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

On any given day, Kylie Ackerman鈥檚 life looks a lot like the lives of many Excelsior nursing students. The Excelsior faculty member could be studying at her desk for her doctoral degree; taking her 7-year-old son to afternoon jujitsu, baseball, or basketball practice; squeezing in a couple sets of weightlifting for herself; or answering student messages and grading assignments.

鈥淚鈥檓 rarely idle,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always something happening.鈥�

She understands having a busy life is something many people share, and she brings it to her teaching approach at 杏吧原创. Her flexibility and emphasis on student advocacy are shaped by a wide diversity of career experiences.

A Winding Path to Nursing Education

Ackerman鈥檚 nursing career began far from the traditional hospital floor. She started as an infusion nurse in a holistic practice and from there moved briefly into rheumatology, gaining knowledge in disease management. When the practice she worked at closed, she faced an unexpected pivot point. Ackerman decided to pursue what had long been her goal鈥攚orking in the operating room.

Ackerman transitioned to robotic surgery and eventually became the charge nurse for the robotic surgery program while also working in other operating rooms, including cardiothoracic surgery. The role required constant prioritization.

鈥淢anaging the complex needs of the robotics suite, including staffing, surgeons, and anesthesia, while delivering patient-centered care to often anxious patients, taught me to prioritize effectively, with the patient always at the forefront,鈥� she recalls.

At the time, she didn鈥檛 realize how much those skills in coordination, communication, triage, and composure would shape her future as an educator.

Ackerman began her 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree in nursing education at 杏吧原创 in 2015, after she learned of the school鈥檚 partnership with her employer. At the same time, she decided to change from the OR to outpatient care, a change that allowed her more time to concentrate on her studies. She also focused her 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 Capstone project on an orientation program for outpatient offices.

鈥淲hen I presented to the stakeholders at the organization, I was able to create an ambulatory nurse educator role position that I assumed upon degree completion,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat position still lives on today because of my Capstone project!鈥�

She became the registered nurse for cardiothoracic surgery and eventually covered a wide range of ambulatory practices, including breast surgery, primary care, neurosurgery, and neurology.

Finding Her Place at Excelsior

Ackerman describes her experience in the nursing education 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 program as deeply affirming. 鈥淸The faculty] support and encouragement made me want to be like them,鈥� she says.

She worked as an ambulatory nurse educator after she earned her Master of Science in Nursing Education in 2018, and then when she saw a faculty opening at Excelsior posted in 2019, she applied immediately. Even while teaching at Excelsior, she wasn鈥檛 done learning. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing Informatics in 2024.

Ackerman鈥檚 favorite part about teaching at Excelsior is the nursing students themselves. 鈥淲hat I love most about teaching for Excelsior is the opportunity to support motivated, often working nurses and adult learners who bring rich life and clinical experiences into the classroom,鈥� says Ackerman.

Empowering Nursing Students Through Advocacy

Some of the most formative experiences in Ackerman鈥檚 career came from unexpected places. She learned multitasking, emotional intelligence, and professionalism under pressure while waitressing during nursing school. Her time in robotic surgery taught her how to balance complex systems while staying grounded in patient-centered care.

Today, she draws on those same skills as she balances the needs of students, departments, and the University鈥攌eeping the learner at the center, just like the patient.

Ackerman鈥檚 primary focus at Excelsior is the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing program, where she teaches and oversees the final course, Nursing Capstone: Advanced Clinical Practicum. Her approach blends evidence-based practice with active learning strategies: case studies, realistic clinical scenarios, guided discussions, and reflective activities that encourage nursing students to apply concepts to their own experiences.

鈥淭he courses I oversee are designed to be creative, informative, and engaging by intentionally blending real-world application with active learning strategies,鈥� she explains.

In her teaching, she frequently uses an example from when she worked in the cardiothoracic surgery office while pursuing her 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚. In her role, she often answered telephone calls from patients after their procedures. She remembers during one call a patient explained he didn鈥檛 feel right.

