Aaron Margolis, a 2022 graduate of the College of William and Mary's online Master of Science in Business Analytics program, now works in a rapidly-advancing field as a data scientist. Aaron chose an online program for professional reasons and has some advice for aspiring master's students.
Alexandria Duffney has spent the past 14 years in higher education enrollment management and worked with many student types, including traditional undergraduates through graduate and doctoral enrollment. Duffney is an active member of the higher education enrollment management community and has presented on enrollment strategy, data infrastructure, and team optimization at national conferences, including the Graduate Nursing Admissions Professional Conference, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals, and the Slate Innovation Summit. Duffney served as director of admissions at the University of Rochester School of Nursing and joined Elon University as dean of graduate admissions.
We sat down with Amanda Gomes, a PhD Student at the Center for Ainu and Indigenous Studies, Hokkaido University in Japan. They share their experience with applying for grants as a way to fund their master’s degree and PhD. Amanda is an experienced researcher and educator with a demonstrated history of working in the museums and institutions of higher learning. They have a Master of Arts (M.A.) in both Public Archaeology from UCL and East Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Amanda is the Data Engineer for the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, where she works primarily to collect, process and validate data for OpenPrecincts. She also develops analytical tools and geographic visualizations. She is interested in the impact of geography on social systems, and enjoys finding ways to make better spatial decisions.
Before PGP, Amanda worked as an GIS intern for Philadelphia’s Share Food Program. She also served as a Graduate Student Assistant for the Department of Geography and Urban Studies at Temple University, where she tutored students in GIS and geospatial programming. Amanda holds a B.A. from Boston University in Linguistics, and a P.S.M. from Temple University in Geographic Information Systems.
Amanda Knapp, Ph.D. is the Associate Vice Provost and Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Dr. Knapp earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources Management as well as an Ed.M. in Education with a focus on Higher Education Administration. Dr. Knapp also holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park where her research examined the relationship between best online instructional practices and undergraduate student perceptions of instructor credibility. As a Dean in Higher Education, Knapp is committed to bridging the equity divide.
Amira R Martin, LCSW-R, is a communication expert, a psychotherapist, and a wellness professional. She is the owner of Amira for Her, a group private practice, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work. Amira is dedicated to creating safe and supportive therapy spaces.
Andrea Subitoni Antonio recently received her master’s degree in journalism with a media innovation specialization from the University of Nevada, Reno. She was born and raised in a small town in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, where she graduated from Universidade Paulista with a bachelor’s degree in social communication – journalism and specialized in strategic people management. She served as vice president of membership recruitment and retention for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and is a member of National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Her master’s thesis, called the "Global Campus" project, is a public relations campaign to recruit undergraduate and graduate international students to UNR.
Anthony Zimmerman Sr. Over his 35 years in law enforcement, Police Officer Lieutenant (Ret.) Anthony Zimmerman Sr. came up through the ranks starting as a rookie patrol officer, then moving up to sergeant and ending his career as the lieutenant of police. Zimmerman holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in law enforcement administration. For both degrees he used a combination of the GI Bill and Illinois Military Veterans’ Scholarship Program. Find out how being a veteran helped him in his career in a criminal justice field.
Antonio Cruz is a mentor with Ivy Scholars, a private college consulting firm. A graduate of the University of Chicago, he knows the ins and outs of top schools.
Anya Josephs, LMSW, is a psychotherapist working in New York City. Joseph’s previous experience as a graduate instructor at UCLA, along with their own very different graduate experiences at UCLA and NYU respectively, help to inform and provide experience with the various of modes of learning offered in grad schools around the country. Anya holds a BA in English from Columbia University, an MA in English from UCLA, and an MSW from New York University. They currently work in a community-mental health clinic and in private practice, focusing on underserved populations.
Arash Fayz has been a professional in the educational field for over 18 years. He started his teaching career as an SAT instructor in 2003, while attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he completed a graduate degree in applied mathematics and computer science. Soon after graduating from UCLA, he discovered a passion for education and a love for helping students; these interests resulted in the founding of Fortune Tutoring Group in 2007. Since then, Fayz has helped thousands of students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds empower themselves through education, score higher on standardized tests, and gain admission to their target schools. In 2015, Fortune Tutoring and LA Tutors 123 joined forces, bringing even more tutors into the mix, ready to teach, advise, and consult.
Ariel Sheen received a PhD in Innovation and Technology Management from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellin, Colombia. His doctoral research was funded by the Colombian government, the Social Science Research Council, and George Mason University. Sheen has worked as a digital media strategist, data scientist, and business intelligence and management consultant. He has lived in Colombia, Spain, Czechia, and Hungary.
Ashley Schuering is the blogger behind Confessions of a Grocery Addict, a food blog designed to share money-saving tricks, time-saving tips, and easy grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. She is also a full-time freelance writer, food nerd, SEO ninja, and food justice activist. She lives in Nashville, TN with her super awesome husband and two 70-lb lap dogs.
Athena Motal is the director of social work recruitment, outreach, and enrollment at Touro College Graduate School of Social Work. She spent the first part of her career as a social worker in New York City public and private hospitals. Motal earned her master of social work from New York University. She completed post-graduate training at New York’s Ackerman Institute for the Family and earned her PhD in social welfare from Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
Beverly Gearreald worked as a physician, small business consultant, and college counselor before becoming a community manager at Transizion, a college and career prep company. Her professional background, combined with being an MIT alumna and growing up in Africa, Europe, and North America, has given her a variety of unique firsthand experiences.
