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They have a chance to ask questions. >> I don't always have an answer, but then I know who to send them to. So, which means a lot and they're grateful for it. Hello, Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I am your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always. Happy New Year and welcome to the second

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season of The Nest. We are so excited to be back with more alumni stories that showcase the incredible heights our graduates have reached. To remind us all that a Manor education is just the beginning of a lifelong journey. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a brand new segment of the show. I like to call show and tell where we're going to spotlight some people, projects, and ideas that are on the top of our minds right now. It's a quick look at the work we are doing, why it matters, and why

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we're excited to share it with you. Our Manor College advertising campaigns are underway, all of which feature real Manor College students and alumni. We just published a short video where we asked these students to say in just one word what Manor means to them. Get the tissues ready because here is what Manny, Natasha, Olivia, Caitlyn, and others had to say. >> How would I describe Manor? Welcoming, >> supportive, >> community, >> inclusive, growth, >> transformative,

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>> family, >> comforting, >> community, >> togetherness, >> kind, home. Home. You belong here. >> Today's episode is sponsored by the personal and social skills leadership certificate at Manor College. In today's workplace, social and personal skills are more than just soft skills. They are the key to your next promotion. Master the human advantage with Manor College's personal and social skills leadership certificate. This flexible four-course program is designed for working

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professionals who need high impact training without the high impact price tag. Courses are just $750 each, or you can save even more with a discounted bundle for the entire certificate. It's a small investment for a massive career leap. Don't just keep ahead, get ahead. Classes are hybrid and designed for your busy schedule. Apply today at manor.edu/leader. That's manor.edu/leader. Welcome back to the show. To kick off the new year and season number two of The Nest, we are sitting down with a

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woman who quite literally is the first person many of us see when we walk onto campus. She is an alumni, a 1971 graduate of our secretarial program. Her journey at Manor spans over seven decades, a legacy that has seen the college evolve from a junior college to the 4-year institution it is today. She has served under six different presidents, witnessed the transition to a co-ed student body, and has been the steady, smiling, constant phase through it all. But she isn't just known for her longevity. She is also known for her

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magic. Whether it's the legendary aroma of her percolated coffee that fills the halls at 7 a.m., the sweet treat she keeps at her desk and always insists, "Have a couple cookies," or her uncanny ability to remember a student's face decades after they've graduated, she represents the very best of our Brazilian spirit. From her roots in the local Ukrainian community to becoming the Manor mom for every student who needs a bit of wise advice or a safe haven, she is the true cornerstone of

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our campus. She always reminds us that at Manor, you aren't just a number, you are family. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to the legendary Anne Kiczula. Hi An. >> Hi. >> Thank you for being with us today. It is truly an honor to have you on the show. So Ann, you first interviewed for a secretarial position in the yellow house down near the horse barn. What was campus like in those very early days compared to what it is today? >> Well, first of all, it used to be the

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White House and then all of a sudden they changed it to the yellow house. But the excitement was when I came I thought oh I really want to I want the position if I can get it also I wanted to go back take some courses but I knew it wasn't possible at that time so just to work was fine they offered me also to work in the bookstore which was a big thing at that time which we no longer have. >> We have Manny's Market now which is wonderful. That's the good Now we had very few students but we had

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good students >> pleasant and we had a wonderful faculty >> and the staff wasn't that big at that time but it was very good. >> Yeah. No, everything was a lot smaller and a lot more intimate even though we still today are pretty were relatively small and pretty intimate. Um, so you eventually went on to get an associates degree in 1971. So what is some of your favorite memories of being a student here? >> Well, the faculty because the faculty were very good to the students to I'm

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was one of them at that time. So at that time the faculty was very good, very helpful. some who had PhDs and some just had their other degrees, but that's okay. They were still good instructors. >> Yeah, I think that's cool to hear that you said that faculty were really helpful. I think that's something that still resonates today. >> Yes, >> our faculty are really helpful. >> Um, so that's really cool to see that, you know, here we are >> a few decades later and that's still

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really really um the cornerstone of who how our education is. So Ann, you have seen a lot of presidents in your time and where your desk sits, you've always been very close to the president because uh their office is right behind where your um area is. Any I guess do you have any memories of like a really big president moment that you got to see from your desk over the years? >> Well, yes. I think I don't know if it's possible to say, but Mother Alga was very good as a president. She pushed for

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a lot of changes. Some people didn't agree and some did, but she put up the one building, the second building, and of course the third building, which meant a lot, I know, to her and to the other presidents that came after her. >> Yeah. Mother Olga really like physically built the school in its actual buildings. >> She pushed for everything. >> Yeah, absolutely. That that's great. And now you got to um Sister Cecilia Jurasinski was our longest serving president for over I believe close to 30

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years if not a little bit over. Any memories from the President Cecilia days? >> Yes, Sister Cecilia. She pushed for a lot of things and I don't know if I should say but it had to be her way or the highway. That's my interpretation but okay good at her job. So >> yeah very dedicated and now obviously um we have Dr. Perry as a president and he's a different president than you were used to because he's a lay person. He's not a sister. He's a male. Um but he certainly

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has seen the college through some great transition and we now have bachelor degrees um a lot of different partners articulations and really growing the community aspect of the college has been a huge focal point in his leadership now for 10 years. So you've seen it all and from your desk it's pretty cool >> and Dr. Perry has done a lot of changes for the good. >> That means a lot to the students and he has an open door policy which is another thing that's good for the students. I

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mean they come can I speak to him? Of course you can. But if he's at an appointment or he has a other meetings then they'd have to come back or they make an appointment to see him which >> that's good. It's really good that students take advantage of that open door policy. I think that's really important that um that he has that but that also students take advantage of it. That's great. So Ann, everyone always talks about your coffee and now obviously um it's nice that you you make

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a a really large percolator of coffee every every day and I won't ask for the full secret recipe because I know it's secretive for a reason, but what what to important about that ritual that like every day you come in, you make the coffee, how does that set the tone for others? It helps a lot with the students. I always say you're welcome to coffee or anything else there. I said we also have things on the counter which is up for grabs. That's a big thing also for the students. They're very grateful

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for that. >> Also, they have a chance to ask questions. >> I don't always have an answer, but then I know who to send them to. So, which means a lot and they're grateful for it. And I have encouraged a lot of students to stay on and take more courses. Even if you take one or two, I think that's good for them. >> Yeah. >> I've had students who came back and said, "Yes, I'm staying for another two years." >> So, which which I'm I think is good.

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>> Yeah. I think um since you've been here for so long, you are the ultimate like ad admissions, you know, um person because you're always in and I say admissions, enrollment, retention, you're always encouraging students to sign up for that next semester, finish their degree or if they're just coming for a visit with admissions, oh we'll see you in the fall, we'll see you next semester. So really having the the coffee though, you're right, makes them stay at the counter for a few minutes to

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chat opposed to just walking on by. So it kind of slows them down um to chat and talk to you and that gives you a chance to connect with them. That's really important and I think a really special touch that not many other places have. And also the signs that you that Kelly you yourself put up and the girls look at them and they do read them >> and they said what does that mean? And I said well it means you are the one that will stay. You are the one that we encourage to do the best that you to

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your knowledge. So >> yeah it's incredible. Um, you know, a lot of alumni Ann that we've talked to, uh, in our last season of the nest here, like we had Stasia Mento Maloney on, she mentioned that you were her safe haven when she was a student. How do you think that you've been at connecting with students and staff and faculty um, in ways more than a receptionist, but really a mentor um, and like a family member? How how has it always been important to you to make

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those connections? >> I think the fact that the student will stand there and she will ask questions and I try to encourage them to like I said to my knowledge and if I don't I know exactly what department to send them to but some of them won't do that. They'll wait for a while and think about it and then they'll come back and they'll say, "Now I'm gonna ask another question." And they'll ask me and I'll say, "Well, this is my opinion, but you

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have to take it up." I said, "And you can speak to your parents because sometimes your parents will be able to help you in that aspect." >> Yeah, that's true. Um, so actually I want to talk about your parents for a minute. So, your parents were Ukrainian immigrants and you grew up in the in the nice town neighborhood. How has it been like having your heritage um being Ukrainian also where you work? You know, Manor is Ukrainian, we have our Brazilian culture. Um, how has that

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been having those two things in, you know, so core to you, integrated in your life, your heritage, your history, um, also into your work life all these years? >> Well, speaking the language helps a lot when people call in and some of them hesitate because they ask the question, do you speak another language? And I say yes. What? And if they speak Spanish, I send them to admissions because they will help them out. But most of them, if they do speak Ukrainian, I will answer them and uh I

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will tell them what department they have to speak to in order to get what they need. >> So, >> yeah, I often hear you speaking Ukrainian to either other staff members here or to students um or to some of the sisters. So, it's always really neat to hear you speak Ukrainian. Um, that's really cool. Um, and one of our things that we're running right now on our advertising is that we have a video that we ask students to describe Manor in one word. And then we made a video showing all of those one words. If you

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had to describe Manor in one word or what Manor means to you in one word, what word would it be? I would say it I would say that fact is yes you belong here. You also will have the opportunity to get your good education where you're small and everybody in the college will be able to help you in any aspect you want. >> Yeah, absolutely. We're always here to be helpful. We're always here to belong. Um, that's really good. So, we just had students start classes. Actually, yesterday was the first day of

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the spring semester. Um, which to me is always the fastest semester is the spring. What uh what advice would you give to students who are just starting out their semester for the year? >> Well, usually when they come through the door of of course I greet them with a happy smile, I guess they called it, but whatever. and they seem to say, "What do you think?" And I say, "It depends what you're asking." And they'll say, "Well, I want to take this course. I know it's

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hard. I know it's" I said, "If you try, you will succeed." And that's the whole thing, >> right? If you try, you will succeed. one of our Manor College board members, Tracy Davidson, um is a is a motivational speaker and says a lot of great things. But one particular thing that she said recently on um a LinkedIn post that I have I have a sticky note of it on my desk. It says the win is in the trying. Like if you just try, you're already winning. So I think that's great advice for our

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students as they start a new semester. Okay, Ann, you're almost done here. Um, so besides the coffee, what is the most requested item at your desk? Is it pens? Is it stickers? Is it to have a chat with you? What do you think people are coming up to you asking the most? >> Well, they do like to chat, but also anything that's put out the pens, >> cookies, >> tablets. Sometimes we have these pads they pick up and all and the pins. There's a lot. They they seem to like

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those pins a lot because they they take two or three and he said, "Can I give to my mother or to my" I said, "Yes, you can take whatever you want." >> But that means a lot when there's something up there for them to take. >> Yeah, definitely. Um stuff doesn't last up there too long at your counter. That's for sure. It's it's up and it's gone pretty quickly. >> Oh, yes. Everything even what's up for grabs. >> Absolutely. One final question for you,

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Ann. So, after 70 years of working at Manor College, what still gets you excited to get up, get the coffee going, and get here to campus every morning? >> When I see the students coming through the front door, I open that door and they come in and they have a smile and I smile back and they're all ready to get eager and going. And some of them are nervous and when they come in for the first time, especially like the f the freshman, they come in like everything I said everything's going to be fine. Just take

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one day at a time. >> Spoken like a true um receptionist. You know, the people motivate you. Seeing the students, being able to help them and make their day a little bit easier and a little bit more joyful. That's really what I think you do, Ann. who spread so much joy to so many people through coffee, through pins, through conversations. It's really special. Um I'm lucky enough. I've had a front row seat of it for quite a while now. So, thank you for sharing your heart

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with so many. It really um probably don't understand. >> And they're perfect. >> Very helpful in every aspect that I said the students do. >> Yeah. Well, thanks Ann for being with us today. I'm wishing you a happy new year. This is our first episode of the new year. Thank you for being a guest on the nest and we uh we wish you well. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Happy New Year, Blue Jays. Thank you for kicking off season 2 with us today. If you like what you heard, listen and

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subscribe on Spotify or YouTube and stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest, stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always.