鈥淚 immediately told him to go to the nearest ER, as I suspected a pulmonary embolism,鈥� Ackerman explains. 鈥淚 notified the surgeon, who thought I was crazy, but I ended up being right, and he had a huge clot requiring additional surgery. This is a great example of the , so I like to bring it up, as subjective and objective cues are critical to consider when caring for patients.鈥�

Her commitment to the student learning experience has led to her earning a faculty award for innovation for two consecutive years, in 2024 and in 2025. She employs innovative, data-driven teaching strategies to enhance student persistence. For instance, she incorporates varied learning modalities, including structured video reflections, to support different learning styles while maintaining clear expectations. She has also created impactful resources, like a mini-podcast for 鈥渙n-the-go鈥� learning, and has led research investigating the effect of virtual animal observation on students鈥� test-taking anxiety.

Ackerman practices empathetic teaching, supporting student growth. She can quickly pivot and prioritize their needs, including responding to messages, grading, and providing feedback in a timely manner.

She encourages her nursing students to reach out with requests for extensions so they can submit their best work鈥攁nd even suggests that they propose their own assignment due dates. 鈥淭his teaches them to advocate for themselves,鈥� Ackerman explains. 鈥淚 truly believe that if you can鈥檛 advocate for yourself, you cannot advocate for a patient.鈥�

The Torch He Carries: Jatik Gibbs-Judd鈥檚 Poetic Story

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

The thread that weaves together every chapter of Jatik Gibbs-Judd鈥檚 life isn鈥檛 luck, circumstance, or even resilience鈥攊t鈥檚 writing. Poetry. Putting words on a page became the one steady action he could rely on, no matter how chaotic the world around him became.

Well before Gibbs-Judd served nearly 14 years in the U.S. Navy, before he became a radiological control technician at , and before he earned a BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology from 杏吧原创, he was a child navigating instability. Born to a 13-year-old mother, he spent his early childhood moving between homelessness, relatives鈥� homes, and foster care. Stability was something Gibbs-Judd did not have.

What he did have, at age 10, was a notebook鈥攁nd his first poem, 鈥淧ain.鈥�

Writing was never assigned or encouraged; it was survival. The adults in his life were overwhelmed, exhausted, and stressed. 鈥淚 never wanted to be the difficult child,鈥� he said. 鈥淲riting allowed me someone to talk to when everyone else was too stressed to hear what I had to say.鈥� Poetry was where he could place his fear and frustration without asking too much of anyone.

As adolescence brought new challenges, the instability continued. He eventually moved in with his father so he could finish high school in one place. He became the president of his senior class, but his high school years were not without challenges. Soon his father was in an unpredictable relationship, and Gibbs-Judd found himself facing homelessness again.

A Home in the Navy

Gibbs-Judd鈥檚 future was uncertain. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to be one of those people that stayed in college forever and was just bouncing around. So, I joined the Navy. To me, that was the best choice that I could possibly have, and it wasn鈥檛 necessarily the best reason for the choice, but it did ultimately save my life,鈥� he recalls. The decision wasn鈥檛 glamorous; it was pragmatic. The military offered structure, income, and a guarantee he would never be homeless. 鈥淚 get that, for most people, they have these big dreams of being like astronauts and things like that. That was not my dream. My dream was to not be homeless ever again,鈥� Gibbs-Judd says.

Gibbs-Judd was with the Navy from 2008 to 2022 as a nuclear engineer. Yet even amid the discipline and demand of service, poetry stayed with him, quietly absorbing emotions he had trouble expressing aloud.

During an early deployment, Gibbs-Judd responded as a stretcher bearer to a violent incident involving mercenaries hijacked by Saudi Arabian pirates. As a nuclear engineer, he did not have experience responding to events in this role, but as he describes it, 鈥渋f everything goes wrong, this is what you鈥檙e supposed to do; you have an assignment during that time that is separate from your actual, normal job.鈥�

The resulting trauma embedded itself in his memory, often resurfacing years later as flashbacks and blackouts. 鈥淚 realized that it did affect me, and so I ended up having to talk to somebody about it,鈥� Gibbs-Judd explains. When he sought treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and later medically retired, writing again became an anchor: a private space where he could make sense of what he had endured.