To provide some perspective on the challenges and opportunities of being a first-generation graduate student, we spoke with Bishal Dasgupta. He is a digital transformation consultant currently pursuing his MBA with interest in sustainable business practices. During his career, Dasgupta has facilitated transformation projects for Fortune 500 clients.
Dr. Brett Garland is a professor and head of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Missouri State University. He received his Ph.D. from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska in 2007. Dr. Garland’s professional experience includes working as a pre-release coordinator for the Indiana Department of Corrections and as a case worker in a juvenile group home. His research interests include police and correctional staff work attitudes, the impact of behavioral strategies in correctional settings, and public opinion on justice-related topics.
Cache Merrill is an accomplished entrepreneur and technology leader. He is the founder of Zibtek, a Salt Lake City-based company that provides businesses with teams of U.S. managed international developers specializing in custom software development.
We interviewed Carrie Morgan, SPT (Student of Physical Therapy), who lives in California and is in her final year of her Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, San Marcos Campus. She weighs in on the importance of physical activity and how to integrate it naturally into your everyday life. She enjoys snowboarding, running, mountain biking, and spending time with her husband and dogs.
Carson Lang is the co-founder and COO of Test Prep Insight — a test preparation company with an emphasis on graduate school exams, such as the GRE and GMAT. He works with college students every day who are getting ready for grad school.
Chelsea Schmitz is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a dual-degree in strategic communications and political science. In May 2022, she received a Master's in Business Administration with a business analytics concentration from Ohio University. During her career, she has worked for Slide Nine Agency and The Ohio State University. Her skillset expands from digital marketing to traditional public relations with a focus on creating customer-first, compelling content that aligns across all marcomm channels and builds thought leadership.
Cheryl Groskopf is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with master’s degrees in psychology and counseling. Her private practice, Evolution to Healing Psychotherapy, has locations in West Los Angeles and Pasadena, California. As a holistic therapist, Cheryl specializes in treating anxiety and trauma (including intergenerational trauma) and improving the quality of relationships through securing attachment. For more information on her holistic therapy practices, you can check out Cheryl’s website and blog.
Cheryl L. Bedford is an educator, producer, activist, and the founder of the non-profit organization Women of Color Unite. She is also the former Chair of Diversity Development at the New York Film Academy – Los Angeles Branch. Below, she offers insights into how graduate students can encourage inclusivity of LGBTQIA+ voices and reduce discrimination, bullying, and harassment.
Christina Lampert is a sustainability marketer who has created her own social channel called the Sustennial Network to engage on the topic of sustainability business strategies. She has also worked in sales, making the business case for technological change amongst brand and shopper marketers within CPG companies. She studies Sustainability Management in order to grasp these sustainability skills needed to make the business case for sustainability.
Cindy Chanin is the creator of Rainbow EDU Consulting and Tutoring. Over the past 15 years, Chanin has tutored students in virtually every subject. She has also helped many students gain admission to top universities, including Stanford, Yale, Brown, Northwestern, University of Southern California (USC), Oxford, Julliard, and New York University. Her previous work in the admissions departments at Yale and USC provides insider knowledge that she uses to serve her students in their education goals.
Clay Shirky is vice provost for AI and technology in education at New York University, an associate professor at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, and associate arts professor in the Tisch School of the Arts’ Interactive Telecommunications Program. Mr. Shirky has authored numerous books and penned regular columns for several publications, including Business 2.0 and FEED, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Wired, Computerworld, and Foreign Affairs. Throughout his career, Mr. Shirky has served as a mentor; below, he shares his insights on finding the right mentors
Colleen Martin is the Director of the Disability Resource Center at the University of Louisville. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northern Kentucky University and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Louisville. Colleen is a member of the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and a board member of its state affiliate organization, Kentucky AHEAD.
Colleen Stevenson (she/her) is a PhD student who has worked and taught at the college level for many years. She is also a post-secondary transition coach and founder of Choose Your University, where she helps students plan their post-secondary pathways and become career-ready.
Dave Vuono is an environmental microbiologist and environmental engineer. He's interested in understanding how microorganisms today were shaped by environmental stress in Earth's past. He believes that understanding the evolutionary history of a microbe and its biochemical machinery can help give us context into how microbes function in nature. This can help us to design and manage systems that improve soil fertility, water reclamation, and resource recovery.
Dr. David Schein, MBA, JD, Ph.D., is the Director of Graduate Programs at the Cameron School of Business at the University of St. Thomas-Houston. He’s been in his current position for eight years, where he reviews all of the applications for the university’s MBA program. About one year before he took on his current role, the university made the decision to remove the GMAT as an admission requirement in order to keep student enrollment up as they’re a small school in a competitive market."
Dr. Derek A. Smith is an expert in cybersecurity, cyber forensics, healthcare IT, SCADA security, physical security, investigations, organizational leadership, and training. He is currently an IT Supervisor at the Internal Revenue Service. He is also the owner of The Intercessors Investigative and Training Group. Smith is a cybersecurity professor at the University of Maryland, University College, and Virginia University of Science and Technology.
