Excelsior Life

In this podcast, Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley discusses incident response and disaster recovery and how an organization can effectively and efficiently develop an Incident Response to Disaster Recovery plan. Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley is a fellow at the National Cybersecurity Institute (NCI) and is the Department Coordinator of the Information System Security Program at Forsyth Technical Community College. Dr. Cranford -Wesley is a cybersecurity professional and has appeared as a subject matter expert on Fox8 and Time Warner News discussing recent advances in cyber security vulnerability. She holds a PhD in Education Leadership with a focus in Instructional Technology and a Master of Art in Administration. Furthermore, she has obtained the following certifications; Security +, Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP®), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®), and Cisco Certified Instructor (CCAI).  

Jay Julian, a faculty member in the School of Public Service, discusses the difficulties in identifying and preventing cyber crime and steps to prevent from becoming a victim. Julian is a retired Nassau County Police Officer, U.S. marine, criminologist, and former Surface Transportation Security Inspector for Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In this National Cybersecurity Institute podcast, Derek Smith provides a brief introduction to cyber-threat intelligence. The intent is to create awareness of the cyber security threat environment and discuss a few methods and means of collecting and reporting threat information for actionable intelligence and risk assessment analysis.   Derek A. Smith Biography Derek A. Smith is the Director of Cyber Security Initiatives at the National Cyber Security Institute at Excelsior College. Mr. Smith has years of government and military leadership experience and holds an MBA, Master of Science in Information Assurance, Master in Information Technology Project Management, and B.S in Education. He also holds the following certifications:  Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Authorization Professional (CAP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator, Computer Network Defense Architect, Certified EC-Council Instructor, Certified SCADA Security Archite

Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley discusses e-discovery tools, their use within the investigation and litigation process, and how they compare with digital forensics toolkits. Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley is a fellow at the and is the Department Coordinator of the Information System Security Program at Forsyth Technical Community College. Dr. Cranford -Wesley is a cybersecurity professional and has appeared as a subject matter expert on Fox8 and Time Warner News discussing recent advances in cyber security vulnerability. She holds a PhD in Education Leadership with a focus in Instructional Technology and a Master of Art in Administration. Furthermore, she has obtained the following certifications; Security +, Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP®), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®), and Cisco Certified Instructor (CCAI).

This podcast provides a brief overview of security issues related to Supervisory Control and Data Systems, or SCADA, security.  Derek Smith of the  provides a brief overview of what SCADA is, why it needs securing, and introduce a new SCADA network protocol for communicating and protecting SCADA controlled communications. Derek A. Smith Biography Derek A. Smith is the Director of Cyber Security Initiatives at the National Cyber Security Institute at Excelsior College. Mr. Smith has years of government and military leadership experience and holds an MBA, Master of Science in Information Assurance, Master in Information Technology Project Management, and B.S in Education. He also holds the following certifications:  Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Authorization Professional (CAP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator, Computer Network Defense Architect, Certified EC-Council Instructor, Certified SCADA Security Architect (CSSA), and Secu

This podcast provides a brief introduction to cyber and digital forensic operations. Derek Smith of the  provides a brief overview of the field of cyber forensics and then discusses some of the most prevalent security tools used by cyber forensic professionals today. Derek A. Smith Biography Derek A. Smith is the Director of Cyber Security Initiatives at the National Cyber Security Institute at Excelsior College. Mr. Smith has years of government and military leadership experience and holds an MBA, Master of Science in Information Assurance, Master in Information Technology Project Management, and B.S in Education. He also holds the following certifications:  Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Authorization Professional (CAP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator, Computer Network Defense Architect, Certified EC-Council Instructor, Certified SCADA Security Architect (CSSA), and Security+.  

2014 Excelsior College graduate Jamie Rottmann was honored at this year’s Commencement with the , given to a student who has achieved outstanding academic achievement while pursuing a degree in a nuclear technology program. Rottman, a senior nuclear instructor at Entergy Services, describes why he decided to return to school to pursue a college degree.

Christina Yang, director of academic partnerships, discusses the 2014 Academic Partnership Forum to be held on Excelsior’s campus this Wednesday, September 10.