[00:00:00 - 00:01:14] be in communication with their professors. I don't think I would be here if it wasn't for my professors. Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know?

[00:00:37 - 00:01:45] where we will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. Did you know that one of the most extensive centers for Ukrainian culture in the United States is actually located right here on Manor's campus? We're talking about the Ukrainian Heritage Museum at Manor College. Established back in 1977, the museum's mission to preserve and promote Ukrainian traditions has always been a central part to the mission of Manor College. It is far more than just a classroom display. The center houses

[00:01:11 - 00:02:24] an extensive archive and a Ukrainian library. But the real showstopper is the folk art collection. You can find beautiful examples of everything from embroidery to traditional bead work to pottery. Their collection of Pysanky, the elaborately decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs is particularly renowned, including an exquisite Maria Maser gallery of handmade eggs. And if you're looking to try your hand at culture, the museum doesn't just display history, it teaches it. They conduct active outreach

[00:01:48 - 00:02:49] programs, hosting workshops and traveling demonstrations, including hands-on sessions where you can learn the ancient techniques of creating your own traditional Pysanky yourself. So, next time you're thinking about exploring world culture, remember college's Ukrainian Heritage Museum is a rich, dedicated resource for keeping these traditions alive. Today's episode is sponsored by the veterinary technology program at Manor College. Do you love animals? Are you looking for a career that's both challenging and yet

[00:02:18 - 00:03:17] incredibly rewarding? Then discover the veterinary technology program at Manor College. Our program is AVMA accredited, ensuring that you receive a high quality education. You'll get hands-on experience from day one. Work with small and large and laboratory animals in our state-of-the-art facilities. Graduates are prepared to pass the national exam and launch a fulfilling career as a vet tech. Whether you want to work in a private practice, emergency care, research, your journey can start here.

[00:02:48 - 00:03:56] Learn more and start your future in animal care today at manor.edu/vettech. That's m o.edu/vette. Welcome back to the show. Today we are thrilled to be joined by a northeast Philly native and someone who grew up in the Brazilian tradition, having attended St. Basil's Academy for high school and then attending Manor College to study psychology. After completing their associates degree from Manor in 2013, our guest educational journey did not stop there. They transferred to Holy Family University to complete their

[00:03:23 - 00:04:30] bachelor's in psychology and then went on to the College of Staten Island where they earned a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. Today, they put all that education and their dedication into practice as a mental health clinician at the Family Service Association of Bucks County, serving their community in such a vital role. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to our guest, Vera Penkalskyj. Hi, Vera. >> Hi. Thanks so much for having me. I'm really excited. >> Me, too. It's so good to talk to you and

[00:03:56 - 00:05:28] always good to see you. Can you start us off by sharing how did you hear about Manor College and why did you ultimately decide that's where you were going to start your college education? >> Um so Manor College was right across the street from where I went to high school which was St. Basils and it um Manor also um was a Ukrainian um Catholic institution. So I felt that I could express myself freely there. I had the opportunity to be involved in Ukrainian events and um it it served as a good foundation to

[00:04:41 - 00:05:42] start off my college career at. Um, so that's why I chose Manor. >> That's great. That's awesome. Um, you know, Manor when it was first founded in 1947 was an all girls school and really was an all girls Ukrainian Catholic school. Like that's the type of student that always went to Manor. And obviously as the years have passed and things have changed, not all of our students are only women. They're not all Ukrainian. They're not all Catholic. We have students from all different

[00:05:13 - 00:06:15] backgrounds and religions and ethnicities and and parts of the the world and the state. And it's it's really cool to see that diversity come into Manor, but it's it's also really cool to have students like you who are kind of like very foundational to who we were and um very aligned with the sisters. And thought that's so neat to see how you went to the academy SBA, which is literally right across the street from campus here. And um then you came to Manor and and Vera, didn't you

[00:05:43 - 00:06:49] have someone in your family also working at the college for a little while? Right. >> My grandmother worked there uh for several for many years, >> right? For a long time. >> Natalie. >> So Natalie Rudy. Yep. She worked there. Um and it was really nice to have someone to chat with um in school. And my uncle also attended Manor. M >> I remember you being a student or maybe you and your sister together, but I think you particularly and you like eating lunch with your grandmom

[00:06:16 - 00:07:20] sometimes, right? I remember that. Yeah, that's so sweet. I would love to eat lunch with my grandmom at college, you know? That's awesome. >> That was a good time. >> That is a good time. Um, so Vera, you came to Manor and you knew pretty out of the pretty out of the gate like you want to study psychology. What about psychology intrigued you and how did you know that was going to be your field of study kind of from the beginning? >> I was always fascinated with human

[00:06:47 - 00:08:35] behavior and the um I guess how it can affect our thinking like different disorders. Um, and I just um had a big interest in it and especially after talking with um Christine Er whom I met at an open house um she really kind of influenced me more. um she shared some stories that she had as being a psychologist and it really caught my interest and um like just working with people with um who suffer from um mental health disorders like I wanted to kind of help them uh I guess uh with treatment. >> Sure. Yeah. I can't believe that you

[00:07:42 - 00:08:43] wouldn't remember that you met someone at an open house and like such a detail. That's really cool. Um, we still have faculty attend open houses because we really believe like that personal connection to to future students is impactful >> and they could be the reason why a student decides to attend Manor or not because if they had, you know, a good conversation with a faculty >> even just for a few minutes at an open house. So, it's always like reassuring to hear that kind of thing because

[00:08:13 - 00:09:22] you're like, okay, that that really does work sometimes. Um, but going back to your kind of like passion and interest for the human mind and people who have um mental disorders and trying to help them find solutions and find things that work. So, you started studying psychology at Manor um and then you were able to transfer on into a bachelor's and getting a master's and now working in the field. you know, kind of thinking about it from like a 360 point of view, how do you feel that like

[00:08:47 - 00:10:13] from where you started to kind of where you are today? Um, what 12 12 years later in all that or like h how have you how have you grown as in your thoughts of like what you thought you were going to do versus what you're doing now? So it was really important for me to communicate with other people in the field. I think that helped me to get where to where I am now. Um it's very important to have networking and people that you can talk with and have supervision and kind of learn from people who are in the field. So you can

[00:09:30 - 00:10:57] make your own ideas and your own treatment models um and ways that you um can communicate with the cl with your clients. So you kind of make it um you build on what they give you and then you make it your own. Um so and there's more than just like treatment. You have to take a test. um you have to do supervision hours which is like a two-year process um so and you have to get your masters do internship so a lot is involved in that and I think just talking with people who um are doing similar work is very

[00:10:13 - 00:11:19] important um so I've grown a lot by communicating with them asking questions being curious about their work um and seeing what works for Um, and then what if if I could implement that into my own technique. >> Yeah, that's great. I like how you talk about like networking and like sometimes people probably think like networking is for like business people or you know what I mean? Not maybe for like therapists, but like you do need to build a network of people. So that way you can bounce ideas and but you're

[00:10:46 - 00:12:14] developing like your own set of skills, your own set of techniques, your own things that you're going to use in your practice. Do you feel like you've come into your own in terms of like your own techniques and really finding your own um ways of doing things as a therapist? >> Yes. I feel like a lot of years of practice and um it helped me to realize what works for me and my clients and I I am aware that we're not going to be um a great fit for every client. However, I I feel like that if you um help the client

[00:11:31 - 00:12:52] realize their strengths um and recognize maybe what will work for them, then that will help build rapport. >> Um I use a lot of um validation, empathy. Um I help the client reframe their thoughts. So if they're like thinking very negatively, I help challenge that. I use cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy. So all various therapies that I believe would be helpful for my client. >> That's awesome. I love hearing that. It's such an important mental health is so important. So I'm so

[00:12:12 - 00:13:24] happy that we have people like you who are dedicated to helping others because it's really necessary. What is um I like asking this question to every guest. What's like a myth or a misconception about either your field or your role that like people assume is one way and then it's not like you want to last last episode we had someone from it on and I asked the same question and they talked about how like people think it I it people are basement dwellers. They can't socialize. is they're just

[00:12:47 - 00:14:16] like, you know, on a screen um coding all day. What's like a myth that about the therapists that you found is really not true, but people think it's true. >> People think I listen all day. >> People think I just sit here and listen and just talk, but it so much more than that. you have to um it requires a lot of thinking and challenging and reflecting and um you're constantly um it's as if you're doing a puzzle. >> So that's what it feels like. >> Yeah.

[00:13:32 - 00:14:43] >> Right. You're not just like sitting listening, nodding along while someone's just telling, you know, stories and things like that. There's so much more involved. Yeah, that's a good one for sure. So, Vera, when you were a student at Manor, you won um what we call the Mother Joseph medal, and it's like the highest student award that we give every year and and it's really for students who um are incredible students on campus, but also they do a lot of service outside of campus. And I know

[00:14:08 - 00:15:45] that that was really important to you when you were a student. Can you kind of um tell me what were you involved with doing and what kind of you know you held close to your heart? >> Uh so at Manor um whenever um Chrystyna Prokopovych needed help at the Ukrainian Museum um I volunteered my services and I would help out um whenever she needed me to. Um, also I was involved with plus Ukrainian scouting group. I was a counselor for girls ages um 9 to 12. Um, so we every Saturday we met. We did projects um a lot of scouting um I guess

[00:14:56 - 00:16:25] activities. Um so I helped out with that. Um, I also was a uh camp counselor for Plast during the summer. Um, and I also volunteered at Parkwood Therapeutic Writing Center. Um, and that's a writing center for um, clients who um, need help physically or are suffering from certain um, health disorders that would benefit from horseback riding. Wow. So, you were you were busy when you weren't like doing school work. You were you were doing other stuff. Um, have you been able to keep up any service while

[00:15:41 - 00:17:02] you I mean not working full-time? It's all I I understand that's enough in itself, but what things have you continued um into your professional career to kind of still give back? So this uh past summer, I was fortunate enough to go back to Ukraine and volunteer with Project Sonia Neck at a 10-day camp for kids who um either lost loved ones um in the war, whose parents are fighting um or who are in recovery. Um so it helped give the kids um a safe space and a time to be just be kids in

[00:16:21 - 00:17:24] the summer and just play. um it was very important for them to just express themselves. So, it was very heartwarming to be there for them. >> Oh, that's that's wonderful. I'm so glad you were able to do that and um have that time to go to Ukraine and do that. That's really really great to hear and really special and and thank you so much for finding ways to continue to serve um even when you're a working adult cuz it's it's hard and to find all that time and that balance but it's

[00:16:53 - 00:18:19] important for our community to have that. Um, so Vera, kind of as we wrap up, what advice would you give to current Manor students who are, you know, they're studying right now? We're kind of at the end of our semester. Um, but what advice would you give them to encourage them to keep pursuing in their education? >> To be in communication with their professors. I don't think I would be here if it wasn't for my professors um and the help that they gave me. So, I think um definitely reaching out. Don't

[00:17:36 - 00:18:51] be scared of of like reaching out. Um no like every question is important um to for you to have answered. And I'm very thankful that I asked my professors about the whole um about the therapy process and what it takes to become licensed. I actually remember sitting um with we I had lunch with my professor and we were talking about the process and I think at Manor Manor gives you the opportunity to do that and be really personal with your professors. >> Um they will like they will answer

[00:18:15 - 00:19:24] anything. They will be of help. They will even take some time one on- one like for um just because they know how important your education is. >> Mhm. Yeah. Make yourself known to your professors. I think a lot of times our students um don't make themselves known to people early enough, you know, like make sure people know who you are and know what you want to do or what you're curious about and not just, you know, hide a little bit in the background, but really make yourself known and I think

[00:18:50 - 00:19:58] that's really important as well. Um Vera, thank you so much for joining us today. It has been an absolute pleasure hearing from you and hearing about your journey and really thank you what you're doing in your career. Um I always I always love it when I can talk to alumni who are really doing such a service in the world and that are so missional aligned. You know our mission here at Manor College is to graduate students to serve society effectively and compassionately. And I can't think of a better example than the

[00:19:24 - 00:20:30] work that you're doing that aligns so well with that. So, thank you so much for being such a great example of of who we want to be graduating out into the world because it's really important. Um, thank you so much and we wish you nothing but the best. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on

[00:19:57 - 00:20:14] another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always.