Don Martin spent 28 years in graduate enrollment and student services as dean of admission at Columbia University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Wheaton College in Illinois. In 2008, he founded Grad School Road Map in conjunction with his book “Road Map for Graduate Study: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students.” Over the past 15 years, he has coached more than 650 applicants, 97% of whom have been admitted to one or more of their top-choice master’s, medical school, law school, business school, and doctoral programs. He holds a master's degree from Wheaton College and a PhD from Northwestern University.
Douglas Gouzie is a professor of geology at Missouri State University, with expertise in the development and environmental management of cave and karst systems. Gouzie also has served as director of graduate studies for the university’s Department of Geography, Geology and Planning. He earned his PhD in geology and BS in geology/geophysics from the University of Kentucky. Before joining Missouri State in 2005, Gouzie’s career included work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and as a private environmental consultant.
We spoke with Dr. Anna Melissa Romualdez, who holds master's degrees from Columbia University and University College London and now advises and supervises master's students at University College London in psychology. In addition to working with graduate students, Dr. Romualdez is an autism researcher who specializes in issues of workplace accessibility. Dr. Romualdez speaks about her experiences as a master's student and master's advisor and gives advice for prospective master's students.
We spoke with Dr. Dustin Goltz, PhD (AZ State University) who teaches communications at Vincent de Paul University. He teaches courses in performance studies, intercultural communication, and media representation, with specific focus on gender and sexuality, polarization, whiteness, humor, queer theory, and cultural studies. As an artist and a performer, Goltz produces solo and collaborative multimedia work. His most recent work, Fred Astaire's Dancing Lessons is a 70 minute, one-person, multimedia, performative examination of shifting perceptions of queer male mentorship across the last 40 years.
As an expert on communication, we asked Dr. Goltz to weigh in on student-professor communications in an online setting.
Dr. J. Gordon Arbuckle is a professor of rural sociology and faculty advisor in the graduate program in sustainable agriculture at Iowa State University. His research and extension efforts focus on improving the environmental and social performance of agricultural systems. In this interview he pulls from his advising experience to help us answer some questions about supporting graduate students through their master’s program.
Dr. Jennifer Bradtke is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified group psychotherapist, certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor, and the founder of ChangeWorks Psychology Ltd. For more than 10 years, she has helped develop and lead departments and programs at university counseling centers. Ms. Bradtke has presented internationally at conferences and written articles on the use of humor in psychotherapy, gratitude, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She is passionate about helping individuals to start living intentional, value-driven lives.
Dr. Lisa Wright has 30 years of experience as a health care clinician, administrator, and academic researcher. She is the Chair of the Master in Healthcare Administration program at Claremont Lincoln University. Dr. Wright has led students in service-learning in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for over five years, with immersion in the culture, language, and academia. Additionally, Dr. Wright serves as a reviewer for several professional organizations and journals, is a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem for the state of Florida and teaches ballet as a volunteer to young children with disabilities."
Dr. Michael Rip is the founding director of the postgraduate Healthcare Management program in the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Dr. Rip was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a graduate of the University of Cape Town and worked for seven years in the Department of Community Health at the University of Cape Town Medical School before immigrating to the USA. Prior to his current position, Dr. Rip was the founding director of the postgraduate Public Health program in the College of Human Medicine at MSU and worked in MSU’s Department of Epidemiology for some 15 years.
We spoke with Dr. Rachel Tome Valencia Hamilton about some of the financial and social aspects of being a trans graduate student. She graduated in 2021 with a doctorate in geography and the environment from Oxford University and currently lives in Finland with her spouse.
Ready to hear from an expert? We recently interviewed Dr. Richard Shadick, director of the Counseling Center at Pace University. Dr. Shadick deals with graduate students daily and had a lot to offer when it comes to dealing with imposter syndrome. Dr. Shadick earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Pennsylvania State University and a certificate in psychoanalysis at William Alanson White Institute. In addition to serving as the Director of the Counseling Center at Pace University, Dr. Shadick is an adjunct faculty member in the Psychology Department. He also serves as a board member of the Association for College Counseling Center Directors.
Elise Phillips is a high school teacher and writes at The Will to Teach.
Born and raised in Longview, Texas, Elizabeth attended the University of Texas at Tyler and earned a bachelor of science in history with a minor in social studies and a teaching certification. She worked for eight years as a special education inclusion teacher in the Longview Independent School District (ISD) before going back to school to earn a master of education in special education with an educational diagnostician certification. Currently, she works for Longview ISD as an educational diagnostician.
Em Gormley, LCSW, is a psychotherapist at Thomas Jefferson University and in private practice in Philadelphia. He received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016. His areas of clinical specialty include work with LGBTQIA+ communities, trauma, and harm reduction.
Emily Walker Heady is Partner & Chief Academic Officer at Magellan Learning Solutions. Before this, she served as the Associate Vice President of Admissions & Retention at Longwood University and as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Liberty University, where she also directed the Graduate Writing Center. Emily holds a PhD in Victorian Literature from Indiana University and has published and presented widely in that field and on larger issues within higher education.
Eva Keller is a travel and tourism professional with over 10 years in the industry. She completed her master’s in hospitality and tourism from the University of Central Florida online while working both a full-time and part-time job. Currently, she shares travel tips on a blog she writes with her partner called Discovering Hidden Gems. Read on to discover her advice about balancing work with graduate school.
