Career College Central

Subscribe at careercollegecentral.com 46 WHY I STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE KIRSTIE DEBIASE CERTIFIED HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL (CHEP) IN LEADERSHIP ACADEMIC DEAN – WEST COAST UNIVERSITY – ORANGE COUNTY, CA How many years of experience do you have in higher education? Eighteen years. How did you begin your career in higher education? My higher education career began as a program coordinator of medical Spanish at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, helping student doctors conduct patient interviews in Spanish in the Bronx. I wrote and taught a curriculum that could move students from one level to the next (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) over the course of one semester. Prior to this experience, I taught in the K-12 sector; I found the move to teaching adults more exciting, authentic, and aligned with my passions and abilities. Over the course of my career, I have served in public, private, and corporate educational settings in various roles such as instructor, academic dean, regional dean, manager of instructional quality, and director of training. ese varied experiences across the different sectors have prepared me to serve a diverse student body with a diverse platform of ideas and methodologies. I see the tremendous merits that a strong education combined with practical training can accomplish in preparing competent graduates for employment in the community. What part of your job brings you the most personal satisfaction? e part of my job I receive the most personal satisfaction from is when I conduct a faculty training, or even a one-on- one meeting with a faculty member, and we are able to work through an issue in the classroom and creatively solve the problem together. I have witnessed first-hand the power a well-trained faculty has in making a difference for a school campus and community. rough in-service trainings, faculty meetings, and other professional development workshops, I have improved instruction in the classroom by working with subject matter experts (SMEs) in various academic, career, and technical fields. is was facilitated by teaching them educational theory and strategies so they could better serve their students. Many of the faculty in the career and technical sector have experience and licenses in their content field but little or no educational background as teachers. When the combination of expertise and education is focused and strengthened, the students receive the highest quality of instruction possible, and this brings me great satisfaction.

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