KENYASMITH

(MBA ’07)

VOL. 15, NO. 4, FALL 2012

CREATIVITY, STRATEGYBUILD BUSINESS FORTURNER BROADCASTING

Behind theScenes

ScholarPublisherSonya G. Udler

Director of PublicationsHannah M. Durocher

Senior EditorCourtney MacGregor Coder

Senior WriterKevin Mackiewicz

ContributorsHolly Dalton

Michelle R. Davis

Leslie Quander Wooldridge

Scholar magazine connects theStrayer University community,reaching more than 80,000students, alumni, faculty andstaff. The quarterly magazineprovides information on University news, programs andactivities, and feature articleswith a focus on academic andcareer issues.

Most articles and illustrativematerials are requested by the editor, but unsolicited submissions and photographsare welcomed. Strayer Universityreserves the right to edit allmaterials submitted to the editor.

If you no longer wish to receiveScholar, or if you would like tobe added to the mailing list,email scholar@strayer.edu.

Copyright © 2012 Strayer University

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A s Strayer Universitymarks its 120thanniversary in

2012, we are reflectingon our rich history. Since1892, this institution haspartnered with the busi-ness community to helpdevelop the Americanworkforce. For 120

years, we have provided relevant and rigorousacademic programs to working adults, first-generation college students and others whooften do not have access to higher education.

This anniversary also provides an opportunityto look to the future, and to consider the roleStrayer University will play in the next 120years. In an era in which eight in 10 new jobsrequire advanced training or education, we knowthat nations with the most highly educatedworkforces will take the lead. To highlight thisimportant fact, Strayer University recentlyhosted a panel of experts from the public, private and higher education sectors whoshared their insights and advice for what thiscountry needs to do to ensure we remain aworld leader. You can read highlights from thepanel discussion on page 19.

This issue of Scholar also includes stories aboutour outstanding alumni who are a thriving partof the U.S. workforce. They apply their StrayerUniversity education every day to develop newbusiness and build customer relationships onbehalf of their employers. Regardless of year,decade or era, Strayer University will providemany more driven students access to the qualityeducation they need to effectively compete in acomplex job market.

Dr. Randi Reich Cosentino joined the University in 2001.During her tenure, she has held a variety of managementpositions, including senior vice president of academicadministration, regional director and director of StrayerUniversity Online. She holds an MBA from HarvardBusiness School and a doctorate in higher educationfrom the University of Pennsylvania.

PERSPECTIVEBy Dr. Randi Reich Cosentino, Provost, Strayer University

Fall 2012 | Scholar 1Cosentino photo: Len Spoden , background photo: Rune Thorstein

Business Development4 BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX

As senior vice president of business development, AlexHeidt (BBA ’96) leads a team in growing business forHarris IT Services, an international consulting firm.

6 STEPS TO SUCCESS: NAVIGATINGTHE SALES LIFECYCLEThe ability to identify, land and keep clients is critical toany business. Three sales and marketing professionalsshare advice for making sure each phase runs smoothly.

8 RAISING THE BARAs director of sales for GE Energy, Joel Suter (EMBAstudent) channels renowned leader and managementthinker Jack Welch.

COVER STORY

9 Behind the ScenesAn informational interview with a friend’s colleaguelaunched Kenya Smith’s (MBA ’07) 12-year career and a passion for television and media. Today, she is thedirector of TBS, TNT and TCM commerce enterprise for Turner Broadcasting System Inc., a TimeWarner Co.In this role, she develops creative ways to promote thenetworks and its sponsors. Photographed by Len Spodenat Turner Broadcasting headquarters in Atlanta, Ga.

DEPARTMENTS

2 ROUNDUP

14 EDUCATIONAL PARTNERBrewing New Opportunities: Starbucks Teams Up WithStrayer University to Offer Educational Perks

22 UNIVERSITY NEWSUniversity Career Center Prepares Students and Alumni for SuccessPrivate Facebook Community Offers Student Networking

24 ON THE MOVE

16 SPECIAL SECTIONStrayer University Welcomes New President

Panel: Higher Education isCritical to the Future of the U.S. Workforce

2 Scholar | Strayer University Photos: Courtesy of Jane Wicker

“Wing walkingtaught me thatthere are nolimits in life.”JANE WICKER

ROUNDUPHigh FlyingIf you’re trying to find BBAstudent Jane Wicker on theweekends, you will have tolook up—way up. That’swhere Wicker performs acro-batic stunts on the wings ofairplanes in front of up to100,000 spectators. “WhenI’m in the air, I feel free. It’sjust me, the plane and theopen air—no parachute andno safety harness,” says Wicker,who is also a licensed pilot.

At the end of every show,children run up to Wicker toget a closer look at the high-flying acrobat. “Wing walkinginspires people to pursuetheir own unique dreams,”says Wicker, who visits localschools and hospitals to talkto children about followingtheir passions in life.

When she is not in the air,Wicker stays busy as a mother, a budget analyst for the Federal AviationAdministration, and as ownerof Jane Wicker Airshows,traveling her act to air showsthroughout the U.S. andCanada. “It’s OK to be busy aslong as you’re doing what youlove,” she says.

For professional wing walkerslike Wicker, the sport is morethan a hobby—it’s a historicart form. Wing walking gainedpopularity shortly after WorldWar I and today’s walkers tryto re-enact many of thosesame stunts.

“My daily routine starts WHEN I OPEN MY BOOKS,REVIEW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, LOOK AT MY SCHEDULE

FOR POSSIBLE INTERRUPTIONS AND THEN DETERMINEMY STUDY TIMES. I put the reading and course work into my calendar and Ieven book my down time so that it is a strict routine, just like I would follow atmy employer.” MICHAEL FOGARTY, BSIS STUDENT, ONLINE

OVERHEARD

Fall 2012 | Scholar 3

INTERNET EXCESSThe Internet is a busy place, processing huge amounts ofinformation from around the world. Here’s a snapshot ofwhat it handles on a daily basis:

DATA: Enoughinformation flowsthrough the Internet in24 hours to fill 168million DVDs.