00:00:00
If you are looking at the words professional and personal, you cannot spell professional without every single letter in personal. So, show up, >> be yourself, and if you're not fitting in somewhere, then go make your own space. Hello, Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I am your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at

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Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a Blue J Spotlight. Today, we are introducing to you Emma Sykes, a second year veterinary technology student at Manor College from Northeast Philadelphia. >> Hi, my name is Emma Sykes. I'm a Manor Vet tech student. I am from Northeast Philly and I went to Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School. So, I found Manor by researching some schools in the area that worked with animals in my studies and then at my career fair,

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Manor was there. I wanted to go into Vet tech because I wanted to teach and educate people on how to love and respect animals and their empathy. I chose Manor because of the small community feel and how hands-on it is. I feel like I belong here because of how patient and understanding the professors are when I'm learning. Manor College, you belong here. Today's episode is sponsored by the veterinary technology program at Manor College. Do you love animals? Are you looking for a career that's both challenging and yet

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incredibly rewarding? Then discover the veterinary technology program at Manor College. Our program is AVMA accredited, ensuring that you will receive high quality education. You'll get hands-on experience from day one working with small, large, and laboratory animals in our state-of-the-art facilities. Our small class sizes mean that you get personalized attention from experienced professionals. Graduates are prepared to pass the national exam and launch a fulfilling career as a veterinary technician. Whether you want

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to work in a private practice, emergency care, or research, start your journey here at Manor College. Learn more and start your future in animal care today at manor.edu/vettech. That's manor.edu/vettech. Hello everyone. Today we are thrilled to host and a wonderful alumna who journey started really at Manor College. Um she may not have a single hometown having moved around a lot but she planted roots long enough to graduate from Pennsbury High School in 1999. It was here at Manor where she launched her incredible career, diving

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into the world of veterinary technology. Even while juggling full-time work, a toddler, she excelled, serving as a peer instructor for ER and surgery labs during her second year. We are proud to say that she earned her degree in veterinary technology and graduated from Manor College in 2012. Her journey did not stop there. She went on to earn her bachelor of science from the University of Rhode Island. Today, our guest Alyssa Mages is like a true force in the veterinary world. She is co-founder and

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chief visionary officer. I love that title of empowering veterinary teams, the co-founder and director of veterinary team strategy of nurture, a co-founder and advisory board member of project sticker and the director of Mentor Vet tech. She is a very busy person making waves in the veterinary technology field and we are so honored to consider her a Manor alum. Please join me in welcoming Alyssa Mages. Hi Alyssa. >> Hi Kelly. Thanks so much for having me today. I appreciate you. >> Well, thank you for being with us. I'm

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really excited to talk to you and to hear your your story. Can you start us off by sharing how did you first hear about Manor College and what made you decide to enroll? >> Absolutely. Well, it's funny. I I actually did my bachelor's first. So, I graduated from URI in 2003. Yeah, I'm I've reached level four. So, those of you that haven't made it to level four yet in your 40s, you're in for a treat. So, um the original plan was veterinary school like a lot of my

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colleagues and I did get into TUS in 2007. Um but life happened and uh ended up having a a baby at the time. She's now a you know, a high school senior. So, we've come full circle there. Uh we were in Canada at the time when she was born up in Vancouver and um so the vet school thing didn't work out so I had to figure out something else to do and then we moved back to the states in 2008 and that was one of the those of you that are old enough to remember that recession that was a good time. Uh so

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lived with my parents for a little bit until we could get back on our feet and was working with a friend as an assistant at her practice and was like no I need to do more. I need to know more. I want to get back into ER and specialty. I was in GP at the time, which is a fantastic place for a lot of people. It was not a good spot for me. Um, so I got um talking with a bunch of my colleagues and co-workers and they're like, "Hey, have you heard about Manor?" I said, "No, but I know where Jenkintown

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is." So, uh, looked more into it and uh realized that the textbooks I had been, you know, feeding on were written by the the program director at the time, Dr. Joanna Bassert. So, I was like, "Well, this has got to be a good place to go." Um, and so I enrolled in 2010, I think, or 2009, and yeah, progressed through it from there. >> Oh, wow. That is so cool that you saw that the the textbooks that you're already using >> were written by Dr. Bassert, who was the program director, and like obviously

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that's going to that's going to fit. >> Absolutely. >> Um, oh, that's great. Looks like we have a furry visitor. Who is that? Just a minute. Uh, we have five-month-old kittens. So, oh my gosh, the SBC had to get one and there was two of them in the in the kennel. So, now we have twin girls. >> This one is >> hi. >> What are their names? >> She's around here somewhere. So, we have Butter is our 17-year-old tabby cat. And so, we kept with the theme of of

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spreads. >> Spreads. Oh my gosh. I can only imagine that you've had so many animals over the years as most of our Vet tech students. I often ask them, "How many pets do you have at home?" And it's usually over under like seven or eight. So, I can only imagine. >> We've gotten down. Well, for a while, we had a Kane Corso and she was blind. She was born blind. So, that she was 100 pounds. So, that was enough for I think three pets in one. Um >> Oh my gosh. >> But we've I've always had a cat pretty

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much my whole life and through and through a cat person. I love dogs, but I'm a cat person. So, we have three cats right now and a whole tank of fish. So, yeah, I guess we could go with about that number. >> Yeah, you're probably right on par. Oh, that's great. Um, so Alyssa, take us back. What was your Manor College experience like? And for you, you know, you were someone who already had a bit of college experience, a bit of life experience. You, you know, were a young mom. Um, so I imagine it was a different

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college experience for you at Manor than probably the traditional student. Yes. kind of what was that like for you? >> It was a lot, honestly. Um to be, you know, working full-time and doing the part-time gig and then my little one being like, "Mom, where are you?" Um and then >> gosh, I think my into my second year I had knee surgery and so I was crutching around like taking had to get a ride from one of my my um classmates from because I was living in South Philly at

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the time. So I commute with people and >> it was it really showed me though what you can do when you put your mind to it. And because I was very fortunate that my parents helped me with my undergrad degree, I was paying for this one, though. So, I was I was in the front row, >> right, >> early, you know, and um really making the most of it. So, I I really I had a great time. I really wasn't there to have fun, per se. I I wanted to get my degree and get done and get out and get

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going. Um and so I really nose to the grindstone for sure, but I I established some good friends and I'm I know them to this day in the field. But med's very small, so it's like two years of separation and I still have a lot of connections from my time while I was there. But it was challenging. Um, but it was very rewarding and it's definitely something that I at the time did not take full advantage of or appreciate as much as I should have, but hindsight is always 2020. So,

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>> absolutely. Yeah. And it hits different when you're um I think older, have more experience, and also you're paying for it. So you're like, "Okay, every dollar that I'm spending on this, like it's up to me to make the most of it, to pay attention, to put in the hours to, you know, really get out of it all that I can because this is like your investment and your value." So that's >> that's really good. And I I think a lot of students, a lot of our students

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actually now are are quite older and more mature. I would say 30% of our student population today are >> primary caretakers. So whether their parents themselves or taking care of maybe their older generations or parents or grandparents. So I think a lot of them understand that you know which is kind of unique. >> Absolutely. And I think that was what got us through right is that we were all in a unique situation so to speak. We were not traditional and >> that made it even more impactful because

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we could rely on one another and learn from each other beyond the technical and medical knowhow. Mhm. For sure. Were there any professors or staff or just colleagues at the college during your time that really like made an impact on you and that you kind of can think to this day like yeah they really um were there for me or I can't you know imagine my life without that person now. >> Oh 100%. Um Dr. Bassert was a huge uh influence um even beyond my time there. So, she was my adviser and then when I

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graduated, we stayed in touch and I um I had to take some time off for another knee surgery years later. Hi, sweetheart. Sorry, this kitten is very snuggly right now. Um and she, you know, I reached out to her to see if there if she had any recommendations and she really took on the role of a mentor beyond that and then brought me back. I was an adjunct professor for almost three years. So >> that was a real full full circle moment for me and just really that she had that confidence and belief

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>> and I wasn't the only one. I felt like she did that for a majority of her students. She was just incredible. Um and then when Stephanie Marks came on board, >> she's, you know, she's from she lived in New York. She's a New York gal and my dad from New York and then she spent time in Rhode Island and that's where I did my undergrad degree and we had mutual friends and we're both sarcastic and >> we've maintained a really good collegial friendship as well and she's a

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phenomenal instructor now she's the director and I think the program's in incredibly capable really progressive hands and it it gives me a lot of hope for the the next generations of students. >> Yeah, that's great. I'm so glad that you got to kind of have like both eras. Like you got the Dr. Bassert era and you got to be a student and kind of like be mentored by her, but now you get to work with Dr. Marks. Um they're both incredible women and the program >> has been really successful under both.

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So it's really cool that you kind of get to kind of get to experience that. >> Old school and new school, right? >> Yep. Definitely. That's awesome. Um so so tell us what are you currently doing in your career? what is something that like you're really excited about in the future in your career and kind of explain to us what empowering veterinary teams is all about. >> Absolutely. So I was in clinical practice um for eight years before I got my degree as an assistant and then I got

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my credentials in 2012 and so I worked in emergency specialty medicine predominantly throughout my career. Um and then when I came and worked at Manor, I was trying to find a spot to combine you know education that academia p perspective as well as the clinical skills and learning and development. I didn't I knew it was a thing but I didn't know what that was. And so the practice I was at it was a 50 doctor practice and I had a team of 12 trainers and I was the you know coordinator of learning and development for long time.