Picking Up the Torch

While stationed in Atlanta in a recruiting role as a nuclear coordinator, he returned to performing spoken-word poetry, gaining traction at local events like the Sweet Auburn Music Fest. 鈥淲riting has always been something that I could depend on, even in my darkest hours,鈥� he says. Even as life grew complex鈥攕upporting his children with special needs, helping care for an elderly family member, and managing a full-time job鈥攚riting never disappeared. It waited patiently, ready whenever he needed it.

That same persistence helped him pursue higher education. For years he didn鈥檛 believe a degree was within reach. Discovering that 杏吧原创 aligned perfectly with his radiological control technician experience felt like a door finally opening, and he earned his 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree in February 2025. At Commencement in July 2025, he was the graduate torch bearer and delivered a poem he wrote called 鈥淭he Torch I Carry.鈥� He explains that the poem is a testament to others that there is hope and that you don鈥檛 have to feel like you鈥檙e in the dark; you can make it through the tough times to accomplish your goals. 鈥淸We鈥檙e] using the torch as that kind of guiding light, almost like a lighthouse in the dark, where you鈥檙e stuck in the middle of the sea,鈥� says Gibbs-Judd.

 

A Light for Those Still Lost to Save

Since 2022, Gibbs-Judd has worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, starting as a radiological control technician, checking for potential radiation contamination in locations where specialized work needs to be done, and has recently been promoted to the role of building manager. He鈥檚 proud to say he has a stable home and can show his wife and kids鈥攁ges 13, 12, and 10鈥攚hat hard work and determination can accomplish.

Poetry remains his constant companion. Sometimes, it takes the form of a performance, other times a scribbled line as a quiet reflection after a long day. It is the outlet that shaped him, the bridge between his past and present, and the steady hand that carries him forward.

What Can You Do with a Health Sciences Degree?

Posted on by Rafael Caycho

A Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is a flexible degree that allows students to achieve their professional goals in the health care field. This high-demand degree prepares students for a wide range of careers in health care settings and can also serve as a strong foundation for graduate or professional studies.

What Skills Will You Learn with a Degree in Health Sciences?

Students can develop a wide range of valuable skills while obtaining a degree in health sciences. They can build a strong foundation in health care operations, planning, and policy, which can be used to enter a variety of allied health career paths or to continue education at the graduate level. Students also enhance leadership skills within the health care profession, learn how to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary health care settings, and develop the ability to educate clients, colleagues, and the public on important health-related听topics.

What Jobs Can You Get with This Degree?

Students who obtain a degree in health sciences can pursue a variety of entry-level or midlevel roles in health care settings. Some of these roles听include:

Health Services Manager (Medical Office Manager)

A health services manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of health care departments or organizations. In this leadership role, sometimes called a medical office manager, you evaluate and analyzes different situations to make informed decisions that support efficient operations and help ensure high-quality patient听care.

Patient Care Coordinator

Patient care coordinators serve as the link between patients, their health care providers, and insurance companies. They ensure patients receive appropriate care in a timely manner by scheduling appointments, coordinating services among providers, and helping patients understand the steps involved in their care. You may also opt for the similar role of patient relations coordinator, which involves more patient advocacy and fewer clinical and administrative听duties.

Clinical Research Coordinator

Clinical research coordinators manage the daily operations of clinical trials and research studies. They assist with recruiting participants, collecting and managing data, and ensuring that studies follow approved protocols and ethical guidelines. This role involves working closely with multidisciplinary research听teams.

Community Health Worker

A community health worker connects individuals and communities with health care services and resources. They often work with underserved populations to provide education, support, and advocacy, helping improve access to care and overall community听health.

Health Educator

A health educator develops and promotes health programs that teach individuals and communities how to maintain healthy lifestyles and understand the impact of health behaviors on overall well-being. Health educators also promote policies and resources that support community health and may work in hospitals, schools, government agencies, or nonprofit听organizations.

How Long Does It Take to Finish a BS in Health Sciences?