EMAIL: The U.S. PostalService would need twoyears to process the 294billion emails sent daily.

VIDEO: People watch 4 billion hours of videoon YouTube each monthand upload 72 hours of video every minute.

FACEBOOK: About172 million peoplevisit Facebookevery day, spending

4.7 billion minutes on thesite, updating 532 millionstatuses and uploading 250million photos.

MUSIC: Pandorastreams an averageof 187.6 millionhours of music

per day. If a time-travelingcomputer went back to A.D. 1 and started streamingthat amount, the musicwould still be playing today.

Reading ListA career in business development ismore than lunch meetings andexpense accounts. At the core, youare seeking to create a lasting,mutually beneficial relationship withyour client. Check out these booksabout how to build a relationship,while closing the deal:

“Influence: The Psychology of

Persuasion”BY ROBERT CIALDINI

“Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets

to Success, OneRelationship at a Time”

BY KEITH FERRAZZI

“Spin Selling” BY NEIL RACKHAM

“Love Is the Killer App:How to Win Business and

Influence Friends” BY TIM SANDERS

“Getting Past No” BY WILLIAM URY

The Hard SellAttitudes toward career negotiations, like asking for a raise or closing a business deal, vary across world cultures.

39% According to LinkedIn, professionals in the U.S. are least comfortable with negotiating—39% of U.S. respondents report feeling anxious aboutthe process.

47% The hardest place to make a sale? In India, where 47% of respondents feelconfident negotiating.

BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT

Photo: Len Spoden4 Scholar | Strayer University

Breaking Out of the BoxBy Michelle Davis, Writer

ALEX HEIDT (BBA ‘96)TITLE: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESSDEVELOPMENTCOMPANY: HARRIS IT SERVICESINDUSTRY: INTERNATIONAL IT CONSULTING

A lex Heidt manages a large groupof employees and aids in growing

business for Harris. He spots trends inthe industry and predicts the futureneeds of clients, who are mostly federalgovernment agencies focused on themilitary and defense. Heidt has alsoworked on technology issues as a vicepresident at aerospace giant LockheedMartin and a senior manager at spaceand rocket systems developer OrbitalSciences Corp. He has focused on thetechnology sector since his stint as atechnician in the U.S. Marine Corps,which he joined the day after the 1983bombing of the Marine barracks inBeirut. Two hundred and twenty Marineswere killed that day, including a closefriend of Heidt’s.

You manage 62 people. How do you keep such a large group of employees motivated to do their best?

I try to help them understand how they play a role inthe direction of the company. Most people want to bepart of something bigger than they are, and if you canget them on-board with some strategic direction andget them excited, a self-perpetuating motivation effecttakes over. I also think it’s paramount to have a creativeorganization with people who can collaborate acrossdifferent areas within the business. That’s where thebest ideas come from.

Within such a large company, how do you fosterthat type of collaboration across departmentsand groups?

You have to be deliberate and create venues to do that. I hold town hall meetings, get larger groups together,explain where the company is going and make it inter-active. I also like to get people out of the office. Titles goby the wayside and you just get creative people togetherto come up with a win strategy. I’ve seen situations wheresomebody in finance or contracts had a great idea onhow to market our capabilities. You can’t keep people inneat little boxes anymore. However, you also ultimatelyhave to have accountability and responsibility. Once adecision has been made and you’re set in a direction,somebody has to be accountable for it. Groupthink isgood for creativity, but when it’s time to execute, some-body has to own it, and you’ll have a much better productas a result.

Part of your job is anticipating what your clientsare going to need in the future. Isn’t that hard to do?

When the government is your primary customer, it’s adouble-edged sword. The laws are such that it’s veryhard for someone in government to wake up one morn-ing and say, ‘I want to put in a data center.’ They have toget the budget approved, go to Congress, and all of thattakes time. I track where the money is going to be spent,not tomorrow but three years down the road, and I ask,‘Do I have the skills in-house to meet those needs? Ifnot, how am I going to get there?’ Once you’ve answeredthese questions, you can start to build a strategic roadmap to win opportunities.

How has higher education served you in yourcareer?

I wanted to get my business degree as soon as possibleto get into management. Strayer University offered aplan that allowed me to do that. As soon as I had thatdegree, I moved into a master’s program and thenearned a JD [both from Catholic University inWashington, D.C.] I rely on my education on the job all the time. It gave me the tools necessary to be able to think differently and to apply it to all the differentpositions that I’ve had. Without that foundation, Iwouldn’t be where I am today.

Fall 2012 | Scholar 5

“GROUPTHINK IS GOOD FOR CREATIVITY,

but when it’s time to execute,SOMEBODY HAS TO OWN IT.”

— Alex Heidt (BBA ’96)

6 Scholar | Strayer University :

Steps to Success: Navigating the Sales LifecycleBy Leslie Quander Wooldridge, Writer

From the first phone call to a lasting relationship, the ability toidentify, land and keep clients is critical to any business. But howdo you ensure that each phase runs smoothly? Three sales andmarketing professionals share advice.

IDENTIFY NEWBUSINESS

You can pitch new clients all day, but if youdon’t first confirm that you can actuallyhelp them, you’re wasting their time, andyours. “A client is a good fit for your com-pany if the product and services you pro-vide will truly add value to their business,”says Debra King (BSCN ’03), director ofnational accounts at ACC Telecom.“Identify clients that need your solution,and share with them how it will help.”

King currently sets the strategy for thesales force at her company and startseach day by checking in with her salesteam via conference call. “Referrals arethe heart of every business,” she says, “butno matter how you find clients, you mustdo research before you approach them.”