Fatema Jivanjee-Shakir, LMSW is a therapist, writer, and speaker. She specializes in
eating disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, and working
with folks of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Person of Color) identities. She has
extensive experience working with adults and adolescents in individual, group, and
family therapy at the residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient
(IOP), and outpatient levels of care. Fatema is a Primary Therapist at The Renfrew
Center, a therapist in private practice at Conason Psychological Services, and a Board
Member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals New York
chapter.
Fred Amrein is the founder/CEO of PayForED.com. He is a nationally recognized expert in the entire college funding and student loan repayment process. Fred's unique approach helps students and parents envision the financial outcome of a college education. He brings together the financial aid process, college saving plans, educational tax strategies, student financing, and loan repayment options.
Grant Aldrich is the founder and CEO of Online Degree, an educational platform with tuition-free courses. He has over 18 years of experience leading companies from founding to exit with a specific focus on partnership development, marketing, PR, sales, and overall strategy and growth.
Gregory R. Ciottone, MD, FACEP, FFSEM is a Medical Director, Paramedic, EMT & Master Health Emergency Management at Anna Maria College.
Heather Pellett earned a master’s degree in special education with an emphasis on early childhood from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2015. She’ll be returning to the same school in 2023 to pursue her master’s degree in speech pathology. She currently works for the State of Nevada’s Early Intervention Services as a developmental specialist, helping kids under age three who have disabilities. And she’s doing this all as a single parent with three kids – who are now 9, 11, and 13 years old.
Ian Servin is a Continuity Specialist on the Emergency Management team at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. He earned his Master's in Emergency Management from Georgetown University in 2022 with a focus on emergency communication and community engagement, and his capstone project included a survey exploring the use of social media by emergency management practitioners. Ian also works with the Red Cross as a Government Operations and Disaster Action Team volunteer where he coordinates mass care responses in partnership with government agencies and deploys nationwide to large scale disasters.
We’ve interviewed Dr. Jackie Darby, a licensed psychologist and certified group psychotherapist in the Washington, DC, area. She is the owner of The Unconscious Shift, a wellness consulting agency that focuses on providing workshops on mental health wellness to community organizations.
Jamie Nelson is a veteran teacher at Manhattan Prep. She has approximately 20 years of experience teaching the GMAT exam to thousands of aspiring business school students. With a GMAT score of 770 (and a perfect score of 800 on the earlier pencil and paper version), Nelson has trained and managed new GMAT instructors. She gets great satisfaction from helping students master challenging material and get the scores they need.
Jamie Smith is an attorney and writer who has been teaching college students for over 15 years. She lives in Washington, DC.
Janelle Raymundo is the Director of Communications at Swipe Out Hunger, where she leads the organization's communications strategy to support their work in ending college student hunger. She also has experience working in higher education in marketing and communications as well as student services administration.
Janet Denney is a public health school liaison who worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation to support the Athens City-County Health Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. She received her bachelor of science degree in health and health services administration from Ohio University. She has worked with COVID-19 case investigations and immunization records for students and assisted in managing SARS-COV-2 outbreaks within the community.
Jena Wayt has been serving as the librarian for Spring Hill Primary and Intermediate libraries in Longview, Texas since 2021. She is responsible for campus budgets, purchasing books, maintaining a well-organized library system, and teaching classes every day. She earned her master’s in media design and technology from Full Sail University in 2012, as well as a master’s in library information science from the University of North Texas in 2019. She is an avid reader who loves to explore different genres, share books, and help students cultivate a love for reading.
Jennifer Vincent, LMHC, CSAYC, is the owner of The Brave Life Therapy in Indianapolis, IN. She is a licensed mental health counselor and clinical supervisor. She provides mental health therapy to individuals and families struggling with mood disorders, trauma, gender identity, family and generational abuse, and cult recovery. She completed a master’s in mental health counseling online at Capella University.
Joa Ahern-Seronde is a test prep and admissions consultant who specializes in academic and career advice and has over a decade of experience providing strategic services to students internationally. She helps people ace standardized tests, grab acceptances to educational programs and jobs, and generally succeed in their career goals. Ahern-Seronde is the co-founder of JEM Achievement, a woman-owned online test prep and admissions consultancy that provides tailored and flexible support no matter where you are.
Jon Morgan is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Venture Smarter, a leading consulting firm that specializes in helping startups and small businesses scale and grow. With over nine years of experience in the industry, Jon has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in areas such as strategic planning, market research, and financial analysis. Born and raised in California, he received his MBA from the University of California, Davis where he also held a graduate assistantship. In addition to his consulting work, Jon is also a sought-after speaker and author, sharing his insights on business growth and success with audiences around the world.
Julianna Coughlin, M.S., R.D., LDN, majored in nutrition and dietetics at Framingham State University. She graduated in the spring of 2015 with her Bachelor of Science and passed the Registered Dietitian exam in July 2015. She earned a Master of Science in dietetics at the University of Nebraska Lincoln in May 2020. She has also worked as a dietitian in long-term care for five years and strives to provide the best nutrition care to all her residents.
Karen Libber Fishbein, MSW, LCSW, is a clinical social worker providing psychotherapy in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her practice specializes in working with young adults ages 18-40. Previously, Karen was a therapist in college counseling at Temple University, where she focused on supporting students regarding relationships, anxiety, depression, adjustment to life changes, and managing life and academic stress.
We spoke with Kat Mitchell, who holds a Master’s degree in publishing that she received from Oxford University in the UK. We asked her about the financial aspects of funding her graduate education as it pertains to an American studying abroad, and what she would advise aspiring grad students concerned about the financial impact of their studies.
