Ms. Speller is also the Theatrical General Manager.Ms. Speller produced the Equity Staged Reading of …Another Man’s Poison (2008), and currently has three plays and one full musical in development. In addition to theatrical producing, her company develops customized Business Plans and Presentation Packages for producers and theatre productions.

Read more about Sheila at the New York Women in Film and Television website.

Thanks to New York Women in Film and Television for the use of the excerpt.

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Michelle Brown, MCNY’s Audrey Cohen School of Human Services graduate, talks about her Constructive Action (CA) project.

Brought to you by:
The Office of Experiential Learning at MCNY’s Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education

Produced by:
Sunay Tamashev

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Professor David Longshore gave a talk at an Emergency and Disaster Management information session about modern day piracy.

For more about the  Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program, please visit the Disaster Cental Blog.

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This inspiring video is a recap from the 2009 Commencement Exercises in June.

Throughout the summer, we posted  reflections from the graduates about their experiences.

Last but not least we have Lesile Kaplan, a graduate of the Master of Science in Education program:

“A little over a year ago I enrolled in the one year Masters of Science in Childhood Education program. From the beginning, I set myself a goal to graduate with a 4.0 GPA. Everyone thought I was crazy to put that kind of pressure on myself during such a rigorous program. But my perseverance and determination, was the direct result of my philosophy that if one puts one’s mind to it, one can achieve anything in life. And all of you graduating here today are proof of that..”

- Lesile Kaplan, Master of Science in Education

Throughout the summer, we will be posting reflections from the graduates about their experiences.

This one is from Jacob Neufeld, a graduate of the Master of Public Administration in Emergency and Disaster Management program:

“Personally, MCNY provided a superior springboard to my future in emergency management. The education, connections, and friendships I made there will last a long time and allow me to not only excel in my field, but to assist the next generation of emergency managers in the same manner that I was.”

- Jacob Neufeld, Master of Public Administration in Emergency and Disaster Management

Strengths of MCNY Programs

1. Quality of Professors
2. Academics and Curriculum
3. Constructive Action Process
4. Building Skills
5. Accelerated Time Frame/Program Structure
6. Purpose-Centered Education Model

The unique Purpose-Centered Curriculum at MCNY and the Constructive Action (CA) are key three strengths mentioned by alumni. Classes at the College are designed under four broad dimensions: Self and Others, Systems, Skills and Values and Ethics. A fifth course, called a “Purpose Seminar” helps students connect the dimensions, field experiences and their Constructive Action (CA) project with the Purpose’s key theme. For example, during the seventh semester or Purpose, Urban Studies students focus on Assessing the Needs of Urban Communities, while Business students Develop a Marketing Plan, and Human Services students Develop Empowerment Through Supervision. The diagram below shows the components of MCNY’s unique Purpose Centered Educational Model. The CA is the heart of the College’s Purpose-Centered Education, which entails learning, action and assessment. The CA is a project-based learning method that seeks to resolve or improve a workplace situation. MCNY students integrate classroom learning into their internship or work settings via the CA project and seminar, and they document it in the CA paper. The CA process is used to validate their understanding and implementation of the semester’s Purpose theme.

The CA serves as a source of learning, an opportunity to achieve something that has social and professional value, and a comprehensive method to assess student performance. Moreover, the CA as a process is a unique, transferrable tool that can be applied to virtually any situation – personal or professional. Alumni strongly feel that the CA met their expectations and they recommend it as an excellent learning tool.

Alumni Continue to Use the Constructive Action After Graduation

MCNY Alumni report that the Constructive Action plays a role in their personal and professional life even after leaving the College.

• 74% Feel the CA has had a Positive Impact on their Professional Career
• 57% Used the CA in Graduate School
• 56% Use the CA process in their Professional Life or at Work
• 47% Use the CA in their Personal or Private Life

Throughout the summer, we will be posting reflections from the graduates about their experiences.

This one is from Nina M. Davila, a graduate of the Master in Business Administration program:

“One of the unique experiences of my time at MCNY was the opportunity to attend classes with a core group of students.  At the start of the year, we were classmates, but by the end we were friends, business partners, and confidants.”

- Nina M. Davila, Master of Business Administration

Throughout the summer, we will continue to post reflections from the graduates about their experiences.

This one is from Nerissa Williams, a graduate of the Bachelor of  Business Administration program:

“When I began my journey as a student at MCNY, I did so with joy and sorrow, joy at the prospect of earning a degree and sorrow at the thought of leaving my loved ones and family to venture into an unknown world far away from the place I call home.”

“Indeed, on my first day of school, I quickly realized there weren’t any other Grenadians in my class. However, the friendliness of the faculty, staff and my fellow classmates soon laid all my fears to rest and before long I came to feel that MCNY was my home away from home.”

- Nerissa Williams, Bachelor of  Business Administration

A very high level of MCNY graduates (80%) said they would recommend the degree program they just completed to a friend considering college. Common reasons to encourage other students to attend MCNY include:

• Accelerated nature of MCNY’s programs
• Convenience of academic schedule
• Quality of instructional programs
• Ability of the academic programs to enhance professional careers

MCNY is committed to enhancing the educational experience of all of its students. Student feedback from the Annual Graduation Survey, and other outcome assessments, are used by academic planners and administrators to make improvements to programs and services.

MCNY Graduates are Promoted and Earn More

Some of the reasons for this strong willingness to recommend MCNY may stem from the results produced in the employment area. 78% of recent graduates report they are working in full-time positions and 8% are working in part-time jobs. Others are pursuing additional education. MCNY graduates are most commonly employed in the following areas:

• 37% Nonprofit Human Service/Social Service
• 15% Healthcare
• 11% Government
• 9% Media and Communications

Nearly three in ten 2007-08 graduates (29%) report being promoted since starting at MCNY. Graduates also report earning more income. On average, undergraduate salaries increased $5,000 and graduate level student pay increased $4,972. Considering the accelerated nature of the programs (2 years eight months for undergraduate and typically one year for graduate) this is a significant accomplishment.