In April of this year, I was asked to conduct a workshop on basic podcast creation for the “Kiosk”. The Kiosk is the independent, student-run newspaper for the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS). The organizers of the event wanted me to give an overview of the equipment, platforms, and process of niche selection necessary for a journalistic podcast.
The workshop went off without too many issues and was well-received by the student community. In fact, I have been asked to conduct similar workshops on “AI for Content Creation” and “Leveraging Social Media for Marketing and Promotion”. Those workshops will be coming in the near future.
SPS Black Student Union Graduation Ceremony
Starting a new semester at CUNY SPS
As I embark on another academic year at the CUNY School of Professional Studies, I thought I would share how I’m kicking things off with my students. Since my courses in digital media are fully online and asynchronous, I created a video introduction highlighting my background, the passions that fuel my teaching, and the interests that will drive the journey with my students.
This semester I am teaching courses in Visual Communication and Social Media. Both classes are recently redesigned courses I created for the program to help bring the curriculum more aligned with industry trends. I restructured the course content of both classes to a greater project-based method of instruction. I hope that a more practical and hands-on focus will benefit the students.
Over the summer, while redesigning these classes, I concentrated heavily on implementing effective pedagogy. My teaching approach fosters meaningful connections and a dynamic learning environment. As I begin my 24th year of teaching within the CUNY system, I look forward to guiding my students through this semester and learning alongside them.
Graduation Day at CUNY SPS
The perfect way to end an academic year is to celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing students. It has been a genuine honor to serve as the Interim Academic Director of the Communication and Media Program at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS) this year.
This was a role I previously served in from 2013 – 2016. Due to my previous experience with the institution, the administration at SPS asked for me to serve in an interim capacity while the current Director was on research leave. I am happy to say that I will be staying on through the Fall while the current Director puts the finishing touches on a completed manuscript.
It is good to be back at CUNY-SPS!
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dean Jorge Silva-Puras for an interview on my role as the Interim Academic Director of the Communication and Media program at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS). During the session, we discussed what it is like to head up one of the only fully online four-year degrees within CUNY. The talk ventured into how the asynchronous nature of the program benefits students wanting to earn a degree, and what it takes to break into the field.
The new SPS website!
The new website for the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS) is now available. I am very proud to be associated with this organization. The site sports a beautiful new design that highlights the amazing direction of the college.The marketing statement, “Education that works as hard as you do”, is a perfect description of SPS.
On a personal note, I have to admit that I love the new section dedicated to the Communication and Media program. I also need to remember to ask the marketing director for a high quality version of the headshot that was used on my bio page. It was the best photo of me I have seen in years.
Online Learning: What’s in it for CUNY?
For those who are interested, here is the full video of the discussion I participated in during the recent 2015 CUNY IT Conference on the topic of “Online Learning: What’s in it for CUNY”.
CUNY IT Conference 2015: Online Learning
We had a great session yesterday at the 14th annual CUNY IT conference held at John Jay College. The subject of the session I participated in was “Online Learning: What’s in it for CUNY”. The panel featured some of the most knowledgeable people within the City University system on the topic of how online education can best be implemented to the benefit of our students, faculty, and individual institutions.
The session was well attended and the discussion section of the panel spark a number of interesting debates on how CUNY needs to proceed with online education. In November of 2014 CUNY Chancellor James B. Milliken, speaking at a meeting of the Association for a Better New York, proclaimed Continue reading “CUNY IT Conference 2015: Online Learning”
CUNY Career Opportunities for NYU-ITP Students
I was approached a few months back by the folks at NYU to be a part of an academic career opportunities event for students of the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). I was asked to to introduce ITP students to the teaching opportunities available within the City University of New York (CUNY) system. My presentation highlighted the two schools I represent, the CUNY School of Professional Studies and LaGuardia, and how current students and alumni can work as adjuncts, teaching assistants, tutors, workshop organizers, application writers, interns, etc..
This felt very much like a homecoming for me. It was the first time I had formally presented at my old Alma Mater. I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed my time at ITP.
The CUNY Excellence in Leadership Awards
Yesterday Kristal Reyes, one of the top students in the Communication and Media program that I lead at the CUNY School of Professional Studies was honored with the CUNY? Vice Chancellor’s Excellence in Leadership Award. Every year for the past 22 years the award has been given to exceptional student leaders through the CUNY system. I was humbled to be a part of a program and a school that has helped to foster a student as impressive as Kristal.