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Trying to think of how long that is now. Um so for quite a few years and then just with progressive health conditions I have Ehlers Danlos and a lot of co-morbidities with that. So it's a connective tissue disorder. So things are not always holding up uh physically for me. So >> the demanding job of a veterinary technician especially one in you know leadership I couldn't physically do it anymore. So I I left clinical practice in 2020. Um but my business partner and I have we've been friends

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for over 20 years now and had this idea of like well vet med is good but it has a way it could be better. So EVT empowering veterinary teams is essentially a training consultancy where we develop training programs that are customized tailor made for practices and also groups within veterinary medicine industrywide. So it takes a look at the onboarding and orientation principles and takes them beyond 90 days. So looking at growth and development for folks that have been in the profession >> in what have been you know traditionally

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called the support roles. So >> technicians, assistants and receptionists and making sure that they have a pathway forward and that they have the tools and the support and the guidance they need to up-skill not just clinically but in the human realm. And so we've developed content and programs. We are race approved. We have over 40 courses for CE and we also do product development. So, we've um created artificial training veins that feel like the real thing. And I travel internationally now and my team travels

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nationally to speak at conferences on these things. So, we can take these principles of empowerment and growth and development throughout the industry. >> Wow, that is so incredible. Where did where do you think you got this um kind of like bug or or kind of itch to like become um first of all an entrepreneur but also like someone who's going to be speaking and leading and creating? Is that in your family? Is that something that you've always kind of had that itch as a kid? Like always been kind of

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entrepreneurial minded? >> I don't know about the entrepreneur. I' I've learned a lot as a business major. I wasn't. So, I've had to definitely um learn, you know, school of hard knocks for sure. But I remember very clearly I was really young, maybe four or five, and my my grandfather asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, and I was like, I'm going to change the world. >> And that, you know, that's a grandiose thing, and little kids dream big. But I

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I've found over the past few years, losing some very close friends and team and family members, that life is too short to dream small. Mhm. >> And while what I'm doing might not change the whole world, it's changing this part of the world, I hope. >> And as many if I can reach, you know, through my work, through my team's work, if we can reach, you know, two people and make their lives different, then that's good, >> right? >> And so it's always been I've always

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wanted and my that was my mom's mantra too growing up is leave the world better than you found it. And my aunt was a college professor for years um her whole career and she was in um pharmacology and cell biology like brilliant woman. >> So she's like she was a pioneer in that essentially like in the 70s and 80s when women weren't in that. And so always that familial push and then just well there's got to be another way to do that. So it's I guess it's been ingrained in me from a young age and

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it's something that I've expanded and I've surrounded myself with people like that. So there's a whole cohort of us within veterinary medicine that are that have started their own initiatives and you gravitate towards that and you learn from one another. So it's something that is constantly evolving. >> Yeah. Wow. Well, it sounds like it's definitely something that you've seen other really strong women kind of lead the way, but also you're you're carving your own section for this and um I think

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it's what what kind of came to mind was it's really in line with um the mission here at Manor College. Our mission is to obviously educate students, but we want them to go out into the world to be effective and compassionate um community members of the world. And I think like you are doing that. You are like a living embodiment of our mission. So thank you so much for doing that. That's incredible. >> Thank you. >> What what is something I like to ask this question um to alumni because you

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know I I don't I don't know your industry. I don't know the Vet tech world necessarily. I I talked to quite a few vet techs and and alumni of vet techs, but what's like a common myth or misconception about um being a Vet tech that people might think or might assume, but you want to debunk? >> Oh god, how much time do we have? Um well, we definitely don't snuggle uh kittens and puppies all day. I am not part of that equation because I have a kitten on my lap. Sometimes >> um it is not all that. Um, and it's also

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not something that anyone can do. >> I think there is a huge misconception and part of the problem is within the profession itself is that a there's a lack of regulation and title protection. So even in the state of Pennsylvania, anyone that's trained on the job can call themselves a technician, but that's not the same as going to an accredited institution such as Manor and sitting for your national boards and getting those credentials. So, I'm very passionate about title protection,

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educating clients and our profession about why that matters and especially then role clarity within a practice. So, you know what someone is legally allowed to do or what they should be doing. And that's not to take away from folks that have been doing this for, you know, 10, 20 years without those credentials. It doesn't take away from their incredible experience and their obvious skill and knowledge. But if we're going to maintain that level of professionalism and medical expertise and we want to

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have the same respect that our human counterparts do, then we have to establish a precedence and we have to maintain that credibility. So, >> thank you for coming to my TED talk on recognition, title protection and utilization. >> Yes, you you are not the first person that I've heard this from. I've heard this from quite a few and obviously like we want students to come to Manor to come >> to go get you know go get their >> technical um you know that would be great but it's definitely something that

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sounds like the industry is having conversations. Have you seen >> positive movement in that direction where this is becoming um more protected and really state by state or is it still really just kind of the wild west? >> It depends on where you go. Um it's slow but it's coming. You know Illinois just passed legislature. Um Colorado has done so. Several other states have followed the same suit and there's realizing that this is important. Um there's a few other issues that go hand

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in-hand with that, right? So we're there is you know the banter across being called nurses. Well that's a protected term for human medicine. So we have to be very careful there too. Um and a lot of folks don't realize that there are four different distinction for credentials. So, I'm a CVT in Pennsylvania. You go up to New York, you're an LVT. Go out to California, you're an RVT. And Tennessee is the only state that is a LVMT, which is a licensed veterinary medical technician.

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So, it is state by state. It is a slow and uphill climb, but there's a lot of amazing people in this profession that are really fighting for it, and people are in people in places that can make change happen are starting to pay attention. >> Well, that's good. Well, that that sounds >> positive. We're getting there. Um, well, Alyssa, you're such a you're so full of knowledge. I feel like I we could talk all day just because you just are so knowledgeable and encouraging and

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>> um I can see why you and your team are speaking globally because that's exactly what I feel like you should be doing because you're just so good at it. Um, kind of as a final question here, what advice would you give to Manor students who are currently kind of like in the trenches of their program and particularly for our sophomore students who um it gets harder that year and they haven't done externships yet, but they're coming. What advice would you give them to encourage them to keep pushing

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forward? Oh, that's it's such a good question and there's not a straight answer to that. But what I would encourage all of you who hopefully you're all listening and maybe watching me in my very natural habitat is that think very much outside of the box and you don't have to subscribe to what has been done and really think about how you want to show up and do that authentically. You know, my one of my favorite lines that I don't know if I came up with it, but I hadn't seen it

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elsewhere, but if you are looking at the words professional and personal, you cannot spell professional without every single letter in personal. So, show, >> be yourself, and if you're not fitting in somewhere, then go make your own space. >> Well, well said, Alyssa. That's so that's so fitting. I've never heard that either. So, let's give you credit for that quote because that's a really good one. Yeah, I love that. Well, thank you so much for spending time with us today.

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You certainly have been an encouragement to me and I I know our listeners are really going to appreciate your insight. Um, and thank you so much for being a Manor College alumni. I mean, you're exactly what we want our alumni to go out in the world and just be the change. Um, find their own spaces, create new spaces, but really be that effective, compassionate service leadership kind of person out in the world. And thank you for doing that. Well, thank you for having me and go Blue Jays.

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>> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest, Stories about Life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always.

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Well, first and foremost, Manor doesn't allow you to be an introvert here. So, like that's something I learned quick. >> Hello, Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I am your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is

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time for a segment of the show I like to call, did you know? Where we will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. Did you know that Manor College offers new state-of-the-art laptops for first time full-time students? These laptops are part of Manor College's You Belong Here advantage, and they come to us through the Pennsylvania Broadband Authorities's digital connectivity technology program. Manor College received the first 200 laptops through this grant in April of 2025.

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The program seeks to place leading edge technology in the hands of people who might not have access. They help to bridge the technology gap that exists in the neighborhoods that Manor serves. This is the second year that students were offered laptops as part of the you belong here advantage. The laptops belong to students as long as they remain a student at Manor College. They come preloaded with Office 365 and students are able to put personal applications on their own laptops. In the year priors to having access to this

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technology, I've seen students write papers and complete assignments on their phones, on our library laptops, or just not complete them at all. Now, students are able to write a paper for Professor Dan Morrison's English class or complete an assignment for Dr. Stephanie Marks Vet tech classes using new technology at their ease of doing it from their home or from wherever they're working without any cost prohibiting them. It has truly been a joy of mine to see the excitement in students as they pick up their new

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laptops every August before new student orientation. Today's episode is sponsored by Manor College. We believe you deserve an education that feels like home. We offer associate and bachelor degrees in high demand fields like business, psychology, and practical nursing. Our small class sizes means that your professors know more than just your name. You get the personalized attention you need to truly thrive. Discover a supportive environment just outside of Philadelphia where success is built one student at a time. It is more

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than just a college. It is a community. Ready to find your place? Visit manor.edu today to explore your options and see why you belong here. Today we are thrilled to welcome a true member of the Manor College community. Coming from East Oak Lane, a neighborhood in North Philly, and a graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School, having studied computer information systems at Manor, this guest earned a bachelor's degree in business, graduating just six months ago in May. During their time as a student, they

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were highly involved on campus, dedicating time to track and field, basketball, and serving as a peer mentor. After graduation, they have stayed close to the nest because our guest now works right here at Manor as a systems administrator on our IT team. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Kareem Haines. Hi, Kareem. >> Hey, thanks for having me. >> Thanks for joining us. It's such an honor to talk to you. So, Kareem, start us off by sharing. How did you hear about Manor College and why did you

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ultimate ultimately choose to attend? >> Well, it's kind of a funny story. Um, my mom, she worked here in the registrar's office. Uh, I'm not sure what her position was, but she worked here. And, um, as a kid, I remember being here in the parking lot, and I'm like, "One day, I'm I'm I'm come I'm come I'm going to come here one day, right?" And then like my grandfather in the car, he was like, "No, you're not. just a two-year school, yada yada yada.

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And then I end up applying here. I got in and then um yeah. >> Okay. Uh so many times when I ask that question to alumni, it starts with well my mom and then moms are just so influential in a in a person's life. And I I love that. Um so there you go. you thought that you might come here one day and even though your grandfather was a naysayer um you were right and as always mother knows best right so that that's >> mother's intuition >> mother knows best so describe for us it

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wasn't that long ago but describe for us what was your Manor experience like what was it like being Kareem at Manor college as a student >> well first and foremost Manor doesn't allow you to be an introvert here so like that's something I learned quick cuz I'm coming out of high school I was usually um quiet to myself and um here they kind of forced me to get out my shell be where I'll go and join events around campus and I think a funny story of mine is u in the dorms my first year

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here um I wanted to try for the basketball team but not I didn't want to cuz I didn't think I had the skills to do it but a buddy of mine knocked on my dorm door and he was like let's go try out I'm like dude I don't feel like doing it I can yada yada yada he kept knocking on my door knocking on my door and I end up trying out and I made the team as a walk on so it was pretty Good. Um, I did some volunteering events with Dr. Crosby as well for the breathing room. So, I've been a little bit

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everywhere I saw. >> Yeah, I I I love two things that stand out from what you just said to me. One, Manor doesn't let you be an introvert. I I really love that because it's kind of like um college is what you make of it, right? you can just go to class, go home, and and kind of particularly with a commuter school, you could kind of fall under the radar, but at Manor, we really try to um be a community, be a family, and in a family, we know your business. We know your name. We know

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what's going on in your life, and for better or for worse, we're we're trying to really get you involved and get you help and just like be that support. So, I love that. And then I love that your um friend in the res hall was kind of nagging you a little bit like come on let's go try it out. And then you made it and you got to have like a college athlete experience which is >> which not everyone gets to have that. So that's pretty special that you were able to do that.