Dr. John Ebersole announces a $1 million federal grant awarded to Excelsior College to assist veterans pursuing a nursing career. U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) offers his own remarks on the importance of supporting the military and our veteran communities.

Dr. Robert Kinsinger,former vice president of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and a former chair of the Regents College Board of Overseers, joins the podcast to discuss his pioneering work on nursing education in the 1950s. Dr. Kinsinger discusses his collaboration with fellow nursing visionary Dr. Mildred Montag, whether reality lived up to their vision, and his thoughts on the future of the recently launched Institute for Nursing Excellence named in his honor.   1:21 Encountering Dr. Mildred Montag and her ideas for a two-year nursing degree that would prove revolutionary. 3:27 Overcoming initial backlash from physicians and hospitals concerned with losing out on their “free labor”. 4:20 Joining the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  6:45 The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s role in expanding two-year nursing education.  8:01 Did reality live up to the vision? 8:32 Changes in nursing education over the decades. 9:30 How does Excelsior’s nursing courses fit into this new paradigm? 12:50 Vision for the Robert E. Kinsinger In

In this week’s special Commencement edition of the podcast, host Mike Lesczinski discusses this year’s graduating class and Excelsior’s upcoming Commencement ceremony on July 11. The episode ncludes a complete interview with , an administrative assistant who, wanting more out of life, headed back to school to pursue a nursing career and is now a clinical nursing supervisor. Malone talks about her decision to change careers, her educational journey, and her plans for the future. In addition, Hannah Elizabeth Arthur, the Charles W. Laffin Jr. Memorial Award winner, discusses applying what she learned in the virtual classroom to her everyday business and plans to co-found a learning center with her mother, a lifelong teacher. The show closes with Marvin Curling Memorial Award winner and US Navy veteran Jamie Rottman discussing why he decided to pursue a . Listen to "Commencement Stories": 1:31 Class of 2014 At-a-Glance 2:34 Commencement Ceremony, Speaker, Awards 4:21 Interview with Maria Malone 11:52 Hannah Eliz

, vice provost and interim co-dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss why online courses are superior to face-to-face traditional classes. Dr. Jones, an assessment and course development expert, believes when it comes to access, faculty-student engagement, and assessment, online has the clear advantage. 0:50 Initial skepticism over whether a quality education can be delivered online. 3:29 Experiences teaching at a traditional college. 4:30 How does an online course increase access? 6:00 Why online courses have more effective instructor-student engagement. 8:02 What could compel traditional schools to move away from one-to-many communication? 11:59 The importance of “assessment events” and how they can be used to improve teaching and learning. 15:16 Where do we go from here? How will online education improve in the coming years? Show Notes

Excelsior College’s Dr. Anna Zendell, MSW and Carol Shenise, MS, RN, join the podcast to discuss stress, including triggers, coping strategies, and developing a stress management plan. The conversation touches upon what employers can do to alleviate workplace stress and unique stressors for active duty military and veterans. 0:50 “Managing Stress” course 1:30 The three types of stress. 2:15 Physical manifestations of stress. 3:10 What can trigger stress? How do we identify our stressors? 5:05 Coping strategies. 6:45 Advice for employers looking to mitigate workplace stress. 8:55 Developing a stress management plan. 11:00 Unique stressors to military life.   14:00 Advice and further resources. Show Notes

Victoria Van Voorhis, CEO, Second Avenue Learning, joins the podcast to discuss the disruptive nature of educational games. Topics include how to interject “serious games” back into the educational process, the use of games to enhance traditional learning, and potential obstacles to mainstream expansion. The talk concludes with a discussion of the innovative work of Second Avenue Learning and her vision for the future.   0:57 Games, Disruptive Innovation, Efficacy, and Adoption. 3:00 Using games to enhance the traditional learning experience. 3:55 Games don’t replace a teacher, but extend their ability to engage. 5:10 Breaking down technical barriers to mainstream acceptance of serious games. 6:10 Teacher professional development, budgetary concerns. 8:00 Second Avenue Learning: Reimagining Learning. 10:15 Martha Madison, Funded by National Science Foundation. 13:00 Rochester, New York as a catalyst for growth. 14:40 Looking ahead.   Show Notes

Dr. Steve Ernst, vice president of Innovation at Excelsior, discusses competency-based education.  