The time to complete a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences can vary depending on several factors. Typically, a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree takes four years to complete for a full-time student. Part-time students may take longer, depending on course load, breaks, or leaves of absence. Some students may be able to shorten the time to completion if their college honors transfer credits from other institutions or relevant professional听certifications.

What Is the Job Outlook for Health Science Graduates?

The job outlook for health sciences graduates is very strong. Health care positions have been in demand for many decades, and this demand is expected to continue growing. Factors contributing to this growth include innovation in health care, an , and the across the country. The continued demand for health care workers offers both job and financial stability for health sciences graduates. According to the , employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034, and the median annual wage for these professionals was $117,600 in听2024.

How Can Excelsior Prepare You for a Career in Health Sciences?

杏吧原创鈥檚 versatile Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program offers a wide array of opportunities for students looking to start or advance a career in allied health. Choose a concentration that aligns most closely with your interests, from Management to Public Health to Health and Wellness. Or if you鈥檙e interested in multiple areas, opt for the Health Science concentration. Build the foundation of knowledge and skills that employers are looking for, all while learning at your pace with flexible online courses designed for busy working adults. And with 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 experienced faculty and academic advisors behind you, you鈥檒l have the support you need to stay on track and achieve your听goals.

Earning your 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree in health sciences is a critical step in launching a successful career in health-related fields, but it鈥檚 just the first. Career Readiness at 杏吧原创 supports students and alumni in exploring career paths, building professional skills, and connecting with employers through resources, events, and practical guidance. Gaining hands-on experience through internships, volunteer work, or community involvement can also help you better understand your career goals and strengthen your professional preparation. And when you鈥檙e ready to move into the executive suite, consider earning your 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听degree.

Whatever your goals, Excelsior is here to help you build the career you want with the flexibility and support you听need.

Hybrid Models for Today鈥檚 Learners

Posted on by David Schejbal

杏吧原创 President David Schejbal spoke with Presidents Forum about Excelsior’s hybrid educational model that blends online learning with in-person labs and clinical experiences. President Schejbal details how Excelsior’s new site in St. Petersburg, Florida, expands nursing, cybersecurity, and electrical engineering programs while meeting workforce and military learner needs.

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The Past, Present, and Future of Nuclear Technology

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

Nuclear technology has always felt futuristic鈥攅ven in 1789 when Martin Klaproth discovered . The German chemist named the brand-new element after Uranus, which just eight years prior had captivated the scientific community as the first planet to be discovered by telescope. While scientists of that era understood uranium had special properties, knowledge hadn鈥檛 advanced enough to harness its power. It wasn鈥檛 until the late 19th century that the world saw the genesis of nuclear technology as we know it today with the advent of X-rays and Marie and Pierre Curie鈥檚 work on the phenomenon they named radioactivity.

By 1938, the process of nuclear fission had been discovered, and less than a decade later, the United States was fully in the Atomic Age, a period of rapid nuclear innovation following World War II. Advancements in energy and the increasing visibility of nuclear weapons development captured the public鈥檚 imagination with interpretations of isotopes and atoms appearing in everything from fashion to architecture, becoming a lasting part of the country鈥檚 midcentury visual vocabulary.

Nuclear technology and its uses haven鈥檛 stopped evolving since, and today, nuclear scientists and engineers are still looking toward the future and developing newer, safer ways to harness nuclear power and shape our world.

Brief History and Current State of Nuclear Technology

The history of nuclear technology spans听from the late-19th-century discovery of radioactivity to the development of nuclear weapons in the mid-20th century to its more peaceful present-day use in sustainable energy generation.听Explore a of nuclear milestones to learn more.

1895: Wilhelm Conrad R枚ntgen uses electromagnetic radiation to create the first known X-ray image鈥攈is wife鈥檚 hand.

1911: Marie Curie wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work isolating the element radium.

1938: Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann discover the process of nuclear fission using uranium.

1942: Enrico Fermi achieves the first controlled nuclear chain reaction.