Learn about their business cycles, reviewtheir websites and follow them on socialmedia. King and her team also discussnews and trends that relate to theirclients’ business sectors, which rangefrom health care to legal fields, and she

spends part of each day networking. Ifyou’re making cold pitches, rememberthat “digital tools are the best resourceavailable to find new clients and to findthe best person to talk with,” she adds.“But that means those potential clientsare being called on more than ever, so youbetter have something of value to say.”

≠LAND NEW CLIENTS

Once you’ve identified prospective clients,the next step is to connect with them.“The most critical aspect of businessdevelopment is the strength of your relationship with the customer,” saysTravis Queen (BBA student), director of business development for U.S.Special Operations Command, U.S.Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force at Thales Communications Inc.

That means you have to look beyond yourown objectives. “Avoid being a stereotypical‘sales guy,’ and focus on what your client

Fall 2012 | Scholar 7Photos: Len Spoden and Jenni Girtman

is trying to achieve, rather than yourown sales goals,” Queen says. Identifywhat you have in common with yourcontacts and talk on a personal level.

“It’s important for your clients totrust you. Finding commonality withthem, such as military service, recre-ational activities or an interest infootball goes a long way in developingthat bond,” he adds. Queen relies onhis 12 years of service in the U.S. AirForce to demonstrate his credibilitywith military clients. And even thoughit’s easy to reach out by phone oremail, old-school ways of doing busi-ness can go a long way. “If you are notin front of your customer, then yourcompetition most certainly is,” Queensays. “Take the time to travel to yourcustomer’s location for face-to-facetalks. Look for reasons to drop by fora quick visit. There is nothing moregratifying than a handshake and smileafter a productive client meeting.”

ÆBUILD ANONGOING

RELATIONSHIPSigning a contract doesn’t mean that your job is over: You still have to deliver quality work. “To enjoylong-term success, you have to con-sistently deliver the right solutions toyour customer,” says Darris Rollins(MBA ’11), major account managerfor Verizon Wireless.

That means you need to keep yourpromises and provide results. If youtold your clients that you woulddeliver a product at a specific price,you’d better do it. And if you prom-ised to send reports within a certainperiod of time, make sure you aredoing just that. “The customershould see the value in every interac-tion,” Rollins adds, noting that he isso passionate about his companythat he often extols the virtues of hispersonal (Verizon) phone servicewhen chatting with customers.

That said, he cautions against gettingoverly familiar. “Professionalism isextremely important when dealingwith clients,” he says. “It is importantto represent yourself, as well as thecompany you work for, in a mannerthat makes the client feel comfort-able.” The bottom line: “Believe inwhat you sell,” Rollins says. “And dowhat you say you’re going to do.”

8 Scholar | Strayer University Photo: Nathan Lindstrom

F or more than 20 years, Joel Suter (EMBA student)has made that culture his own. As director of

sales for GE Energy, Suter oversees 14 regional salesmanagers—helping them grow professionally, providingconstructive feedback, celebrating their successes andpushing them to do better. “I am constantly exploringways to improve efficiency, so they can increase face-time with customers,” he says.

Suter also attends the Jack Welch ManagementInstitute at Strayer University, where he learns frombusiness leaders like Welch. “What I’ve learned so farhas elevated my conversations with senior leadershipand enabled me to participate more effectively,” says Suter.“That is an important part of learning—you want topractice in a classroom, and then apply it on your own.”

With decades of experience in sales and management,Suter has a few lessons of his own to share.

FIND A MENTOR. “If you are serious about a careerpath, you have to make a strong commitment in thatdirection,” Suter says. “Find someone who can guideyou through the corporate maze and help you definethe parameters of success as it relates to your careeraspirations.”

LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. It’s not about what youknow; it’s about what the customer needs. “Even if you have a strong knowledge base in a technical area,you have to really hear the customer—their problems

and parameters—so you can formulate an opportunitystatement and collaborate with others to create a winning solution,” he says.

FOLLOW THROUGH. Your credibility with customersrests on your ability to deliver on your promises. In asales role, that means having a strong support functionbehind you so that what is communicated to the customeris executed throughout the organization. “Executionbecomes the challenge,” says Suter. “If the parts do notwork, it reflects on the relationship between the customerand sales manager, thus on the results.”

THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. “I believe that I can always contribute more to theorganization and to its financials,” says Suter. “I want tosee evidence of my increasing performance as comparedto a previous quarter or year.” He also finds new ways tolearn, whether at conferences, a weeklong course or atJWMI. “I am realistic about my skill set and recognizewhen I need to develop a new skill,” he says.

In managing his career and the careers of others, Suterhas followed the Welch philosophy. “Jack was alwaysspot-on and pragmatic in his decision making,” he says.“In turn, I have developed a pragmatic style, striving forclarity, simplicity and effectiveness, the way I saw Jackdo it.”

Raising the BarBy Courtney MacGregor Coder, Senior Editor

The legend of Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric, isthriving at the global conglomerate. His innovative methods, leadership style and management practices are still very much a part of the company’s culture,where hard work and determination equal success.

Fall 2012 | Scholar 9

COVER STORY

Behind theScenes

BY KEVIN MACKIEWICZ,SENIOR WRITER

CREATIVITY, STRATEGYBUILD BUSINESS FORTURNER BROADCASTING

10 Scholar | Strayer University

An informational interview with a friend’s colleaguelaunched Kenya Smith’s (MBA ’07) 12-year career and a passion for television and media.

Today, she is the director of TBS, TNT and TCM commerce enterprise for Turner Broadcasting System Inc.,a TimeWarner Co. In this role, she develops creative ways to promote the networks and its sponsors.

Fall 2012 | Scholar 11

A fter earning an undergraduate degree from theUniversity of North Carolina at Asheville, Smith

wanted a better understanding of the business world.To get a closer look, she drove from her home inAsheville, N.C., to Atlanta, Ga., for that first interview atTurner. Afterward, she was hooked—on the companyand the industry. “I wasn’t sure what would come of it,but I applied for an executive assistant position as a wayto get my foot in the door,” she says.

