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 Hudson Whitman/Excelsior College Press The Sanctuary of Illness: A Memoir Of Heart Disease (Order) The Language of Men (Order) [Podcast] “The Language of Men” with Anthony D’Aries

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’s Veteran Center and resources pertaining to PTSD and other mental health issues. Show Notes Veterans Affairs Operation SAVE Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 Lt. Col. Bryant A. Murray Veterans Center – Health and Wellness resources

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 Dr. Michael Verro Expert Profile [Podcast] Criminal Justice Career Pathways with Dr. Michael Verro School of Public Service Forensics Concentration BS in Criminal Justice

Dr. Crystal Sands, online writing lab project director at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss the development of the new Excelsior OWL, a highly-interactive, media-rich, first-of-its-kind writing lab designed to serve the needs of struggling writers as they make the transition to college-level writing and the writing disciplines. 1:01 What is the OWL and what makes it different from other Online Writing Labs? 2:44 Meeting a critical employer demand. 4:06 Kresge Foundation and the development process. 5:38 Open-source and opening the OWL up to the world for free. 6:44 Using the OWL to lower employee training costs. 7:06 Breaking down individual sections of the OWL. 8:33 Incorporating the award-winning ESL-WOW into the OWL. 9:21 Digital writing. 10:39 Introducing gaming into the curriculum with “Paper Capers”. 12:21 A writing teacher’s favorite section. 13:58 Pilot program studying the impact of the OWL on writing outcomes. 15:04 The OWL and the Common Core. 16:41 Building an OWL community on social media. Show Notes The Excelsior College Online Writing Lab (Excelsior OWL) Join the Excelsior Online Writing Lab Facebook Community Watch: Excelsior OWL Teaser Trailer

Dr. Jane LeClair, chief operating officer at the National Cybersecurity Institute (NCI) at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss NCI’s purpose, mission, and organizational structure, as well as the development process leading up to its launch. LeClair also talks contemporary cyber challenges, upcoming initiatives - including a cybersecurity MOOC, scholarly journal, and new book - and what to expect in the coming years. 1:13 What is the National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College? 2:44 Web attacks costs businesses $114 billion annually. 4:18 Developing the Institute’s strategic outlook. 4:42 What is NSA CNSS certification? 7:30 The purpose and mission of the National Cybersecurity Institute. 9:10 Social engineering attacks and why “people are conditioned to see what they are expecting to see”. 10:19 MOOC: Introduction to Cybersecurity. 13:00 NationalCybersecurityInstitute.org 13:47 Protecting our Future: Educating a Cybersecurity Workforce. 16:16 The NCI leadership structure – Advisors and Fellows. Show Notes National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College Excelsior College Receives NSA Cybersecurity Designation at CISSE Dr. Jane LeClair Expert Profile MOOC: Introduction to Cybersecurity (Register) Book: Protecting Our Future: Educating a Cybersecurity Workforce (Order Now) Excelsior Life Cybersecurity Archive

Michele Dutcher, interactive marketing and communications manager at Excelsior College and a Google GLASS explorer, joins the podcast to discuss Google’s latest initiative. Dutcher discusses the real-life application of Google GLASS technology and the varied reactions she has received while wearing the device, including a frightening encounter with a paranoid cab driver with a criminal record. The talk ends with a discussion of the factors that lead people to Orwellian fear or “Matrixesque” blind acceptance of new technology. 0:52 TedX Albany Round-up. 3:16 Google GLASS. 4:26 “Ok, GLASS: Save a life.” 5:20 GLASS in the operating room. 6:43 Gaming, training and how GLASS can be used in the Arts. 8:00 Becoming part of the Explorer Program. 9:00 Reactions to GLASS – A Frightening encounter with a cab driver with a criminal record. 11:00 Orwellian fear vs Matrix blind acceptance. Which camp do you fall? 13:20 New technology and the generational divide. 14:45 Take the blue pill and educate yourself.

Dr. Murray Block, chief of staff at Excelsior College and a passionate advocate for lifelong learning since the start of his career in 1947, discusses opposition to community colleges in the 1950s and the parallels to contemporary higher education debate over distance learning. 1:12 Drawn to higher education following WWII service. 2:57 The history of community colleges in New York State. 5:37 Standing up to vocal opposition to community colleges in the 1950s. 7:20 “Democratizing” higher education. 8:30 “We won’t be able to take transfers from the good colleges either.” 12:47 Parallels to contemporary skepticism over distance education. 15:37 “The good fights in higher education are variations on a theme: tradition versus innovation.” 18:28 Reflecting on the journey. Show Notes: My 64 Years of Fighting for Innovation – The Chronicle of Higher Education Dr. Murray Block Expert Profile

Jeremy Glasstetter, director of the Lt. Col. Bryant A Murray Veterans Center, discusses the results of the Excelsior College “Patriot Poll”, a nationwide survey of active duty military and veterans, on their use of social media and technology, education and veterans benefits, as well as the types of services they expect from institutions of higher education. 0:49 What is the Patriot Poll? 2:02 Military and veteran use of social media. 3:35 Creating engagement among military and veterans populations on social media. 4:58 Education and employment results. 7:07 Military and veteran fears over the cost of a college education. 10:50 More servicemembers are transferring benefits to their dependents. 11:40 What services do military and veterans expect from colleges? 16:25 Job placement support. 18:15 “How do I pay for my school?” 19:21 The role of veteran partners. 20:48 Do veterans want colleges to provide mentors? Show Notes Poll: Troops using Post 9/11 GI Bill on their own educations (Military Times) Patriot Poll: What Services Should Colleges Provide Veterans? (Excelsior Life) Podcast: Transition Challenges for Veterans Returning to School with Jeremy Glasstetter (Excelsior Life: Distance EDU on Demand)

Angela Stimpson, marketing design manager for Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss donating a kidney to a complete stranger. Stimpson shares her feelings on the donation process, sharing the news with family and friends, and the positive impact the decision has had on her life. 1:10 The start of a journey. 2:40 Using social media to learn about the donation process. 4:20 “What is my purpose?” 6:00 Sharing the news with family and friends. 7:20 Overcoming identity problems. 9:30 The Meeting. 11:10 Advice for others looking to donate? 12:30 Finding donation information.

Cathy Kushner, vice president of Institutional Advancement at Excelsior College, joins the Distance EDU on Demand podcast, to talk about her career in diversity and inclusion and the challenges of philanthropy in a down economy. 1:25 A devotion to public service. 3:39 Inspired by family. 4:29 Passion for inclusion and growing up in the 1960s. 5:54 Influence of Dorothy Height and the Civil Rights Movement. 8:30 Shaped by personal experience. 11:50 Philanthropy and a challenging economy. 14:21 “It comes out of a passion.” 15:09 How do you keep a donor engaged? 17:06 What would your 17-year old self say about the life to come?