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>> Yeah, it's pretty cool. Um that experience is Yeah. So what um so you studied computer information systems for us non-tech non-computer people. Can you explain like where did where did that passion come from? How did you know you wanted to study computer CIS I guess we'll call it? >> Um well two things part back to mother's intuition. She was always like you're a good you're a good problem solver. You always help your outside with the um the tech issues in the family should look

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into that. So um and another other part too is that I kind of always wanted to know like what how how does a computer work what's more there's more to behind this so I wanted to know more about that um and then uh computer systems allows you to learn more about networking databases um security and different systems stuff like that so give me like a a bigger picture of how everything works in a business so it combined computers and business so it allowed me to um to pivot myself into different careers

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>> yeah it's flexible It's super um usable like everyone I always say in meetings and when we're talking about different things at the college particularly in administration I always say all roads lead to finance and all roads lead to IT. So it's I mean it isn't everything. Um I can totally see you being like the Hannes family IT person where everyone's calling you like I got a got a virus. What do I do? And you're like all right I have to fix it. >> Can totally see that. And again, mother

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knows best. So that's really cool. So when you were a student at Manor, were there any people during your time that just really like supported you or influenced you um to either get involved or in your studies and kind of anyone that comes to mind that you want to kind of give a shout out to? >> Um it's a lot of people actually. Um first and foremost, I'll say Dr. curiosity because like there were some times I would go like through like a rough stint and that and she was always like a rock

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for me to lean on and talk to stuff like that. Um and she kept pushing me to go on um I'd say Ilia because he helped me be in this position today to have a career in it. So and he's been a really good mentor for me as well in my growing career. Um it's a lot of people. Um, I don't want to just right go on a tangent, but um, also kind of you actually too cuz like how how you get things done like you're efficient, you're precise on things, and like um, I always want to ask like what

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what's your like what's your reasoning behind that? How are you so like such like such a good like a a go-getter? >> Well, first let's give let's give kudos to Dr. Crosby weeks because she certainly is a mentor to so many and I love that even though like you you're not you know she's an early childhood education director of that you're not even in that program and yet you're naming her I think that's pretty cool. You probably never even had her as a professor right I'm assuming as like a

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teacher but just like being that support and that's kind of the beauty of Manor is that like people are not just siloed into like their program or their like sports team. people can kind of support each other like so diversely outside of um like inner mix, which is so neat. Um and yeah, you know, I I've always really been a really um a go-getter type of person. Um that's kind of just my nature of things. I've always been really involved. Even as a kid, I was in I wanted to do all the activities. I

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wanted to be in the band and play sports and do arts and crafts. And I I didn't like picking one thing. I wanted to just like try them all. Um, and I think that's kind of trickled over into my work life where I like being um, a jack of all trades, you know, and I think that's just part of my personality and Manor really lends itself well to that because we're so small. You do need jack of all trades because, you know, so many times we joke like, well, that wasn't in the job description. Um, and that's just

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the way kind of Manor keeps itself going is people who are willing to step up and um, run different events or get different programs going or have an innovation on something. And I think that's one of my favorite parts about working here is that you get to kind of do that and stretch that. And I can think of so many people who um are examples of that, too. I'll use one for example, Anthony Machcinski, our director of photography and content. you know, he's a writer, he's a social media

00:10:55
person, he's a photographer, he's a videographer, and now he helps out with athletics. Like, he can do so many different things because of his skill set and his passion. So, it's kind of cool that, and I've seen that with you as well. You certainly make your way around campus and can help so many people. Um, something that I often think about with IT folks is that like it is everywhere. Everyone needs it, but it sometimes gets a bad rap. Sometimes IT people are kind of in like a stigma.

00:11:25
People kind of think like they're one type. What's something that you've learned since being um interning with IT and now working in an IT team? What's like a myth about it that you're like, you know what, that's actually not true. That I want to set the record straight. >> I think you kind of know what it is that um they think we're like basement dwellers. Like we know we can't socialize. We can't talk to people. But like as you can see, most of our job is

00:11:49
going out there talking to the user, helping them out and trying to get them to the solution of the problem. >> That was such an IT answer, Kareem. Calling users and solutions to problems. >> But no, you're right. The social You're right. The social aspect is certainly I think customer service for you guys is a huge part of it. Like you have to be able to and also I think like having the skill set to talk to a variety of different people. like you could be talking to another 20some year old who

00:12:19
like is very tech-savvy or you could be training someone who's you know a senior citizen or a different generation who totally are like no clue what you're talking about. So, I think having the versatility of being like kind of social butterflies is something that I know our IT team is really grateful that you're on it. And I know people um when there's problems oftentimes the thought or the reaction is I'm just going to call Kareem or I'm going to Kareem. So, definitely the first first

00:12:52
line of defense. Um and just so our audience knows, Kareem interned with our IT team as a student. So, the transition for you from student, intern to now full-time employee was pretty consistent. You kind of just jumped right into it. But how was that for you? And kind of you're still on campus. You still see friends and students that like you knew as like student Kareem and now you have to have this hat of like employee Kareem. How has that been? >> It's kind of weird honestly. It's like I

00:13:25
I since I never left, it's like I'm still I still feel like a student, but it's different cuz like I'm staff, right? >> Um even I go around and help out staff members, they still think I'm a student. So, it's just like >> you're what like what are you doing here? Like, but it's just I'm here to help you out. So, um outside of that, it's kind of like a full circle moment, too, cuz like ever since being a kid and now I'm working here, it's just like a

00:13:47
it's just surreal. >> Yeah. Oh, I love that. I mean, it's pretty common for other institutions and Manor. We've had alumni and we do have other alumni working here. So, that's fairly common. But, I think you're right. It's always a little funny when you work at a place where there's people the same age as you and like in the same generation as you, but they're doing something different. Um, I started working at Manor in 2012 when I was 22 years old. So, I was like the same age

00:14:18
as the students. um you know and there is like you know it's good to keep boundaries and it's good to try to become you know but at the same time like we're a community we're a family um so I'm a little I am personally grateful that I'm a little bit older now than the students because for those first few years it is a little funny and it's just something you kind of have to like kind of just you know deal with and figure it out. Um but at the same time it's really

00:14:44
cool because you have such a good perspective on like what our students are thinking, feeling, needing and you can share that with administration with us at the college so that we can be better servants to the students. So I would just encourage you to like use your voice and speak up if you feel like hey Manor could really be doing XYZ to support the students and like you have such a unique lens into that that >> others just don't because of just generational you know changes. So, um I

00:15:16
find that that's a a unique factor and I always encourage young alumni who are around to like use that for the good because it can really help us just make sure we're helping students as much as we possibly can. Um, but Kareem, what what advice would you give current students um who are kind of like, you know, in the we're kind of at the part of the semester where it's it's like not quite home stretch just yet, but it's like we're starting to see the home stretch. Um, it's a it's a hard part of

00:15:46
the semester, I would say, right about now. What advice would you give current students to like keep persisting? >> I guess be patient with yourself. Like right now may seem like a um a difficult challenge challenging time. It could be a good time too, but just be patient. Take it easy. Um make sure that you're in alignment with your goals. Don't stay don't stray away from the goals you want to accomplish as a student as a goal. The end goal is to graduate. So stay focused, stay consistent, and be patient

00:16:14
with yourself. >> I love that. Be patient with yourself. I always think that's really important. Students get frustrated that maybe their grades aren't what they are. >> They just they just want it to be over. Um, but college is really a special time in a young person's life. You when you're in it, it feels like it's never going to end and you're like, I'm never going to graduate or I'm never going to finish this semester. But then hindsight's 2020. You know, you

00:16:38
graduate, you look back and you think, oh wow, that was actually a pretty short stint in my life. And, you know, you have the rest of your life to still lead and look forward to. So, I think that's great. Be patient. That's people can always be more patient. I in many phases of life. >> Well, Kareem, thank you so much for joining us today. It has been truly an honor to talk to you and we wish you nothing but the best. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you

00:17:07
like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube and stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always.

00:00:00
It was definitely a good opportunity for me to learn at a two-year college, build relationships, and learn that I could go to a school like Cornell University. Hello, Blue Jays, and welcome to the nest, stories about life after Manor College. I'm your host, Kelly Peiffer, vice president of marketing communications, and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always. Before we get to

00:00:36
today's guest, it is time for a special tribute from our evening at Manor Gala that took place here on campus on November 13th, celebrating our 2025 gala honoree, Jane Zegestowsky. Jane served Manor College for three decades, helping hundreds of Blue Jays graduate and succeed in their careers, including today's guest. She first served Manor as a tutor and then a professor, then becoming the director of our learning center. She would go on to be Manor's associate dean of academic affairs until

00:01:10
she retired. Today, she still serves the college as a valued member of our board of trustees. Manor College honored Jane at her annual gala and it was a beautiful night celebrating someone who has meant so much to the Manor community. While I can go on and on about Jane, we'd like to leave it to those who know her best in this little tribute video. >> What can I say about Missy? >> There's so many words to describe her. >> The saint. >> Just grace. >> Kind.

00:01:39
>> She's just fantastic. >> Pardon the pun, but polymath. Genuine. >> Genuine. >> Genuine. sincere. It's kind of like genuine, but >> she's everything good. >> She's always there and she's always reliable and willing to step in. >> She exudes grace in everything in the way she walks and the way she talks and the way she moves and the way she shows up. >> She has a calmness about her. Really smart. I mean, I could keep going on on

00:02:11
and on and on. She always told me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. Uh, and that that takes a particular skill to do that with love. >> When I first was um promoted to the dean of students here at Manor, um, everyone was very kind. And then I I met with Jane and I remember saying something to the effect of, "Are you sure you're ready for this?" And it took me a back for a second, but then I realized and I appreciated so much how she really wanted to make sure that I was prepared

00:02:41
to take on such an important role at the college. And I feel like from that moment on, I felt like I could rely on her as a mentor. >> She's good at things that require a level of seriousness. She's good at things that require or that engage in comedy or humor. Uh she's good in work ethic, so she's just fantastic about everything. >> Today's episode is sponsored by the veterinary technology program at Manor College. Do you love animals? Are you looking for a career that's both

00:03:14
challenging and incredibly rewarding? The discovery of a veterinary technology program at Manor College is right for you. Our program is AVMA accredited, ensuring that you receive a high quality education. You'll get hands-on experience from day one working with small, large, and laboratory animals in our state-of-the-art facilities. Our small class sizes means that you get personalized attention from those experienced professionals who are your professors. Graduates are prepared to pass the national exam and launch a

00:03:47
fulfilling career as a veterinary technician. Whether you want to work in a private practice, emergency care, or research, your journey can start here. Learn more and start your future in animal care today at manor.edu/vettech. That's manor.edu/vettech. Today we have an incredible alumni joining us who shows us just how far a foundation built at Manor College can truly take you. Coming from Warminster, PA and a graduate of William Tennant High School. Our guest graduated in 2005 from Manor College with an associates

00:04:26
degree in paralegal studies. While at Manor, they were deeply involved in campus life, contributing their time to Rotaract and Student Senate. After graduation, they took a big step forward, successfully transferring to Cornell University for a bachelor's degree and then attended Villanova for law school. This alumni is a published author and currently working at a Fortune 500 company as the director of human resources at L3 Harris. Please give a warm welcome to our special guest, Marshall Burstein. Hi, Marshall.

00:05:00
>> Hey, Kelly. Nice to nice to be here. I appreciate you having me. >> Of course. Always a pleasure to talk to you. Can you start us off by sharing how did you first hear about Manor and what made you decide to enroll? >> So, interestingly enough, Manor was the only college that I applied to coming out of high school. So, uh I didn't know what I wanted to be when I got out of high school. Uh and my parents said to me, "Hey, you know, there's an opportunity to go to this small tier

00:05:30
college uh that has a paralegal studies track. Uh you know, maybe law is what you want to do. maybe get a taste for it. So, I applied to Manor uh and got in and the rest was history. >> Oh, that's great. I love that. We don't often hear from alumni that Manor was like their one and only choice. Typically, it's amongst others. So, it was really cool. >> Only choice. That was it. >> One and only. Yeah. >> So, what was kind of your Manor experience like for you? Take us back.