Katherine Friedman is an educator, mother, writer, and program co-director at LA Tutors. She holds an MA in special education from George Washington University and a BA in government from Claremont McKenna College. Originally from Long Beach, California, she did her share of traveling—including two years in the Peace Corps in Jamaica—before settling down in Los Angeles 11 years ago. She is an experienced and versatile educator with eight years of full-time classroom teaching and hundreds of hours of tutoring experience.
Katherine Zavodni, is a registered dietitian, nutrition therapist and certified eating disorder dietitian, passionately committed to helping others tune out the external noise to enjoy food and find peace with their bodies. She aims to empower people to resist the world's message that our bodies are a problem to be fixed. You can find Katherine at https://www.kznutrition.com/ and on her Podcast, Feeding Humans
Kathleen Hyde, MCIS, MBA, is the Chair of Cybersecurity Programs for Champlain College Online. She is responsible for the online cybersecurity and computer forensics and digital investigations undergraduate programs, as well as the MS in the digital forensic science program. As program director, Ms. Hyde maintains the cybersecurity and digital forensic programs' competitive and relevant edge, promotes the growth of the nation's cybersecurity workforce, and shares her passion for lifelong learning by teaching several online classes.
Katie Sullivan has a doctorate in organizational communication and is an associate professor and the director of graduate studies in the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS). Her scholarship centers on diversity and inclusion, branding, and social media well-being. In addition to teaching and doing research, Sullivan is certified in yoga, social emotional well-being, and Koru Mindfulness, which is designed especially for young adults. She teaches mindfulness meditation classes for graduate students seeking stress relief, more work and life balance, and greater well-being.
Kelly Stone holds an MA in English Composition. Just before starting graduate school, she was diagnosed with PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression which created some challenges for her as she navigated graduate school. She shares her experience with us below. Kelly writes about climate change and social justice issues. When she’s not writing, you can find her outside with her husband and their delightful dog.
When deciding on a one-year master’s degree program, talking with past students to get their perspectives can be invaluable. That’s why we sat down with Kentucky Morrow to discover insider tips to help you ensure success in your online master’s program. After majoring in economics at Emory University, Kentucky Morrow decided to get a one-year online master’s in healthcare management from John Hopkins University. Here’s what he had to say about his master’s degree and how it gave him the skills necessary to serve as a VP of Finance and later as a co-founder of Ralli Alcohol Health.
Kesslyn Brade Stennis, PhD, MDiv, MSW, is director of the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), which includes the MFP fellowship for master’s students at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Prior to this position, she was a full professor of social work and served as the executive director of the Dr. Dorothy I. Height Center for the Advancement of Social Justice at Coppin State University.
Kim Nelson joined the School of Government at UNC in August 2013. She was named Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Term Associate Professor for 2017-2019. Her research on the form of government, corruption, and innovation has been published in Public Administration Review, The American Review of Public Administration, State and Local Government Review, and other journals. As a member of the Center for Public Leadership, she conducts training and advice on leadership and management topics. She serves on the editorial boards of The American Review of Public Administration and State and Local Government Review.
Krystal Walker, Director of Wellness Education, Youth Equipped to Succeed
Krystal began her journey with Youth Equipped to Succeed as part of the merger with Aim for Success in July 2019, where she had been employed since 2013. As the director of wellness education, she oversees a team of professional speakers who deliver Wellness Education programs in schools and the community. Krystal also leads the YES Program Development Review and Evaluation Committee (PDRE) comprised of licensed counselors, educators, law enforcement, and medical professionals to ensure its wellness education programs are presenting the most credible research and effective, engaging content. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Krystal holds a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation psychology and a master's degree in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and her husband reside in Aubrey, Texas. Together they have a daughter.
Lafe Smith is the director of the Master of Arts in Graphic and Web Design and teaches within the MA and Continuing Education programs at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Lafe also works as a freelance illustrator and holds a BA in Art from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His teaching goal is to help guide students in developing their creative voice and skill sets into a clear, industry-focused career path.
Lauren Walter is a Senior Content Strategist at Online Optimism, a digital marketing agency with offices in New Orleans and Atlanta. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing, specializing in poetry, from the University of New Orleans.
Dr. Lienna Wilson is a clinical psychologist in Princeton, NJ who specializes in anxiety disorders and working with university students. She has trained in several college counseling centers, including Princeton University where she completed her postdoctoral fellowship.
Lilian Chen is the co-founder and COO of Bar None Games, a premier virtual team-building platform that has worked with 1,500+ companies to help their hybrid and remote teams feel connected. At Bar None Games, Lilian runs operations, marketing, finance, and customer success. She received her master’s in business administration and entrepreneurship from New York University and previously launched startups at an early-stage venture capital firm.
Lindsay Fried holds a B.B.A. in Business Management from the University of Miami. After graduating, she worked on marketing and investor relations teams for several alternative investment funds, with assets up to $3 billion. Lindsay went on to discover a passion for college planning and founded Simply Admissions after receiving a Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the University of California, Irvine. She is a current member of the Georgia College Counseling Association (GCCA), Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC), and a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and online education consultant. She has 15 years of experience creating content that helps students get more out of their educational journey.