During Smith’s first day on the job, she was offeredadvice that has carried through her career. “My managersaid, ‘Kenya, it’s up to you to own your career—knowwhere you want to go and who you want to be,’” sherecalls. “That advice has helped me more than anyonecould ever imagine.”

Smith used her time as an assistant to learn about thetelevision industry, Turner Broadcasting and companyleaders. “I wanted to know everything—I even memo-rized the television schedules of our networks. I dideverything I could to fully immerse myself in the busi-ness,” says Smith, who has since moved up throughseven positions within the organization.

BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Today, Smith and her team work with TBS, TNT andTCM’s sponsors to develop and execute custom-branded digital sponsorships and promotions that canbe displayed on various digital platforms and connecteddevices such as websites, video-on-demand and mobileapplications. “When I first started working with digitalsponsorships nearly five years ago, it was a relativelynew concept,” Smith notes, “but today, everyone isdoing it.”

With consumers now watching their favorite shows onsmartphones, laptop computers and tablets, Smith’steam collaborates with sponsors to develop creativeways to reach viewers on those platforms in addition totraditional television and radio commercials.

Smith also leads search engine marketing initiatives forTNT, TBS and TCM network programs. She works withmajor search engines like Google and Bing and con-ducts extensive research to determine which terms andphrases are most likely to appear at the top of searches.

“It’s up to you to own your career—know where you want to go

and who you want to be.”

12 Scholar | Strayer University

“Each one of my roles at Turner Broadcasting has beendesigned to help grow the company’s business,” Smithsays, “which means that I have to think strategically ineverything I do.”

TEAM EFFORT

Smith learned early on that in order to own her career,she would have to be willing to take on new challengesand unfamiliar assignments. Recently, she was asked tocollaborate with other departments and outside agen-cies to decide how to promote one of TNT’s newest television programs, Dallas.

The team was tasked with marketing a show that hadbeen popular throughout the 1970s and 80s to a newgeneration of viewers. After weeks of planning sessions,meetings, phone calls and emails, the team settled on amarketing strategy that highlighted the show’s originaliconic cast members, like Patrick Duffy and LarryHagman (to attract original viewers), as well as theintriguing, modern story lines that appeal to youngeraudiences.

The collaboration efforts paid off. “Although the showhas turned out to be a great success, there was a lot ofhard work that went on behind the scenes,” Smith says.“For me, the most exciting part about the project ishearing how much people enjoy the show.”

THE BIG PICTURE

From the time Smith was a young girl growing up inCalifornia, education played a major role in her life.Smith’s mother, who holds a doctorate in nursing, and her father, who holds a master’s degree in humanresources, had always stressed the importance of post-secondary education to their three children.

Soon after joining Turner Broadcasting, Smith decidedthat if she wanted to own her career and continue tomove up, then she would need to return to the classroom.Since earning a master’s degree in business administra-tion, Smith has been promoted several times and hasgained more insight into the business world.

Kenya Smith shares her

10FAVORITESHOWS

across all Turner networks:

DALLAS 1

RIZZOLI & ISLES 2

MAJOR CRIMES 3

ANDERSONCOOPER 360

CNN NEWSROOM

FOR BETTER OR WORSE

THE MENTALIST

PERCEPTION

SOUTHLAND

FRANKLIN & BASH

1 2

3

Fall 2012 | Scholar 13

She also credits her education at Strayer University for helping her to “look at theorganization from ‘30,000 feet,’—a perspective that makes it easier for me to workalongside the senior executive team and other departments at Turner Broadcasting,”she says.

“My education taught me to think about how my work fits in with the overall goals ofthe organization,” she says. “Understanding the big picture helps keep me from think-ing only within my own bubble.”

Graduate school taught Smith more than lessons in business. She also learned how tobetter manage her time, a useful skill as she balances her career with planning herwedding to fiancé Anthony and serving as a volunteer on the marketing committeefor Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Through it all, Smith keeps that early advice close to heart. “It’s been an amazing ride so far in the first 12 years of my career,” she says, “and I look forward to what thefuture holds.”

“Understanding the big picture HELPS KEEP ME FROM THINKING ONLY WITHIN

my own bubble.”

EDUCATIONALPARTNER

Brewing New OpportunitiesSTARBUCKS TEAMS UP WITH STRAYER UNIVERSITY

TO OFFER EDUCATIONAL PERKS

14 Scholar | Strayer University

By Michelle Davis, Writer

S tarbucks has long been known for its progressive benefits for eligibleemployees: health care, even for part-time workers; equity in the form of

restricted stock; flexible work hours; and, of course, there’s the coffee.

But in the past year, Starbucks added another perk for its more than 100,000employees—known internally as “partners”—who work in the United States.Starbucks teamed up with Strayer University to provide employees with theopportunity to further their educational goals both within the company andmore broadly.

The goal, says Cindy Demeules, vice president of learning and development forStarbucks, is to help employees grow personally and professionally. “Our partnerscreate the magic—that experience between themselves and the customer andthe brand, and that’s invaluable to us,” Demeules says. “We want to help ourpartners become their personal best. And when you put that aspiration outthere, you have to deliver.”

CHOOSING CAREFULLY

To follow through on that promise, Starbucks surveyed employees to determinewhich benefits they most valued, inquiring about everything from childcaresubsidies to aid for transportation. The survey found that 71% of partners preferred educational benefits to other options. With a very diverse workforce,that number was significant, says Demeules, who also leads the company’seducation program, Starbucks U. More than half of Starbucks employees arecurrently enrolled in an educational program, she says, which makes educationalbenefits a huge focus for them.

Starbucks was selective about determining which higher education institutionsto team up with. Strayer University was chosen for its rigorous academics, variety of program offerings and flexibility for working adults. The University

Fall 2012 | Scholar 15Photo: Courtesy of Starbucks

provides credits for select courses that employees take throughStarbucks’ in-house educational program, and offers many places forstudents to learn at 96 Strayer University campuses across the countryand online. Employees can also take Strayer University courses, such asintroductory business and English for professional communication,exclusively with other Starbucks employees.