00:06:01
It was >> um 20 years ago. What can you what can you tell us what was it like for you as a student? >> Uh Manor was it was a great experience. Uh you know it was you know because matter is such a small institution it was very intimate. I had a lot of opportunities to build relationships with my classmates with my professors uh with some of the administration. Uh and in doing that it there was really easy to get help when I needed it. Um additional tutoring if I wanted it. um and get actively involved on campus. So,

00:06:35
I am a huge proponent of smaller institutions. >> That's great. Exactly. I mean, when you're at a small school, it's hard to hide. You certainly can do it, but um I feel like it's just easier to get involved. And I mean, life's what you make it. College is what you make it. So, like if you want to have that full college experience, getting involved is definitely the way to go. when you were um at a student, were there any professors or staff who you felt like really had an impact on you?

00:07:08
>> Yeah. So, uh one of the biggest, uh impacts on me my career, uh who I still keep in touch with today is Jane Zegestowsky. Um she was my calculus professor for calc 1 um and calc 2. And uh yeah, her and I, you know, we had a lot of time together where I would go to her for help and support. um for my classroom experience and you know she would give me guidance not just in mathematics but also as I was navigating the transition to um Cornell University which I eventually transferred to. So

00:07:45
there was even a time where I was preparing to transfer that summer and I had to take a uh I had to take an examination to bypass some of the preliminary mathematics courses at Cornell. And uh Jane actually sat down with me. We went over some of the curriculum and I self-studied some some information through some of the textbooks that Jane gave me to get through that uh that test without having to take some mathematics courses at Cornell's. Interestingly enough. >> Wow. Yeah. I mean talk about like going

00:08:19
above and be above and beyond like you know the duty of being a professor. Um that's great to hear. As you know, Jane was honored just last night at our annual gala. So, it was really special to honor someone who's had such an impact on hundreds and hundreds of students um at Manor. So, it's great to hear that that story. Now, now you, Marshall, are really interesting in that you wrote a book about like breaking in the back door of the Ivy League and Yeah. Um, like take us through kind of

00:08:51
what was what kind of made you want to write a book about it and and how was it like living that life where like you did break in the back door of the Ivy League? What was that like for you? >> Yeah. So, I never anticipated going to an Ivy League institution, let alone getting into law school. Uh, you know, in high school, I wasn't really the academic type, but I recognized when I graduated high school that I had to do something with my career. I didn't know what it was. Um, and I was very dead set

00:09:22
on applying myself when I got to Manor College. Um, and after the first year at Manor College, I was able to get a 40, able to get all A's. So, I started researching institutions that I could personally transfer to. Uh, because at the time, Manor College was only a two-year college. Um, so I discovered that I could transfer to some of these uh prestigious universities. uh and I started looking at what were the what were the requirements um to make sure that I could seamlessly transition and

00:09:58
you know make sure that my credits would actually transfer. So I took required classes at other local institutions at the time in addition as a supplement to my coursework at Manor College. Um so it was definitely a great experience. Um, so yeah. So yeah, the uh so it was definitely a good opportunity for me um to to learn at a two-year college, build relationships, and learn that I could go to a school like Cornell University, quite frankly, um, and then get into Villanova. But I wrote the book because I wanted other

00:10:36
people to see that they could forge the same path. >> Sure. Wow, that's so cool. Have you um have you heard stories from people who read the book and were like, "Oh my gosh, I did this, too." And kind of like built a little I'm sure there's a community out there of people who have kind of taken similar paths. Um have you found that and kind of stayed in touch with them? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I've uh I've stayed in touch with a couple people over my career uh from L3 Harris and otherwise.

00:11:07
So, super excited um to keep in touch with them um that have gone on um for one-on ones and things like that. But it it's been really great experience and a great opportunity for me to be able to stay in touch with them and watch their careers flourish. >> Yeah, that's so cool. I love that. I always love it when students come to Manor and they um maybe weren't the best high school student or struggled and or took a gap year or something. They weren't like that traditional, you know,

00:11:40
um you know, a a student in high school and they come to Manor and they like kind of like have a fresh start. They have a chance to like clean slate and they get inspired. They meet a professor or someone here who really gets them motivated and then they can go on to something else in their life. I think that's so inspirational and I frankly think that's what the Manor like to me that's very Manor. That's kind of what we do here really well is take students um maybe like a diamond in the

00:12:08
rough and then they come on to be this beautiful sparkly diamond a few years later. So I think your story really emulates that well. Um so today you are the director of HR at L3 Harris. Tell us about your role and tell us how like How did you make this transition into human resources from a law degree from a paralegal? What has your career trajectory kind of been like for you? >> Yeah. So, first and foremost, um when I went to school for paralegal studies, I eventually had the intention of going to

00:12:45
law school. So, I found Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations by happen stance uh because they had a really high matriculation rate to law school. So I am going um I was kind of going on a whim to say okay well let me go to this school. I didn't really know much about it but it was focused on industrial and labor relations human resources. Um and it was a great opportunity. Uh at the time I didn't want to work in HR but I was learning about labor relations and other elements. Um so yeah so that was a

00:13:21
great experience for me. Um, so I what I will say about Cornell, it was the school itself is industrial labor relations was very reminiscent of Manor College because it was a student body that was relatively small. There were only about 800 students or so within this institution which made it very comparable to men or in a way. Um, so that made it made it easy easier to acclimate. And then transitioning to Villanova Law, um, I made the decision I wanted to go to law school. Um, went through law school, I got barred in

00:14:01
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and then when I got out of law school, I wanted to pivot into labor relations. So working with unions, companies, doing collective bargaining agreement negotiations, contract negotiations, grievance administration, arbitrations. So I ended up at Bridgestone America's, the tire manufacturing company in rural Tennessee, working at a manufacturing facility in a labor relations capacity. Labor relations is only one facet of human resources. uh and I ended up getting exposure to talent acquisition,

00:14:37
compensation and other elements and then broadened my horizon within HR and I never looked back. So that's kind of how I ended up staying in HR. uh my education between the paralegal studies degree, the Cornell ILR labor relations degree and my law degree ended up being a tremendous asset to me given that we deal with a lot of labor and employment laws within the human resources realm. Um so it was very complimentary to my future career even though I never anticipated working in human resources.

00:15:13
kind of the story of you never know what you're going to be and you don't know where you're going to end up was definitely reminiscent of how I've approached my career. >> Yeah. Oh wow. That's so cool though that um these kind of unseemingly connected things end up being this huge asset later. And that totally makes sense. You're going to be dealing with laws and legal challenges and that that I I mean that makes perfect sense. That's awesome. Um, a question that I

00:15:42
like to ask alumni when they're in different careers and professions is like what's a what's a myth or a misconception about working in HR that you want to debunk that people assume that you know you do or you don't do and you want to like set the record straight. >> Yeah. Um, so I would say there's not a lot of we call it personnel administration. Um, so we we actually at organizations, you know, our benefit service centers are through third-party vendors. Um, a lot of

00:16:16
our short-term disability and things like that are third-party vendors. Um, we spend a lot of time as HR business partners with the leaders of the organization identifying business strategy. What are all the talent levers that we can pull to make sure that we'll still be a viable company in three, five, 10 years down the road. Um, so we actively look through all of our engagement survey results. Uh, we actively look at, right, comp, pay positions, ratios, how do we elevate engagement, compensation, and

00:16:49
performance? Uh, how do we hire, right? How do we look for great talent? Um, I would say from an HR perspective, if you're in any organization, you want to align yourself with your HR professionals who can help you navigate your careers. A lot of people historically stay away from HR. Um, I would say HR is HR can be a great functional organization to align yourself with because we will educate you and show you how you can navigate your career path. Um, and what's out there that you might not be aware of?

00:17:27
>> That's a good one. So, don't run away from the HR person. Run to them. >> I think that's >> run to HR. You know, a lot of people live by um the fact that like it's a great thing if HR doesn't know my name, but honestly, it's a great thing if they do because you're doing the right things in your career. H well that that's a great uh misconception to debunk and I think also really solid career advice. That's awesome to hear. So um

00:18:01
kind of you know you are in a leadership role at L3 Harris kind of like what does the scope of your work involved and what part of your job do you find the most challenging but is also still really rewarding at the end of the day? Yeah. Um, you know, it depends on the day, right? Um, as a leader, I would say I've got a team of HR professionals. Um, and I think just coaching, guiding, and mentoring, right? It can be, you know, so many people, not just your team, but also the leaders that you support, right? that

00:18:41
can get taxing and can get exhausting. But also as you see them pivot, you see them change, you take they take your feedback, they take your advice, right? That's the most satisfying thing. Seeing them accelerate their careers in the organization, >> right? So the success of your team and seeing them um succeed frankly is something that's really rewarding but also challenging because managing other people is always challenging, right? No matter no matter what where you are, what you're doing.

00:19:13
>> Exactly. Yeah. And it's challenging yet satisfying at the same time. Yes. >> So when you were doing talent acquisition and I don't know how much hiring of talent you currently do, but when you look at candidates resumes, knowing that you went to an associates um degree college, how much do you look at that differently on candidates resumes? How much weight do you give that versus someone who has a bachelor's or who has multiple kind of steps in their educational journey like you had?

00:19:46
>> Yeah, I would say I would say that um in terms of my experience, bachelor's degrees are once you get your bachelor's degree, we're not necessarily looking at your associate degree. Um it's more so what is your bachelor's degree and what did you get it in? Do you have a master's degree or a graduate degree, would you get it in? Um I maybe I'm a little bit different, but if I see somebody who's gotten an associates degree and then gotten a bachelor's degree, you know, I take notice to that

00:20:19
because that's similar to my path. Um, and sometimes you can see people that have taken some grit and determination and they've gone to a two-year college. They've leveled up and gone to an even larger four-year institution. They've started out at a smaller company and then they've gone to a bigger company or they want to break into a bigger company like a Fortune 250 or Fortune 500. And that just demonstrates to me some of their ambition and a little bit more of their life story. um which sometimes

00:20:52
sells better than someone who went to an Ivy League university straight out of high school. Um you know I it's all about your life story and I think if you've got it you should share it. >> Yeah that's really good to hear and I think you having that perspective being able to like understand those those stories because that's part of you what you did as well is really just unique and kind of special. Um, as we kind of wrap up this episode, Marshall, what advice would you give to current Manor

00:21:21
students? Why is Manor a great option for them as part of their college journey? >> Yeah, I think to me it's the size of the institution provides again that intimate experience and it helps you seamlessly transition from high school to undergrad. having the close uh the opportunity to engage closely with your professors, the accessibility, the small campus. There's so many good things about Manor that allows that transition to be much more seamless and um provides you a little bit more ease as a student coming into a

00:22:04
college environment. um rather than being one in 50,000. Um you know, you can be a big fish in a small pond or a peer to so many others and you can really get to know everyone that you go to school with and I that's impactful for me whether it's your professors, the administration or your other peers. >> Yeah, the size is huge. It really um makes the community so special and it gives students just so many opportunities to connect with each other and like you never know how those connections are going to play out later

00:11:07
So, super excited um to keep in touch with them um that have gone on um for one-on ones and things like that. But it it's been really great experience and a great opportunity for me to be able to stay in touch with them and watch their careers flourish. >> Yeah, that's so cool. I love that. I always love it when students come to Manor and they um maybe weren't the best high school student or struggled and or took a gap year or something. They weren't like that traditional, you know,

00:11:40
um you know, a a student in high school and they come to Manor and they like kind of like have a fresh start. They have a chance to like clean slate and they get inspired. They meet a professor or someone here who really gets them motivated and then they can go on to something else in their life. I think that's so inspirational and I frankly think that's what the Manor like to me that's very Manor. That's kind of what we do here really well is take students um maybe like a diamond in the