Ludmila N. Praslova, PhD, SHRM-SCP, is a professor at Vanguard University’s Graduate Program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. She is passionate about helping organizations create cultures where people of all backgrounds understand each other and thrive. She writes for Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, and the SHRM blog and serves as the editor of the upcoming book, “Evidence-Based Organizational Practices for Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Equity” (Cambridge Scholars).
Dr. Lydia Huerta is an assistant professor of gender, race, and identity at the University of Nevada, Reno. Huerta specializes in 20th and 21st century cultural studies of the Americas, with an emphasis on the relationship between social media and narratives about the U.S. and Mexico border. Her primary research examines the cultural production created in response to the women killings in Ciudad Juárez since 1993. Other research interests focus on social movements, cultural narratives, and public policies created in the United States and Mexico, which call attention to issues related to undocumented populations, specifically, women and LGBTQ migrants.
Lynn Pierson started her career at Bucknell 16 years ago with a position in the Office of Housing and Residential Life. In 2010 she became Assistant Director for Community Service in the Office of Civic Engagement and was instrumental in overseeing the Community Harvest Hot Meal Program, Snack Pack Program, and other local outreach programs. She went on to serve as the Associate Director for Community Engaged Leadership and was the Internship Director. Most recently, she has become the Director for the Office of Civic Engagement.
Dr. Maricel Cigales has worked in the field of behavior analysis for more than 30 years. She has been a professor at Florida International University since 2008, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in behavior analysis. She is also the director of the Behavior Analysis Master of Science (BAMS) program and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies for the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.
Mario Jovan is an artist, storyteller, life coach, and mindfulness instructor. He utilizes these tools to help people to be present, have peace, and fulfill their life purpose. His work started as a 7th-grade teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where he created the Brotherhood, a program to address the needs of young Black males in his classroom. He later cofounded a multimillion- dollar organization that worked to retain male educators of color through mindfulness practices. He has been recognized by Forbes “30 Under 30” as one of the world’s brightest social innovators.
Mark Aspelin helps companies develop conservation strategies that are good for biodiversity and good for business. He’s the founder and CEO of Profitable Conservation LLC and author of Profitable Conservation: Business Strategies That Boost Your Bottom Line, Protect Wildlife, and Conserve Biodiversity. Mark has a BS in biology from the University of Notre Dame, an MS in Biology from Creighton University, and an MBA with concentrations in natural resource and environmental management and operations management from the University of Texas at Austin. He has worked with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, The Coca-Cola Company, Intel Corporation, United HealthGroup, and companies in the oil, gas, and transportation industries.
Mark Kantrowitz is an expert on student financial aid, the FAFSA, scholarships, 529 plans, education tax benefits and student loans. His mission is to deliver practical information, advice and tools to students and their families so they can make smarter, more informed decisions about planning and paying for college. His most recent financial aid book is How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid.
For more insight into how schools support low-income grad students, we sat down with Melanie Hanson, the editor in chief at Education Data Initiative, whose mission is to help past, current, and future college students navigate the financial obstacles between them and a quality education.
Michael Pauldine is a licensed psychologist at the University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Services, and he specializes in psychological assessment and coordinates the assessment program at Counseling Services. In addition to specializing in assessment of ADHD, learning disabilities, and internalizing disorders, Michael’s professional interests include working with students struggling wåith anxiety, trauma, OCD, as well as adjustment and interpersonal problems. He also enjoys working with students from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ students, and graduate/medical students.
Mirna Vuksan is the marketing director for Lonely Axe. Before taking on this role, she got her master’s degree in sociology and ran a community center that helped those in need. As part of the center, she helped with tasks such as collecting and preparing food, collecting clothes, maintenance of the space, and organizing events.
Nancy Szwydek is the Assistant Dean and Director of Quality Assurance for the ground health programs at Purdue Global. In 2016, she became the academic program chair for the health information management, health informatics, and billing and coding programs and spearheaded PCAP approval for the billing and coding program and AEP designation for the master of health informatics and health information management programs. Prior to working in education, she worked as a registered nurse for over 30 years Ms. Szwydek received her AAS, BHS, and MPH degrees from Kaplan University (now Purdue University Global), and her Nursing Diploma, Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing.
Natalie Burick is the director of Disability Services and Rock Life at Slippery Rock University (SRU) of Pennsylvania. She works with students with disabilities to ensure equitable access and removal of barriers throughout their college career. Burick is the recent winner of the SRU Breaking Barriers Award, which recognizes one staff member each year for demonstrating advocacy, leadership, and empowerment for students with disabilities.
Nicole Anderson is the owner and CEO of MEND, a human resources solutions firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is knowledgeable on employment law across the United States and Canada. Nicole received a Bachelor of Business Administration in human resources management from American InterContinental University in Weston, Florida. She is currently writing her first book about the future of human resources, revealing her thoughts on why HR needs to be more business-minded, why HR managers must work with leaders to develop bottom-line strategies, and how effective HR brings value to companies rather than just being policy makers and enforcers.
Dr. Pavel Shlossberg is an Associate Professor of Communication & Leadership Studies and Department Chair at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He is the author of the book Crafting Identity (published by the University of Arizona Press) and presently Associate Editor for The Latin American Research Review and editorial board member for both the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication and Journal of Hate Studies. Dr. Shlossberg received his BA (cum laude) from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and earned his Ph.D. and MA from Columbia University in New York City. Prior to his appointment at Gonzaga, Dr. Schlossberg was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New Mexico and lecturer at the University of Virginia.