“We needed a university that would enter into a true collaborationwith us, and not just deliver a one-size-fits-all program,” says Demeules.“The more we are able to support our employees in achieving their personal best in education, the more they are poised to take on biggerand better opportunities at Starbucks.”

That is the case for Maritza Aubourg, a Starbucks store manager inDuluth, Ga., who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a concentrationin business management, despite long believing that higher educationwouldn’t be possible for her.

“I thought I was never going to get the opportunity to attend collegeagain in my lifetime” due to financial constraints, she says. But a scholar-ship from Starbucks, plus one from Strayer University, added up tomake education a reality.

Despite having significant management experience from her 14 yearsat Starbucks, Aubourg says she often sensed her qualifications weren’tcompetitive with others. “I’m a high performer at work, but sometimesI felt that not having a higher level of education held me back,” shesays. Over the next two years her goal is to graduate and then pursue a master’s degree in management and seek a district manager positionwithin Starbucks, eventually joining the company’s management team.

LIFELONG CUSTOMERS

The educational opportunity has a direct payoff for Starbucks, saysDemeules. “People who feel like the company is helping them furthertheir goals stay longer, which is a huge plus,” she says. “And even ifthey’re not going to stay with us forever, we’re still helping to makethem better educated citizens, and hopefully lifelong customers. We’rebettering the world and the communities in which we do business.”

Aubourg says her current educational pursuits translate directly intowork skills. “One of the most important concepts I’ve learned and usedimmediately at work is how to motivate and change behavior,” she says.Calling on theories from her course work that focused on goalsetting,she says she was able to motivate employees by being directive andachievement-oriented. “By rewarding my partners more, I can see a bigchange in them and in the store performance,” she says.

More than 100 Starbucks employees are already taking advantage of thenew opportunity by attending Strayer University. Despite the challengeof balancing work, classes and home responsibilities, Aubourg urgesco-workers to make the most of a valuable benefit.

“I would tell partners to stay focused, stay disciplined and put theirhearts into it,” Aubourg says. “There are days when managing it all isreally challenging, but I learned not to give up and to push myself.Everyone who works for Starbucks should take advantage of thisopportunity.”

16 Scholar | Strayer University

When Dr. S. Irving Strayer founded Strayer’s BusinessCollege in 1892, he recognized the importance ofappointing academic visionaries to lead the school. One hundred and twenty years later, Strayer Universitycontinues to follow that model.

Strayer University Welcomes New PresidentDr. Michael A. Plater Inaugurated as 14th President in 120 Years

SPECIAL SECTION

Fall 2012 | Scholar 17

On Sept. 20, 2012,members of the

Strayer University community welcomed Dr. Michael A. Plater asthe institution’s 14th president during hisinvestiture ceremony in Washington, D.C.

“When a university hasproduced graduates overthe course of 120 years,it’s fair to say it has been amajor force in society, andwill continue to be intothe future. As president, Iintend to uphold this richtradition,” Dr. Plater saidduring his investitureaddress.

Dr. Plater leads theUniversity in providing a rigorous, relevant higher education to adultlearners that will enablethem to thrive after grad-uation. “The best path tostrong employment, jobsatisfaction and personalempowerment is highereducation,” said Dr. Plater,

who had previously servedas Strayer University’sprovost and chief academicofficer.

Friend and former colleague of Dr. Plater, Dr. Quiester Craig, dean of the School of Businessand Economics at NorthCarolina A&T StateUniversity, delivered thekeynote address, duringwhich he recalled thequalities that he saw inDr. Plater at A&T. “He hadall the C’s and the E’s—compassion, character,commitment, ethics,enthusiasm and energy,”said Dr. Craig. “StrayerUniversity is certainlygaining a qualified, caringleader in Dr. Plater.”

PATHWAY TOSUCCESS

At an early age, Dr. Platerlearned that educationcan lead to transformativeopportunities. Growingup with a single mother

Opposite page: Dr. Michael A.Plater takes the presidentialoath, delivered by Dr. CharlotteF. Beason, Chairwoman, StrayerUniversity Board of Trustees

This page, from top: Dr. RandiReich Cosentino, Strayer University Provost, speaks duringthe ceremony; Dr. Plater and Dr.Quiester Craig, keynote speakerand Dean, School of Businessand Economics, North CarolinaA&T State University; Dr. SamuelOnipede, Faculty Senate President, leads the recessional

18 Scholar | Strayer University

in Washington, D.C., he attended inner-cityschools until earning ascholarship at the age of 14 to the prestigiousPhillips Exeter Academyin New Hampshire. That experience became asteppingstone that led Dr.Plater to become the firstperson in his family toattend college.

Dr. Plater earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from HarvardUniversity, an MBA fromt he Wharton School at theUniversity of Pennsylvania,and a doctorate inAmerican studies fromthe College of Williamand Mary.

While earning his doctoraldegree, Dr. Plater and hiswife worked full-time andwelcomed the birth oftheir two children, over-coming similar challengesto what many StrayerUniver sity students facetoday.

“From an early age, mymother reinforced to methe concept of educationas a pathway to success insociety,” he reflected in hisaddress. “Access to highereducation gave me theconfidence to find doorsof opportunity and knockon them loudly. I intendto share that wisdom withour students.”

From top: Dr. Platerand Dr. Beason after the ceremony; Dr. Plater visits withfriends and family at a luncheonfollowing theceremony; a giftpresented to Dr. Plater featuresoriginal 1920s-eracredit slips, an originalStrayer Collegetextbook and a repro duction of a sketchof the first campus inBaltimore, Md.