, executive director of the Center for the Assessment of Post-Traditional Learning at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss how competency-based education and new technology such as adaptive learning can help turn many of today’s higher education challenges into opportunities. Grant also talks about her selection to the Next Generation Leadership Challenges (NGLC) Breakthrough Models Incubator Leadership Academy. Follow on Twitter: Tina Grant () Excelsior Life () 1:15 Next Generation Leadership Challenges (NGLC) Breakthrough Models Incubator/Leadership Academy. 2:16 Turning higher education’s greatest challenges into opportunities. 3:23 Why brick-and-mortars and post-traditional schools must work together. 5:05 Adaptive learning and role of technology. 6:18  Growth of competency-based education – will it continue? 7:53 Securing employer buy-in on competency. 8:38 Tacking the student retention problem. 9:38 “Building Block Model” of competency-based education. Show Notes        

Dorcey Applyrs, faculty program director for the Excelsior College School of Health Sciences, joins the podcast to discuss her work in the HIV/AIDs field, institutionalized problems within the health care system, cultural competence, and other health care issues in culturally diverse populations. 0:58 Drawn to the field of public health. 5:11 Researching the socioeconomic root causes of HIV/AIDS.   7:20 Cultural diversity and delivering culturally competent health care. 9:30 The relationship between cultural practices and health.    11:20 Cultural competency: Rating the US health care system. 13:43 Demographic differences. 16:55 How can patients take more control over their health care? 19:00 What does reform look like?

Susan Petrie joins the podcast to discuss the benefits and unique challenges of running a small university press.  Petrie is the managing director of Hudson Whitman/Excelsior College Press, the first press affiliated with a distance learning nonprofit college. 0: 55 A career in publishing. 6:32 Building trust between author and publisher.    7:55 Hudson Whitman and the hybrid model. 9:21 Balancing commercial interests and publishing mission. 11:00 The transformation of an “impressionist painting” into an award-winning memoir.  14:07 Small vs large press shops; cultivating emerging writers. 16:15 Day in the life of a publisher. 18:10 Cloud-based manuscript submission and other ways technology is altering the publishing landscape. 20:48 Publishing in five years. 22:00 Hudson Whitman expansion across culture and language .    Show Notes (Order) (Order)  

Dr. Joseph Hunter, suicide prevention coordinator for the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, joins the podcast to discuss suicide prevention training programs, including the VA’s Operation SAVE, and how they can are being used to lower veteran suicide rates. Judy Reed, director of veteran services and outreach at Excelsior College, talks about the importance of training academic advisors to identify risk factors and expedite help.   Part 1 – Interview with Dr. Hunter 1:25 How concerned is the VA with suicide rates among America’s veterans? 2:30 Operation SAVE, Veterans Crisis Line and other prevention programs. 3:58 Impact of campus-based VA prevention programs. 5:13 Biggest suicide risk factors and how to expedite help.   7:28 Where should veterans go for resources and help? Part 2 – Interview with Judy Reed 9:12 Why did the Center for Military Education bring Dr. Hunter to campus to train advisors? 10:19 “School was more stressful than combat.” 11:48 Refresher courses. 12:25 Excelsior

Dr. Michael Verro, criminal justice program director at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss the depiction of forensics in pop culture, including the whether the “CSI effect” is a real phenomenon. The discussion touches on general practice areas within the Forensics field and career opportunities for graduates of Excelsior’s new Forensics concentration. Verro, a former police officer, major crimes investigator, DEA Drug Task Force narcotics investigator, and author, specializes in criminal justice and psychology. 0:58 Forensics in pop culture. 2:13 Is the CSI (or X-files) effect real? 3:17 Quincy M.E. 4:20 General practice areas within Forensics. 5:12 What led Excelsior to develop a Forensics concentration? 7:25 Reflecting on Forensics-related cases.         8:30 Career opportunities for BS in Criminal Justice (Forensics concentration) graduates. 10:00 Advice for students or those in the criminal justice field interested in Forensics studies.   Show Notes