Pedro Braz is passionate about finance, marketing, and technology. He is a growth marketer for several online businesses and the co-founder of Investing in the Web, the TripAdvisor of investment fintech. Before starting his personal finance business, he self-funded his MBA in economics and management.
Rachel Coleman is an IEC (independent education consultant) at College Essay Editor. She has worked for over seven years in the undergrad and graduate college counseling field, helping students across all disciplines (e.g., medical school, MBA, law school, Master's, Ph.D., etc.) navigate the application process and especially improve their essays. She received her B.A. in Comparative Literature from Stanford University where she was the head tutor of Stanford's Hume Center for Writing and Speaking. She then received her College Counseling Certificate from UCLA and is now an active member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA).
Assistant Professor Ramona Beltrán from the University of Denver is interested in centering cultural protective factors, strengths and resiliencies in indigenous populations as they work to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of historical trauma. She’s used the arts, dance and movement, digital media, and narrative with Latino and indigenous communities for over 15 years and has worked on numerous research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health that examine health, mental health and substance abuse disparities in these same communities.
She’s passionate about teaching and believes that social work classrooms can be uniquely transformative spaces in which students learn to bridge theory and practice through embodied and experiential learning.
Dr. Robert Richardson is a Scholarly Assistant Professor in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University – Everett. He earned his doctorate in American Studies from WSU and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Northern Michigan University.
Rohin Sharma is the senior Middle East/Terrorism Analyst at the US Army. In this capacity, he is responsible for briefing the senior Army leadership (including the Chief of Staff) on all issues relevant to current operations in the CENTCOM region. He coordinates open source and intelligence information to ensure that Army equities are informed of the threat and current situation relating to ISIS, Al Qaeda, and large Middle Eastern trends.
Previously, Rohin worked at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. At DTRA, he was responsible for analyzing threats and assessing vulnerabilities related to Weapons of Mass Destruction and nuclear proliferation. Rohin also worked as an analyst with the Department of Defense, specifically focused on the IED problem set. In this capacity, he integrated academia, industry, and the intelligence community in defeating this threat. He was recognized as a subject matter expert in his field and briefed at numerous conferences, meetings, and congressional forums.
Rohin spent seven years on active duty in the US Army as an intelligence officer. While on active duty, Rohin deployed to OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM as a Battalion S–2 with the 101st Airborne Division. In addition, he was a J2 planner during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM from 2003–2004. Rohin also served as a ground surveillance platoon leader in the Republic of Korea in 2001.
Ryan Maestro is a financial industry professional and author of WantFI, a financial resource dedicated to helping regular people understand the intricacies of personal finance. Ryan has been working in the financial services industry for ten years, first as a portfolio strategist at the asset management arm of a large bank and now at one of the largest bank holding companies in the world. Ryan holds a MS in Computational Finance, an MA in Economics and a BS in Mathematics. He has an extreme passion for investing and has 25 years of experience in the markets.
Ryan Maxwell holds an MSc in Finance Economics and Econometrics from City University London and is CTO at FirstRate Data a financial data provider.
Samantha Kaiser graduated from American University with a Master of Arts in International Communication. She is passionate about intercultural connectedness and celebrating our differences. She has worked in higher education by encouraging students to learn, live, and work overseas. She is a self-published author of the book “Become a Better You Abroad” and operates The Lifestyle Travelers Outdoor Travel Blog. Samantha currently works in conservation and hopes to eventually use what she has learned from her studies to address the climate crisis on the global stage.
Mr. Sanket Shah is an instructor for the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences (BHIS) at the College of Applied Health Sciences. Professor Shah has created a course curriculum focusing on healthcare business intelligence, healthcare data, knowledge management and consumer informatics.
Professor Shah brings considerable strategic management and technology innovation experience. He has a wide range of experiences in healthcare information technology on the provider, payer, government and vendor sides of the healthcare business. He has served in positions in management, system design, logical database architecture, product management, consulting and healthcare value measurement for the past 10 years in the healthcare industry.
Dr. Scott DeLoach is a Professor and the Head of the Department of Computer Science at Kansas State University. Dr. DeLoach served in the United States Air Force from 1981 to 2001. During that time he earned his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University (1982) and both his M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology (1987 and 1996, respectively). Dr. DeLoach joined the faculty of K-State’s Department of Computing and Information Sciences in 2001, and was named the permanent head of the Department of Computer Science in 2016. Dr. DeLoach is the author of more than 20 journal articles and book chapters, 17 technical reports, and 70 refereed conference and workshop papers related to the computer science field.
Shawn Blue, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University. She is a staff psychologist in the Student Counseling Center as well as the Outreach Coordinator overseeing all workshops and programs offered by the Counseling Center.
Dr. Blue is the author of several published scholarly works including Grief and Romantic Relationship Dissolution in 2017 and The Psychology of Modern Dating: Websites, Apps, and Relationships in 2020.
We interviewed Sheila Johnston, a teacher, who advocates for pursuing a master’s degree to better support your career goals. Sheila used her challenging upbringing of alcoholism, mental, physical, and emotional abuse to motivate her to get a college education and mentor others. She is now a proud wife, mother, teacher, mentor and motivator.