Fall 2012 | Scholar 19

Panel: Higher Education isCritical to the Future of theU.S. Workforce Strayer University hosts discussionabout critical needs of today’s employers

PANELISTS

Jamie P. MerisotisPresident, LuminaFoundation

Charlene M. Dukes, Ed.D.President, PrinceGeorge’s CommunityCollege, andPresident,Maryland StateBoard of Education

Anthony Carnevale, Ph.D.Director andResearch Professor,GeorgetownUniversity Centeron Education andthe Workforce

Robert J. BennettChief LearningOfficer and VicePresident, HumanResources, FedEx Express

LEADERS IN BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATIONGATHERED AT THE RONALD REAGAN BUILDING INWASHINGTON, D.C., ON SEPT. 6 TO DISCUSS THEIMPORTANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN POSITIONINGTHE U.S. TO COMPETE AND LEAD IN TODAY’S GLOBALBUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

Held in honor of Strayer University’s 120th anniversary,“Building Tomorrow’s Workforce Today: The Role of

Higher Education in a Global Economy,” focused on theintersection of workforce development, higher educa-tion and U.S. competitiveness in the 21st century. Hereare some highlights:

IS COLLEGE WORTH THE COST? IS POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AWORTHWHILE INVESTMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, STATES ANDOUR NATION?

JAMIE MERISOTIS: The reality is that college is stilloverwhelmingly a good investment, and we know for lotsof reasons why that is true. Certainly what Tony and hiscolleagues at the Georgetown Center have helped to bringinto sharp focus is the fact that unemployment, jobs andwages are all still highly correlated with educationalattainment, and what we’ve seen since the recessionbegan in late 2007 is that your chances of having a joband being an active member of the labor market weresignificantly diminished if you had only a high schoolcredential or less. Their study shows four-out-of-fivepeople who lost jobs in the recession were people withhigh school credentials or less. We’re going to need a lotmore people to get through college to meet our economicand social needs as a country, and I think that’s wherethis debate is really going to be in the near term.

CHARLENE DUKES: I do think that this is really a non-partisan issue. If we think that colleges are really worthit, if we know that people are going to be more educatedin order to take on the jobs of the future, in order to begood citizens, then we have to have the same commit-ment to higher education as we do to K–12 education.

ANTHONY CARNEVALE: Just let me share one statistic:In 1973, at the end of the post war boom, 70% of workingAmericans had a high school education or less, and themajority of them were in the middle class. That is, theyearned in current dollars somewhere between $35,000and $85,000 a year. If you look at those numbers in 2010,what you see is that about slightly less than 40% of peoplewith a high school education or less are in that middleincome range of $35,000 and $85,000. The shift is stun-ning. We now have an economy where more than 60% of jobs that pay are jobs that require some kind of post-secondary education.

BOB BENNETT: I think that college is definitely aworthwhile investment. The problem is that it’s hard toconvince someone who doesn’t have a degree, who ishandling their personal problems, the economic condi-tions, family, elder care and other responsibilities, totake time out and to incur debt for an education thathas a long-term promise without a short-term return. I think there has to be other support systems in placethat will help people make the right decision. Yes, it’sworth the cost for the state, it’s worth the cost for thecountry, but is it worth the cost for the individual?

20 Scholar | Strayer University Photos: Len Spoden

Fall 2012 | Scholar 21

DO EMPLOYERS LOOK FORACCREDITED COLLEGE DEGREES?

BOB BENNETT: I think all companies, all prospectivemanagers, look for somebody who has a college degreebecause you really don’t have any other way to base adecision on their abilities to move forward, their abilitiesto be successful, their abilities to drive the company orthe business to the next level. So, yes, I think a degree isimportant. The second part, however, is that once you’reemployed, what matters is what you have done on thejob and what you have proven to be—your areas ofexpertise, your competency, ability to produce resultsand provide leadership.

ARE SOFT SKILLS SUCH AS LEADERSHIPAND COMMUNICATION EQUALLYIMPORTANT TO TECHNICAL SKILLS?

CHARLENE DUKES: Universities certainly have to con-sider the “soft skills” that people need when they go outinto the workforce. Are we really teaching it in our class-rooms? Do students have the opportunity to be engagedin team building? Academic learning is critical, but so isapplying that learning in a practical setting. We shouldall be looking at programs that teach those skills.

ANTHONY CARNEVALE: Now, you have to haveknowledge, but, in addition, you have to use knowledgeto solve other problems or to learn more. Problem solv-ing is a skill. Critical thinking is a skill. There’s a wholeset of personality traits that are more important now.The one that always takes the lead is conscientiousness.In all the research in industrial psychology, conscien-tiousness is just as powerful as education level in pre-dicting earnings and career success.

HOW DOES THEUNITED STATESRATE VIS-À-VIS THEREST OF THEWORLD?

ANTHONY CARNEVALE:The United States hasalways competed pretty well in large measures sinceWorld War II because of thesize of our domestic market.We were big. So if we onlygot 5% of our kids to be good

engineers, since we were four times as large, they couldbe four times as good and we were equal. The differencenow is that it’s a global labor market and a global econ-omy, and we’re not the biggest around. The hallmark ofAmerican competitiveness is, one, until lately, we werebigger than everybody; and then secondly, we were moreflexible. In the end, the quality of our human capital will matter. And I don’t just mean socially—I mean ineconomic terms. I think there is a broad, almost visceral,recognition of that among Americans, among businessleaders and among education leaders.

WHAT SHOULD UNIVERSITIES LOOK LIKE10 YEARS FROM NOW?

JAMIE MERISOTIS: The higher education system isgoing to have to focus overwhelmingly on producingcredentials of value. Our society is demanding a way of demonstrating to the labor market and to society in general that you have knowledge, skills and abilities. In this knowledge economy, credentials of value are thecurrency. That’s what’s going to matter most to people.

I think that institutions are going to really have to focuson determining what those competencies are and whatsociety needs—the labor market and our democracy ingeneral—and align themselves toward that.