00:12:08
rough and then they come on to be this beautiful sparkly diamond a few years later. So I think your story really emulates that well. Um so today you are the director of HR at L3 Harris. Tell us about your role and tell us how like How did you make this transition into human resources from a law degree from a paralegal? What has your career trajectory kind of been like for you? >> Yeah. So, first and foremost, um when I went to school for paralegal studies, I eventually had the intention of going to

00:12:45
law school. So, I found Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations by happen stance uh because they had a really high matriculation rate to law school. So I am going um I was kind of going on a whim to say okay well let me go to this school. I didn't really know much about it but it was focused on industrial and labor relations human resources. Um and it was a great opportunity. Uh at the time I didn't want to work in HR but I was learning about labor relations and other elements. Um so yeah so that was a

00:13:21
great experience for me. Um, so I what I will say about Cornell, it was the school itself is industrial labor relations was very reminiscent of Manor College because it was a student body that was relatively small. There were only about 800 students or so within this institution which made it very comparable to men or in a way. Um, so that made it made it easy easier to acclimate. And then transitioning to Villanova Law, um, I made the decision I wanted to go to law school. Um, went through law school, I got barred in

00:14:01
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and then when I got out of law school, I wanted to pivot into labor relations. So working with unions, companies, doing collective bargaining agreement negotiations, contract negotiations, grievance administration, arbitrations. So I ended up at Bridgestone America's, the tire manufacturing company in rural Tennessee, working at a manufacturing facility in a labor relations capacity. Labor relations is only one facet of human resources. uh and I ended up getting exposure to talent acquisition,

00:14:37
compensation and other elements and then broadened my horizon within HR and I never looked back. So that's kind of how I ended up staying in HR. uh my education between the paralegal studies degree, the Cornell ILR labor relations degree and my law degree ended up being a tremendous asset to me given that we deal with a lot of labor and employment laws within the human resources realm. Um so it was very complimentary to my future career even though I never anticipated working in human resources.

00:15:13
kind of the story of you never know what you're going to be and you don't know where you're going to end up was definitely reminiscent of how I've approached my career. >> Yeah. Oh wow. That's so cool though that um these kind of unseemingly connected things end up being this huge asset later. And that totally makes sense. You're going to be dealing with laws and legal challenges and that that I I mean that makes perfect sense. That's awesome. Um, a question that I

00:15:42
like to ask alumni when they're in different careers and professions is like what's a what's a myth or a misconception about working in HR that you want to debunk that people assume that you know you do or you don't do and you want to like set the record straight. >> Yeah. Um, so I would say there's not a lot of we call it personnel administration. Um, so we we actually at organizations, you know, our benefit service centers are through third-party vendors. Um, a lot of

00:16:16
our short-term disability and things like that are third-party vendors. Um, we spend a lot of time as HR business partners with the leaders of the organization identifying business strategy. What are all the talent levers that we can pull to make sure that we'll still be a viable company in three, five, 10 years down the road. Um, so we actively look through all of our engagement survey results. Uh, we actively look at, right, comp, pay positions, ratios, how do we elevate engagement, compensation, and

00:16:49
performance? Uh, how do we hire, right? How do we look for great talent? Um, I would say from an HR perspective, if you're in any organization, you want to align yourself with your HR professionals who can help you navigate your careers. A lot of people historically stay away from HR. Um, I would say HR is HR can be a great functional organization to align yourself with because we will educate you and show you how you can navigate your career path. Um, and what's out there that you might not be aware of?

00:17:27
>> That's a good one. So, don't run away from the HR person. Run to them. >> I think that's >> run to HR. You know, a lot of people live by um the fact that like it's a great thing if HR doesn't know my name, but honestly, it's a great thing if they do because you're doing the right things in your career. H well that that's a great uh misconception to debunk and I think also really solid career advice. That's awesome to hear. So um

00:18:01
kind of you know you are in a leadership role at L3 Harris kind of like what does the scope of your work involved and what part of your job do you find the most challenging but is also still really rewarding at the end of the day? Yeah. Um, you know, it it depends on the day, right? Um, as a leader, I would say I've got a team of HR professionals. Um, and I think just coaching, guiding, and mentoring, right? It can be, you know, so many people, not just your team, but also the leaders that you support, right? that

00:18:41
can get taxing and can get exhausting. But also as you see them pivot, you see them change, you take they take your feedback, they take your advice, right? That's the most satisfying thing. Seeing them accelerate their careers in the organization, >> right? So the success of your team and seeing them um succeed frankly is something that's really rewarding but also challenging because managing other people is always challenging, right? No matter no matter what where you are, what you're doing.

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>> Exactly. Yeah. And it's challenging yet satisfying at the same time. Yes. >> So when you were doing talent acquisition and I don't know how much hiring of talent you currently do, but when you look at candidates resumes, knowing that you went to an associates um degree college, how much do you look at that differently on candidates resumes? How much weight do you give that versus someone who has a bachelor's or who has multiple kind of steps in their educational journey like you had?

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>> Yeah, I would say I would say that um in terms of my experience, bachelor's degrees are once you get your bachelor's degree, we're not necessarily looking at your associates degree. Um it's more so what is your bachelor's degree and what did you get it in? Do you have a master's degree or a graduate degree, would you get it in? Um I maybe I'm a little bit different, but if I see somebody who's gotten an associates degree and then gotten a bachelor's degree, you know, I take notice to that

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because that's similar to my path. Um, and sometimes you can see people that have taken some grit and determination and they've gone to a two-year college. They've leveled up and gone to an even larger four-year institution. They've started out at a smaller company and then they've gone to a bigger company or they want to break into a bigger company like a Fortune 250 or Fortune 500. And that just demonstrates to me some of their ambition and a little bit more of their life story. um which sometimes

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sells better than someone who went to an Ivy League university straight out of high school. Um you know I it's all about your life story and I think if you've got it you should share it. >> Yeah that's really good to hear and I think you having that perspective being able to like understand those those stories because that's part of you what you did as well is really just unique and kind of special. Um, as we kind of wrap up this episode, Marshall, what advice would you give to current Manor

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students? Why is Manor a great option for them as part of their college journey? >> Yeah, I think to me it's the size of the institution provides again that intimate experience and it helps you seamlessly transition from high school to undergrad. having the close uh the opportunity to engage closely with your professors, the accessibility, the small campus. There's so many good things about Manor that allows that transition to be much more seamless and um provides you a little bit more ease as a student coming into a

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college environment. um rather than being one in 50,000. Um you know, you can be a big fish in a small pond or a peer to so many others and you can really get to know everyone that you go to school with and I that's impactful for me whether it's your professors, the administration or your other peers. >> Yeah, the size is huge. It really um makes the community so special and it gives students just so many opportunities to connect with each other and like you never know how those connections are going to play out later

00:22:39
in life, who you're going to call upon, who you're going to, you know, how things are going to shake out. So, I think it's really it's really good. Um I have a fun question. I know you're you live in Florida. You're a big Disney World Disneyland fan. What's like your favorite Disney World maybe ride? Um that like every time you go, you have to go on this hit up this one ride. >> The people mover. It's uh I mean we love the coasters, we love Tiana's Bayou, we love Big Thunder

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Mountain, all of those things. But when you walk 20,000 steps in a day, the people mover is amazing because it's, you know, you just get on it and it's this little little uh little mini Montreal that takes you around for a good 10 minutes and, >> you know, seat. >> Exactly. >> The people, >> it's a short line, too. >> Wow. That's a good Disney hack right there. What's like a a food item that you love as well? Oh. Um, I would say if you go if you go to Epcot, No, if

00:23:48
you go to Epcot and you go to Canada, they have maple popcorn. Um, so it's the only place you can get maple popcorn is in Canada and Epcot. And if you buy the popcorn bucket that you can refill for like $2 and change, you can actually refill the maple popcorn bucket the same for $2 and some. Um, so yeah. Okay. So, get the bucket, make popcorn anywhere. Just go to Epcot and get the popcorn in Epcot and it'll be maple flavored popcorn. >> Oh, that's a good That's a That sounds

00:24:24
very like fall fall like too. We're in the fall season. That sounds really good. >> There's a lot of great tips and tricks on Disney. So, >> I'm sure I'm sure that you could probably go all day long. I know you're a big fan. Um, well, thank you, Marshall, so much for being with us today. It's been a joy talking to you and hearing kind of about your man or time and we wish you nothing but the best. >> Yeah. No, I appreciate the time. Um, always here and appreciate connecting

00:24:51
with you as always. Kelly, >> thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube and stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]

00:22:39
in life, who you're going to call upon, who you're going to, you know, how things are going to shake out. So, I think it's really it's really good. Um I have a fun question. I know you're you live in Florida. You're a big Disney World Disneyland fan. What's like your favorite Disney World maybe ride? Um that like every time you go, you have to go on this hit up this one ride. >> The people mover. It's uh I mean we love the coasters, we love Tiana's Bayou, we love Big Thunder

00:23:14
Mountain, all of those things. But when you walk 20,000 steps in a day, the people mover is amazing because it's, you know, you just get on it and it's this little little uh little mini Montreal that takes you around for a good 10 minutes and, >> you know, seat. >> Exactly. >> The people, >> it's a short line, too. >> Wow. That's a good Disney hack right there. What's like a a food item that you love as well? Oh. Um, I would say if you go if you go to Epcot, No, if

00:23:48
you go to Epcot and you go to Canada, they have maple popcorn. Um, so it's the only place you can get maple popcorn is in Canada and Epcot. And if you buy the popcorn bucket that you can refill for like $2 and change, you can actually refill the maple popcorn bucket the same for $2 and some. Um, so yeah. Okay. So, get the bucket, make popcorn anywhere. Just go to Epcot and get the popcorn in Epcot and it'll be maple flavored popcorn. >> Oh, that's a good That's a That sounds

00:24:24
very like fall fall like too. We're in the fall season. That sounds really good. >> There's a lot of great tips and tricks on Disney. So, >> I'm sure I'm sure that you could probably go all day long. I know you're a big fan. Um, well, thank you, Marshall, so much for being with us today. It's been a joy talking to you and hearing kind of about your man or time and we wish you nothing but the best. >> Yeah. No, I appreciate the time. Um, always here and appreciate connecting

00:24:51
with you as always. Kelly, >> thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube and stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]

00:00:00
I liked Fox chase so much that I wanted to keep being there even if it meant like an unpaid position. So I always tell students now like even if it's an unpaid position it's good for the experience. Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College,

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you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? where we will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. Did you know that some of the best advice for college students is also some of the most simple advice? I have a whiteboard outside of my office where I post a weekly question and people stop by and they write an answer. And last week's question prompt was one of my favorites. It was best advice for

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students. Lots of advice was scribbled on the whiteboard, but my personal favorite that I saw was it said if it's not on the calendar, it won't get done. This really spoke to me as I am someone who kind of lives by the calendar both here at work and in my personal life for our family calendar. Practical, accurate. I really like that one. Another great one was ask questions. So obviously what is missing? What do you feel is some advice that you um have learned over the years that you want to

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share with our students? Email us at the nest@manor.edu and tell us the best advice that you think is for college students. Today's episode is sponsored by Manor College's bird feed. Did you know that some Manor College students struggle with food insecurity? Manor College is proud to be an official PA hunger-free campus. Our bird feed food pantry provides a vital lifeline offering non-p perishable food and toiletries to those in need. But we can't do it without you. Your donation