1945: As part of the Manhattan project, the first atomic device is tested at Alamogordo, New Mexico. Not long after, the U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

1951: The first nuclear reactor to produce electricity designed and operated by Argonne National Laboratory goes live.

1954: The U.S. Navy launches the first nuclear-powered submarine,听the USS Nautilus.

1979: The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant partially melts down near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

1986: A reactor explodes at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine, causing a fire and lasting damage鈥攁nd intensifying distrust of nuclear power.

1992: The United States conducts its last underground nuclear weapons test, and a temporary moratorium is imposed on future weapons testing.

1994: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues final design approval for the first two of four advanced nuclear power plant designs.

2001: The U.S National Energy Plan includes a significant role for nuclear power in meeting energy demand and reducing air pollution.

2024: with a total net generating capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts. Nuclear power听听of U.S. electricity generation.

The Future of Nuclear Energy and Tech

The of nuclear energy is rife with opportunities for nuclear technologies that are cleaner and more efficient. Here are three new advancements worth looking forward to.

Nuclear Power and AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest innovation dominating daily life as well as existential conversations about ethics, humanity, and the future of work. However, a hidden cost of AI technology is the environment. The computer servers that power large-scale AI models need massive amounts of energy to run the processing speeds required. Today, the majority of that energy comes from burning fossil fuels, but nuclear power has quickly risen as a feasible solution to make AI more sustainable. posits that this new alliance between nuclear and AI would be mutually beneficial if the stakeholders can make the timing work. Big Tech power players like Google and Microsoft need a long-term source of reliable energy, and nuclear companies need the infusion of capital to fuel reactor upkeep and innovation.

Smaller and Faster Reactors

In the future, nuclear power will look different. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are designed to be simpler than traditional reactors and typically don鈥檛 feature the large, curved towers historically associated with nuclear reactors. Though small in size, the are numerous. These next-generation reactors are less expensive to build, safer because their smaller parts aren鈥檛 subject to the same pressures of larger reactors, and more flexible because their modular constructions allow them to be moved.

Nuclear Fusion?

Currently, all nuclear energy is produced by fission, a process that splits large atoms to generate heat. Nuclear fusion, by contrast, is where two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a single, heavier nucleus, releasing a massive amount of energy. This is the same reaction that powers the heat generated by the sun and other stars. Nuclear fusion holds immense promise as a safer, endlessly renewable energy source, and fusion waste is primarily helium and minimally radioactive neutrons instead of the more toxic radioactive by-products that nuclear fission produces.

Fusion energy has long been the white whale of the nuclear scientific community. We鈥檝e understood how the fusion process works since the 1930s, but while the sun naturally has the gravity for these nuclear collisions to occur, on Earth we need to artificially engineer an environment that is hot enough and pressurized enough to create the same reaction. This is why sustainable nuclear fusion has been so hard to achieve.

Is nuclear fusion our energy future? The estimates viable commercial use could still be decades away, but science is getting closer each year as our engineering capacity advances.

Shape the Future of Nuclear Technology with Excelsior

Does nuclear technology have you feeling energized? If you want to get more hands-on in the nuclear industry, 杏吧原创鈥檚 BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology program prepares you with the practical training, experienced faculty, and industry connections you need. Our 100% online program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of and features cutting-edge training simulators so you can be ready for the next generation of clean-energy careers.

Learn what you can do with an NET degree from 杏吧原创 and start powering your own future in nuclear technology. For even more industry info, read 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 other nuclear blog posts to debunk some common myths about nuclear energy and discover how nuclear energy is going carbon neutral.