The demands are growing so fast that we’re going tohave to fundamentally redesign the system of highereducation. That’s a big challenge, and I can’t think of a lot of policy areas that are going to require moreattention than this one.

View excerpts from the panel discussion atwww.youtube.com/strayeruniversity

This page, left to right:Dr. Jonas Nguh, StrayerUniversity alumnus; Elizabeth Morgan, National College Access Network; Dr. Charlene Dukes,President, PrinceGeorge’s CommunityCollege and President,Maryland State Board of Education

22 Scholar | Strayer University

UNIVERSITY

NEWS

Finding a job can require hours of preparation and research, just likehigher education. While Strayer University students are accustomedto putting in the time and effort, sometimes a little support can go along way.

The Strayer University Career Center offers a number of resourcesdesigned to support students’ career needs and professional develop-

ment. “These services have beencarefully selected to give studentsand alumni an edge in achievingtheir career goals,” says MargieDecker, executive director of theUniversity Career Center.“Whether you are looking toadvance with your current com-pany, transition to a different fieldor enter the job market for thefirst time, the UCC can help.”

Like many Strayer University students, Marcus Rahming (BBA ’12) wanted to develop the

skills necessary to contribute to the business world in a more mean-ingful way. “I was unsure of what to expect when returning to school,but Strayer University exposed me to a high-demand industry and prepared me to work in various areas of procurement and contractadministration,” he says. After graduating magna cum laude,Rahming landed interviews with five companies and recentlyaccepted a position in strategic sourcing with the State of Georgia.

“The resources offered by the University Career Center helped buildmy resume and interviewing skills. I was even complimented in aninterview with the Georgia Transmission Corporation on my resumeand presentation,” Rahming says. “Once skeptical of the benefits ofhigher education, I am now a strong advocate for it.”

VISITUCC.STRAYER.EDUTO ACCESS THESETOP-NOTCHRESOURCES: CAREERBUILDER®

ELITE: A compre -hensive online portalthat provides premieraccess to careerplanning resources.

Resources:

Career Assessment:Assess your careerinterests and getinstant results

A Day in the Life:Watch videosconducted withprofessionals in anumber of fields

Building Yourself:Build a resume witheasy to use software

Target Your Search:Refine your jobsearch using thelatest tools

Interviewing Tips:Prep for your nextinterview with tipsand video resources

PersonalizedDashboard:

• See whichemployers havesearched on yourresume

• Access demographicinformation aboutother applicants forthe jobs thatinterest you

• Track your jobsearch activity andexposure toemployers

CAREERCHAT: Submityour career questionsonline and receive areal-time answer fromcertified careercoaches during thehours of 4–10 p.m. EST;receive a responseon the next businessday if submitted atother hours.

UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTERPREPARES STUDENTS ANDALUMNI FOR SUCCESS

“I ATTENDED A CAMPUS CAREEREVENT TO NETWORK WITH EMPLOYERS. I MET A CONTACT AT THAT EVENT

that led to a position IN MY FIELD OF STUDY, AND I AM NOWWORKING IN MY DREAM CAREER INHUMAN RESOURCES!”

— Jamila Simmons (MSHR ’11)

Fall 2012 | Scholar 23Photo: Monkey Business Images

CAREER VIDEOGALLERY: Watchvideos on core andspecialty careertopics presented bynationally knowncareer experts.

CAREER WEBINARS:Participate in live,online webinars onhot topics such asnetworking, resumewriting and jobsearch strategies with open discussionand question andanswer sessions.

OFF-LINE, ON CAMPUSThe LearningResource Center at each campus is home to careerresources such asbooks, businessmagazines andnewspapers, as wellas a board featuringlocal career fairinformation, joblistings and careertips. LRC managersare trained to providecareer assistancesuch as resumecritiquing anddemonstrating online career tools.

“I was complimented IN AN INTERVIEW ON MY RESUME AND PRESENTATION.”

—Marcus Rahming (BBA ’12)

PRIVATE FACEBOOKCOMMUNITYOFFERS STUDENTNETWORKINGFacebook is a growing resource for StrayerUniversity students to keep in touch with familyand friends, get the latest news from companiesand media outlets, and now, to network withclassmates.

Strayer University launched Strayer Commons,a private Facebook community to help studentsconnect with classmates, staff and faculty, joindiscussions around topics related to school andhobbies; affiliate with their campus, studentclubs and other organizations; and stay up-to-date on Strayer University news.

The Facebook application is already hostingmore than 10,000 students, faculty and staffwho have participated in more than 36,000conversations about topics such as study tips,book exchanges, classes, work/life balance,test preparation and words of encouragement.

In addition to participating in those conversa-tions, users can also join academic clubs andprofessional organizations, such as the NationalSociety of Collegiate Scholars, Toastmasters International, Sigma Iota Epsilon and many others.

Get Social With Strayer University

Like us on Facebook to connect withstudents, faculty—the entire community.www.facebook.com/StrayerUniversity

Follow us on Twitter. Never miss a beat—updates, articles and tips relevant to yourlife. www.twitter.com/strayeru

Check out our YouTube channel forinspirational stories from alumni and current students.www.youtube.com/strayeruniversity

Visit us on LinkedIn to build a powerfulnetwork of students, faculty and alumni.www.linkedin.com/company/strayer-university

JOIN BY VISITINGHTTP://MYFACEBOOK.STRAYER.EDU

24 Scholar | Strayer University

FloridaCORAL SPRINGS CAMPUS

Stephen Cummings (MBA student) is a forensic accountant for the FederalBureau of Investigation in North MiamiBeach, Fla.

TAMPA EAST CAMPUS

Donna Colon (MSAC ’12) is a customer service representative forCoca-Cola Refreshments in Tampa, Fla.

TAMPA WESTSHORE CAMPUS

Kristen Kupniewski (MBA ’08) is a contract specialist for the Defense Logistics Agency.