Sonja Ann Jones has 25 years of analytics sales experience in business intelligence, data warehousing, visualization, big data, machine learning, AI, enterprise systems management, and cybersecurity. She is a commercial cybersecurity manager at Mindpoint Group and sits on the advisory board at Risk-Q. She earned a Doctorate in Business Administration in 2013. Her dissertation for her doctorate was about women in information technology and leadership positions. In addition, Jones has an MBA in entrepreneurship, a BS in mathematics, and a BS in statistics and is a college professor at two universities, California Miramar and College of the Canyons. She also founded the LLC Nonstop 4 for the Top, an organization dedicated to helping women in their careers, specifically in technology, entertainment, and business.
Stefan Maisnier is MyGuru‘s director of online tutoring. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. He has been a test prep expert for nearly two decades, helping hundreds of students gain admission to top universities, writing thousands of GRE practice problems, and sharing test-taking tips at global institutions from Northeastern Illinois University to ESMT Berlin.
To provide practical input on overcoming procrastination, we interviewed Stephanie Jeret, a speech-language pathologist and the owner of Speak with Stephanie LLC. Stephanie obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees from the City University of New York. She has practiced speech therapy in several settings, including outpatient rehabilitation, tele practice, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and a private practice. Her experience juggling life, work, and school allowed her to master time management and productivity and she often uses this skillset to enhance the ways she supports her clients.
Svetlana Kouznetsova (Sveta) is an independent consultant and accessibility trailblazer based in the New York City area. Sveta helps businesses make their mainstream web, media, and events more accessible. She is also a founder of Audio Accessibility and provides consultation on improving communication and information access to 466 million deaf and hard of hearing people worldwide. Sveta is a book author and an international speaker. Her TEDx talk uncovers the benefits of high-quality captioning that increases audience and ROI for businesses. She has an MS in Internet Technology and over 20 years’ experience in design, technology, and accessibility. Sveta’s combination of personal experience with deafness and professional expertise in accessibility offers valuable insight into the importance of accessibility.
Tasca Tolson is a trauma-informed mental health educator with TMT Consulting. As a skilled mental health professional, she has years of experience in various roles within the mental health field. She has specialized in treating substance abuse and alcoholism for many years and now also works closely with teens and adults experiencing depression, relationship issues, and recovery from trauma. She works with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, with a special emphasis on supporting historically marginalized populations.
To gain more perspective on the benefits of a gap year, we sat down with Tenayah Jade, an MBA student at Southern New Hampshire University. Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Tenayah moved to Toledo, OH in 2013. She graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital and Photographic Arts from the University of Toledo in 2020, a degree that allowed her to explore themes of storytelling, escapism, and the pursuit of curiosity. Tenayah’s work has been included in the University of Toledo’s' Student Juried Exhibition by Alli Hoag, "When + Where,” Society for Photographic Education Midwest Juried Student Juried Exhibition, and the American Frame Student Showcase. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Walbridge Sinclair Scholarship and the Jurors' Award, and earned second place for the University of Toledo’s' Juried Student Exhibition by Alli Hoag.
Teresa DeNike, BS CCSH, is a board-certified clinical sleep educator, national speaker, and the founder of Sleep Better NYC. Her expertise is in sleep apnea, sleep hygiene, and mindset for sleep and overall wellbeing. After 14 years in healthcare sales and consulting, Teresa witnessed countless family, friends, and patients struggle through the typical pathways for sleep support. SBNYC was founded as a solution.
Teresa lives with her husband in Brooklyn, NY. She loves a good boxing workout, never turns down Italian food, and enjoys wine and whiskey from time to time.
Thomas Long works as the Field Contract Administrator at Arcadis in Brooklyn, New York. He competed an M.S. in Construction Management at New York University in 2011 and used the skills and knowledge gained from the program at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection prior to undertaking his current role. He has worked in the construction management industry for more than two decades.
Tiffany Hoffman is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health at the University of Nevada, Reno. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and works as an administrative professional in the Office of the Dean in UNR’s School of Medicine.
Tiffany Kayar is a public relations professional with nearly ten years of experience across sales, branding, marketing, and media. She holds a master of information technology from the iSchool and an honors bachelor of science with distinction in cognitive science and media technology from the University of Toronto.
Troy Portillo is the Director of Operations of Studypool , an online learning platform dedicated to helping millions of students all over the globe with their studies. Here he draws from experience working in the MOOCs space to answer our burning questions about MOOCs and how they can help Graduate Students increase their skills or earn their degree.
Yessenia Hernandez is a motivated leader passionate about working with young adults and overseeing their academic success. She is most excited for the opportunity to continue student support by helping first-generation immigrant students transition to college, find resources, become involved on campus, and familiarize themselves with Dominican University. As a recent MSW graduate, Yessenia looks forward to working with community organizations that provide support to undocumented students and communities.
Zemirah Weber is a licensed professional counselor based in Michigan who works with people from many walks of life. In this interview, Zemirah shares her advice on maintaining mental health as a grad student and beyond.
Dr. Zeynep Behjet is a full-time adjunct faculty member in the School of Health Sciences at Purdue Global and teaches health informatics and health information management courses. Prior to joining the Purdue Global faculty, she worked at as a faculty member at Mount Washington College in New Hampshire teaching health sciences courses. Dr. Behjet received her MD from the University of Tikrit, MEd from Plymouth State University and MS from Kaplan University (now Purdue University Global). She also completed an observership at Dartmouth in the pathology department to better augment her clinical informatics experience.