Dwayne Johns, Associate of Science in Liberal Arts, 2020, Bachelor of Science in Business, 2023

Posted on by Jason Bonafide

Dwayne Johns of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business in 2023. He shares, 鈥淚 began my academic journey pursuing an associate degree in science, which I completed in November 2020. At that time, balancing Navy responsibilities with school was a constant challenge. Unpredictable schedules, extended hours, and operational commitments meant that studying often took place late at night or during limited downtime. That success motivated me to continue my education. I went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business, which I earned in September 2023, again while serving on active duty. The business curriculum aligned closely with leadership and management responsibilities in the Navy, reinforcing concepts such as strategic planning, organizational behavior, and decision making.鈥�

Matt Simmons, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 1989

Posted on by Jason Bonafide

Matt Simmons of Palmetto, Florida, earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1989, and he has continued to build on that foundation throughout his career. He recently published his second book, Elite Sales Pro Advantage, a co鈥慳uthored self鈥慽mprovement guide for sales professionals. The book has already earned high praise from industry leaders, including executives from multi鈥慴illion鈥慸ollar Fortune 500 companies and the CEO of a rapidly growing $25鈥憁illion sales organization. This latest work is a collaboration between Simmons and his longtime friend and colleague, Gary Adams.

Simmons remains busy and has nearly completed his third book, a compelling novel of struggle and redemption for a fictional baseball Hall of Famer. Simmons amplifies how his ability to complete his business degree with 杏吧原创 (then Excelsior College), while stationed in Japan in the U.S. Navy, was life-changing.

He shares, “I am very grateful to Excelsior for providing me with the opportunity to pursue my degree while overseas and changing locations, which otherwise would not have been available to me. I encourage anyone working and considering higher education to explore 杏吧原创 and the options they offer that allow individuals to pursue their degree while they provide for themselves and their families. A new level of success is possible in life with Excelsior.鈥�

杏吧原创 Welcomes Tony Spearman-Leach, GPC, CNE, to Board of Trustees

Posted on by Jason Bonafide

ALBANY, N.Y.听 鈥� The 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees has named Tony Spearman-Leach, GPC, CNE, senior director of institutional advancement at the National Academy of Public Administration and a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland, among its six new trustees. The University鈥檚 governing body, the Board of Trustees includes leaders from across the country in business, education, and government. An Excelsior alumnus, Spearman-Leach recently concluded his term as president of the 杏吧原创 Alumni Association and its Alumni Leadership Council.

In his role at the U.S. Congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration, Spearman-Leach is dedicated to advancing the mission of good government, excellence in governance, and public service. A transformational fundraising leader, Spearman-Leach transcends traditional development work by building enduring cultures of philanthropy, launching visionary campaigns, and aligning donor investment with long-term mission impact.

鈥淓xpanding educational access is my legacy and avocational purpose. As the great-grandson, grandson, and son of educators who empowered many marginalized citizens through the power of sharing knowledge, I personally continue this ongoing effort through 杏吧原创. Wherever I have lived鈥擱obeson County, North Carolina; Detroit, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; or metropolitan Washington, D.C.鈥擨 have witnessed and paid forward the truly transformative power of attaining higher education, engaging in mentorship, and lifelong learning. I am truly proud to serve the 杏吧原创 community, and serving as a member of 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 Board of Trustees is a humbling honor,鈥� said Spearman-Leach. 鈥淚 look forward to joining this remarkable group of leaders at an exciting time in the University鈥檚 growth, as we expand our reach and extend educational access and opportunity to learners around the world.鈥�

At the National Academy of Public Administration, Spearman-Leach spearheaded multiyear philanthropic initiatives, including the Academy鈥檚 Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships and its Extreme Weather Resilience Hub, and launched the Academy鈥檚 Diamond Anniversary Endowment Comprehensive Campaign during a period of significant federal funding disruption. He has collaborated closely with the Academy鈥檚 CEO and board to develop an entrepreneurial business model that positions the organization for sustained success, and he leads the Academy鈥檚 Celebration of the American Public Servant, aligning donor investment with America鈥檚 250th anniversary.

Spearman-Leach has raised and stewarded resources from leading philanthropists, corporations, and foundations, combining technical expertise in grant writing and donor relations with an authentic, visionary leadership style. His global impact includes training hundreds of nonprofit and NGO leaders from more than 100 countries through the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 International Visitor Leadership Program at the Meridian International Center.