GeorgiaDOUGLASVILLE CAMPUS

Lee Bradley (MSIS ’09) was named the2012 “Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year”for West Georgia Technical College and a state finalist for the “Rick PerkinsInstructor of the Year” for the TechnicalCollege System of Georgia.

MarylandPRINCE GEORGE’S CAMPUS

Rhelda Easter-Wilson (BBA ’12) is a support officer for the CentralIntelligence Agency in Herndon, Va.

New JerseyPISCATAWAY CAMPUS

Mike Debiak (BBA student) is the directorof contract management for engineeringfirm HNTB Corp. in New York. Debiak isalso the author of “Leadership: HelpingOthers to Succeed.”

North CarolinaSOUTH CHARLOTTE CAMPUS

Lisa Conley (MBA ’12) is a premier fieldengineer for Microsoft Corp.

Brandi Henderson (MBA ’12) is the co-founder of F.L.A.M.E. Boutique, an onlinewomen’s apparel and accessories store.

OhioCOLUMBUS CAMPUS

Timothy Bush (AABA ’12, BBA student)was promoted to area training managerfor Yum! Brands Inc. Bush is responsiblefor training management personnelthroughout Ohio and Indiana.

OnlineShari Bonds (BBA ’12) is a research resolution agent for UnitedHealth Groupin Roanoke, Va.

Luis Flores (BSIS ’12) is a network analystfor Verizon Wireless in Arlington, Va.

Lisa Gentry-Lovelace (BBA student) is a contracting officer for the U.S.Department of Commerce inWashington, D.C.

Glenn Hensley (BSIT ’07) is a senior network engineer for Makino, an engi-neering services company in Mason, Ohio.

Craig Stansbury (BSIS student) is a datacommunications chief for the U.S. MarineCorps in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

PennsylvaniaCENTER CITY CAMPUS

Shelba Young (MBA student) is a contract specialist for the U.S. General Services Administration inPhiladelphia, Pa.

DELAWARE COUNTY CAMPUS

Kelley Everett (MEd ’10) is a careercounselor for Prism Career Institute.Everett is also president of nonprofitorganization Youth Angel Scholars Inc.and is chief administrative officer forASK For Tutoring LLC.

ONTHEMOVEALUMNI AND

STUDENT NEWS

Student Success StoryContest Winner GetsAhead With EducationStrayer University’s Student SuccessStory Contest winner, Angela Christian(MBA ’12), was chosen from hundreds ofstudent stories for her determination toearn a master’s degree while jugglingother priorities.

Christian was a customer service repre-sentative for Verizon Wireless when sheenrolled at Strayer University in 2009.Christian’s manager noticed the hardwork and focus she put forth to earn her degree. “The skills I gained throughmy education led me to be promotedseveral times,” she recalls.

Today, Christian is a technical supportsupervisor, managing a dozen technicalsupport coordinators. She has also received the prestigious Jefferson Awardsfor Public Service for her ongoing workthrough the Verizon Foundation and BigBrothers Big Sisters.

“My mother always stressed the importance of education and givingback to others,” she says. “I continue to live by those beliefs.”

Fall 2012 | Scholar 25

LOWER BUCKS COUNTYCAMPUS

Anthony Pastore (AABA ’03, BBA’06, MBA student) is a senior projectmanager for the World Trade CenterTransportation Hub for TishmanConstruction Corp., an AECOM Co.in New York. Pastore has worked onmajor projects including theBorgata Hotel Casino & Spa inAtlantic City, N.J.

PENN CENTER WEST CAMPUS

Bryan Boland (MBA ’07) wasselected to serve on the FederalEmergency Management Agency’sDisaster Acquisition Response Teamin Atlanta, Ga.

VirginiaALEXANDRIA CAMPUS

Jasiri Martin (BSCN ’06, MEd ’10)was promoted to program managerfor the Farm Credit Administrationin Washington, D.C.

CHESAPEAKE CAMPUS

Felicia Blow (MBA ’09) wasrecently appointed vice presidentfor institutional advancement atPaul D. Camp Community Collegein Franklin, Va.

CHESTERFIELD CAMPUS

Ricky Johnson (AAGS ’09, BBA ’12,MBA student) is a Junior ReserveOfficer Training Corps instructorand teacher at John Marshall HighSchool in Richmond, Va.

FREDERICKSBURG CAMPUS

Craig Brown (BBA ’12), valedicto-rian at the 2012 commencementceremony in Washington, D.C., is a design manager for ManTechInternational Corp. TechnicalServices Group.

Kendra Holmes (BBA student) is on active duty and is a budgetanalyst for the U.S. Army.

HENRICO CAMPUS

Barbara Smith (BSBA ’01, MBA ’03)is a vice president and branch man-ager for 1st Commonwealth Bank ofVirginia in Arlington, Va.

LOUDOUN CAMPUS

Donna LaBelle-Egan (MEd ’07) isthe instructional systems designservices manager at Delex SystemsInc. in Herndon, Va.

WOODBRIDGE CAMPUS

Russell Ives (AACS ’07, BSIS ’12)was promoted to technical directorfor BAE Systems Intelligence andSecurity in Sterling, Va.

Washington, D.C.WASHINGTON CAMPUS

Koray Kotan (BSIB ’02), Fall 2008Scholar cover person, is director ofoperations for the Boston, Mass.,branch of American IslamicCongress, a secular, civic and cultural nonprofit organization.

Kathryn Medina (BSBA ’04),Outstanding Alumna at the 2012commencement ceremony inWashington, D.C., was appointedexecutive director for the ChiefHuman Capital Officers Council atthe U.S. Office of PersonnelManagement in Washington, D.C.Medina was also presented withFederal News Radio’s Causey Award.

ARE YOU ON THE MOVE?

Please email scholar@strayer.edu and tell us what you have

accomplished lately. Thank you for contributing. Strayer University

reserves the right to edit all materials used in Scholar.

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