A passionate advocate for community leadership, Spearman-Leach serves as treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, chair of the Montgomery College Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology (PIC MC) Foundation, governance chair of Leadership Montgomery, advisory board chair of the Josiah Henson Park & Museum, and a federally appointed board member of the U.S. Selective Service System. He served as president of the 杏吧原创 Alumni Association from 2023鈥�2025.

An Emmy and Telly Award鈥搘inning communicator and a recognized leader in advancing inclusiveness in philanthropy, Spearman-Leach is widely regarded as a strategist, storyteller, mentor, and fundraiser whose work strengthens institutions and communities in the United States and around the world.

Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees. Other trustees appointed to the board include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Todd Greene, vice president of Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise Urban Institute; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; and Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

For more information on the 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.

Media contact 杏吧原创:
Jason Bonafide,听jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446

杏吧原创 杏吧原创

杏吧原创 is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior 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 in Albany, New York, 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 is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. 杏吧原创鈥檚 academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with听additional听licensing for Florida-based programs.

Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928).听Additional听information听regarding听this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.

杏吧原创 Welcomes鈥疛essica Hinkle鈥痶o Board of Trustees鈥�

Posted on by Jason Bonafide

ALBANY, N.Y. 鈥斺赌�The 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees鈥痟as named鈥疛essica Hinkle,鈥痵enior听vice president of听strategic investments for Strada Education Foundation鈥痑nd鈥痑 resident of鈥疕ermosa Beach,听California, among its鈥痵ix new trustees.鈥疶he鈥疷niversity’s governing鈥痓ody,鈥痶he board鈥痗onsists of鈥痠ndividuals from across the鈥痗ountry鈥痺ho are leaders in the fields of business, education,鈥痑nd鈥痝overnment.鈥赌�听

As the senior vice president of strategic investments at Strada Education Foundation,听Jessica听evaluates potential mission-aligned investments and manages Strada鈥檚 portfolio of direct minority investments听and early-stage fund investments.听

鈥淚鈥痑m thrilled to鈥痡oin the鈥痓oard of trustees for鈥疎xcelsior鈥疷niversity,鈥痑n鈥痠nstitution鈥痶hat鈥痯rovides鈥痗rucial educational opportunities鈥痜or learners around the globe,鈥澨齭he听said. 鈥淎s Excelsior continues to expand its programming and reach, it鈥痠s鈥痶ruly an exciting time鈥痶o join this remarkable group of trustees.鈥濃���听

Previously,听Jessica听advised and supported Strada鈥檚 mission-aligned affiliates, leading product strategy and innovation for Strada鈥檚 commercial and products division.听Jessica听joined Strada in March 2018.听

Prior to joining Strada,听Jessica听was a principal with听Silverstrand听Strategy + Innovation, providing strategic advisory services. She also held a variety of roles with Laureate Education Inc., including as chief product officer for Walden University, for which she led the team of product managers at Laureate鈥檚 flagship online university. She also co-led an innovation team that incubated a new model for competency-based education.听

Jessica听began at Laureate in 2002 as senior market analyst in the research and analysis department, and progressed to her other roles: vice president, product management; and co-head, emerging strategies and products group. She began her career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and WR Hambrecht + Co.听

Kent A.D. Clark, president and鈥痗hairman鈥痮f the board for the Clark鈥疉dvisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees.鈥疧ther鈥痶rustees appointed to the board include鈥疍iane听Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System;鈥疶odd Greene,听vice president of听Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of鈥疻orkRise鈥疷rban Institute; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group;鈥疛eff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman鈥疞LP;鈥痑nd Tony Spearman-Leach, director of development and philanthropy at the National Academy of Public Administration.鈥�听

For more information on the 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit鈥�excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.鈥赌�听

Media contact 杏吧原创:鈥�
Jason Bonafide,鈥�jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446鈥�听

杏吧原创 杏吧原创鈥�听

杏吧原创 is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior 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 in Albany, New York, 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.鈥赌���听

Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. 杏吧原创鈥檚 academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with鈥痑dditional鈥痩icensing for Florida-based programs.鈥赌��听

Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928).鈥疉dditional鈥痠nformation鈥痳egarding鈥痶his institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.鈥�听