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of canned goods, dry goods, or financial contributions help us keep the bird feed stocked all year long so that no one in our campus is going hungry. Learn how you can help by visiting manor.edu/birdfeed. That's manor.edu/birdfeed. Coming up, we have a very special guest, someone who is making a real difference in the world of clinical research. Originally from Philadelphia, our guest is a proud alumna from girls high right down the road here on only a she came to Mayor College and immersed herself in

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campus life serving as a presidential ambassador, a member of the lead program and even became the president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. After graduating in 2023 with a bachelor of science and health services, she has gone on to an incredibly important role as a clinical research data specialist at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Please join me in welcoming our guest Zoma Qurashi. Hi Zoma. >> Hi Kelly. How are you? >> It's so good to see you. I'm doing well. Thank you for joining us today on the

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show. So, Zoma, tell us a little bit about how did you hear about Manor College and why did you decide to attend? >> Yeah, so my both my older sisters went to Manor College. They're both Manor alumni. So, they both graduated in about 2015 2016. And I remember when I was applying for colleges my senior year of high school, um Manor College was one of the schools I applied to. Um it was not my choice at the time. And then I won't say any names, but I went to the college of my choice and they were more

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expensive than I thought they would be. Um, got scholarships, all the financial aid, everything went through, but it was still too pricey. And I ended up withdrawing after like my first week. Um, and then I came over to Manor and they had gotten me all situated before classes started. Um, all that good stuff. And I chose my major as a health service, um, like bachelor's degree. Wow. I love that. I I know a little bit about your family history at Manor is roots run deep here with your family and

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your sisters in particular. I know you're one of four and we've been lucky enough to have all four um girls come to the school. So, that's really special. You're what we call like a legacy family. Um but I I love your story about how like you went somewhere else and you realized pretty quickly, oh wow, this is really expensive for me. um I'm gonna I'm going to change and and typically you know coming into another institution once like ad drop hits it's like oh it's

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really hard to figure those things out. So I'm glad that you were able to um pivot to Manor College and continue your family's journey here because that's really cool. Um what was it like what you were in college when any sisters were here as well? I know I think you were right. >> Um I don't think so. I think when I got to actually no so when I graduated from Manor in 2023 my second older sister she had graduated with her master's degree from Temple. So she was also in college

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around the same time that I was. So I was getting my bachelor's and she was getting her master's degree and um I remember like I went to her graduation one week at Temple and then she came to mine the following week and then we had like a big party like at my house and stuff and it was really really cute and everything. So, we had like a nice little birdie like graduation party in my house. We had the owls and like the blue jays and stuff. It's very cute. >> Oh, that is cute. Yeah, I love that. Oh,

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that's so fun. Um, that's great. So, tell us, Zo, what was it like for you as a student? Like, what were you involved with? What was kind of like your college experience like? >> Yeah, so my freshman year I was a work study for the library. Um, and then in the spring COVID hit. Um so a lot of my uh Manor College experience was online but I remember when we had um like right before like we had started to come back onto campus I had gotten hired to be a library assistant on campus. Um I have

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previous experience working in public libraries so they thought I'd be a good fit and I was working as a library assistant so I was an employee for the college. Um I was also a student so I got to go to both like the student events and the staff events. It was really really cool. Um I loved my time here. I was president of Phi Theta Kappa program as you mentioned earlier. Um and then I was also presidential ambassador. >> Yeah, you you did it. I feel like you had such a well-rounded experience here

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where you got to like do a little bit of everything. Um except for athletics. I guess that wasn't that wasn't your thing, but >> it wasn't my thing. But I think once we got back from COVID, I was kind of just like I want to do everything now because I missed out on so much during the pandemic and I was like now I'm going to do everything. I'm gonna end this year with like a bang before I leave. >> Yeah, that's a really good way that's a really good like positive take on on the

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pandemic. You know, the pandemic was was so negative for so many um so many good reasons, but your outlook of like, okay, I'm going to like seize the moment and like get involved and do all the things. Um I think Zoma, you were part of the first group of presidential ambassadors. It's a it's a relatively um popular group on campus of students who kind of go to admissions events and represent the college as like a student influencer. And um it's a group that I get to co-advise with my colleague Ali

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Mootz, our dean of students and someone was part of that first group. So that's a really special group for me. Kind of like our first class of students. I'm really proud that you were one of those. Um talk to me about your classes and studying health services. How did you know that was a field that you wanted to pursue? >> Yeah, so I've always been somebody who's like science, healthcare, all that stuff. Um, that's why I've chose the health services program in the first

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place. But like when I got to Manor, I think I really started to develop that love for like medicine. And when I took anatomy courses and biology and micro and nutrition and like I just loved learning about the human body so much and I knew that I wanted to work in healthcare, but you can ask anyone here. Everyone knew I was struggling to decide what exactly I wanted to do after I graduated, but I just knew that I wanted to work in healthcare at a hospital or like with like helping patients in whatever way I could. Um, but like I

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struggled with my four years of like trying to figure out what I wanted to do, which is like totally totally natural, totally normal. So many students don't know what to study, don't know even within that study then where to go. Oh, if you're studying business, it's like, okay, now now what's next? So, I think that's totally natural. So, did you feel that the health services gave you enough of like a foundation that then you could kind of pick specialty areas? >> Oh my gosh, absolutely. I always tell

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people that like taking anatomy and courses like medical terminology has helped me so much in my career as a data specialist. Like I've learned like so many things and now I'm a tutor for anatomy and those courses that I was studying like I tutor those courses now. So, I help students pass their anatomy exams and their biology and nutrition exams and it just feels like so good and like using those study tips that help me and like giving them to students and helping them pass their exams. And I

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tell people all the time like there's no un like feeling like like hearing that a student passed after I tutored them. Like that's like the best feeling and it's why I still do what I do here for the past like two or three years. >> Oh, I love that. Yeah. Thank you so much for like giving back. What a great way to give back to your alma mater is like by being a tutor and like sharing what you've learned and what you've know. I'm sure students really appreciate that and

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frankly we need good tutors. So that's really helpful. Um tell us about what you do for your career, what um I'm you know I don't work in the medical field obviously, but like what is a clinical research data specialist? It's a lot of words. Um what does that actually mean and what does your role mean to you? Yeah. So, we have a ton of cancer clinical trials at Fox chase. Um, we have different disease sites. So, we have like the gastrointestinal team. We have the sarcoma melanoma team. We have the

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genital urinary team. I am on the women's health team. So, my job basically includes entering and managing data for our clinical trials and on like gynecological and breast cancers. Basically, that's what my study portfolio includes. So I basically enter and manage the data into our softwares and when these studies close those results and that data gets pulled and that's how we publish results and get like all the information that we need to show that like this drug is effective versus like drugs that are already

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approved or like comparing drugs to other drugs that are already like on the market. >> Oh wow. That's complicated. It sounds complicated, but it sounds so important. And like you just think like doctors, you think of them doing the medical stuff, but there's so much more behind it. There's so much more. There's research, there's data, there's business, there's so much more. That's awesome. And um obviously Fox J Cancer Center is a pretty well-known entity in

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the area. How has your experience been? And how did you get this job? Was it um an internship that led you to it or what was your pathway to it? because you're a really recent grad with like a full-time job and employment. This is something that a lot of our students are striving for. And how did you do it? >> Yeah. So, I I love what I do. Like, I was just recently promoted back in April to a DA specialist, too. I just recently got certified the other day as a clinical research professional. And

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>> Congratulations. That's awesome. >> Thank you. Yeah. And um when I was at Manor, I was interning at Fox Chase with the help of my boss at the time. I'll probably get into that a little more later, but he basically helped me land this internship by show like kind of telling me like start looking for your internship junior year. Don't wait till your senior year, the year that you're graduating to look for an internship because they're not easy gets. And I started off by getting like a summer

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internship, a paid one. And I liked what I did there, but I wasn't fully in love with it, but it did teach me like what I didn't want to do for a career. And then I eventually started becoming like an intern volunteer. Like I liked Fox chase so much that I wanted to keep being there even if it meant like an unpaid position. So I always tell students now like even if it's an unpaid position it's good for the experience like definitely it's like even those kind of experiences are hard to get like in this

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day and age. So when you find an opportunity like that just take it like you need the experience to land a job. Um but yeah, I interned with them for about like six to nine months and then I started applying for positions talking to the human resources people there and after the interning and volunteering they eventually got to know me and they believe it or not human resources was the one who reached out to me and said hey like you know we interviewed you for other positions we don't think you were

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a fit for those but there's a position that we think you would be great for in clinical research how does this sound and I think a lot of people especially me I didn't think that like human resources would be calling me and being like, "Hey, there's a job." Like I kind of just thought like, you know, I had these interviews in the past, they didn't work out, moving along. But when I got that email, I was very like shocked and I remember interviewing thinking I like completely blew the

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interview. And then when I got the job, I was ecstatic. I was just like, "Oh my gosh, like this is something that worked out for me." And it just it ended up being something that I truly love. And I don't think I could ever see myself being in clinical research when I was at Manor. Like that's just something I couldn't picture myself doing. I didn't know how much goes into clinical research, how much goes into clinical trials. I had no idea that there's like a whole team of business people like how

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you said there's a whole like marketing aspect to it. There's a whole like, you know, there's so many laws and ethical like things behind it. So, I didn't know any of those things going into it. And I think now that I'm I've been in it for two to three years, like I'm learning just how much goes into approving a drug before it goes onto the market. >> Yeah. Wow. I love that. I love that story how it started with like an internship and just like being willing to like serve people and help people.

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and Fox Chase Cancer Center saw that in you and they saw like wow she is might not be the best fit for for this role, but her character, her passion for this is a fit for our um organization. So, major kudos to Fox chase Cancer Center and their HR team for like finding good people who they know, you know what I mean? That's really cool that they did that for you and I'm so happy. But I love your internship advice. I want to pause on that for a minute because I think that's really critical.

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So many students um they're eager, they want internships, but they they wait a little too late and you know they're competing against other students from other schools and and Philadelphia is one of the largest college um areas in the United States. So there's a lot of competition out there for internships at different organizations. So um giving getting that advice to like start your junior year, I'd even say start even earlier if you can. I always tell students, try to get multiple

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internships while you're in college because then you can kind of figure out what you do and don't like. Um, I like to tell the story when I was in college, I had four internships over my college career and I had one, which is kind of funny, I I had I had one at a magazine. I actually had two in a magazine. I really thought I was going to go into magazines. like that was going to be I probably watched too many romcom movies in the 2000s and thought that I was going to like move to New York and work

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in a magazine. It's going to be awesome. But then I had an internship at a magazine and I absolutely was miserable and I had another one another magazine and I hated it as well. So it was really good to like kind of give you a reality check of what you do and don't like. Um but um Zoma, was there anyone at Manor who was really like your cheerleader, inspirational, someone who or multiple people who were just really um your IT people, your go-tos while you were a student? >> Yeah. So, I would have to say the first

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person has to be my boss at the time when I was a library assistant, Richard Jutkiewicz. He was the head librarian at the time. He was also al also the director of career services which is fairly newer because he was the first to like be that person for people. So like this was when handshake came out and all those other things and like the career closet like he did all those things but he was the one who told me to look for this internship my junior year and he was the one who helped me with my resume. He helped me like prepare for

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the interview like by asking me like throwing questions at me and like you know kind of prepping me like teaching me about like professionalism, sending a thank you letter after an interview like all those different things like he taught me how to do. And then I remember like he was the one of the first people I told after I landed the job. He was so excited for me and even now like when I post things on LinkedIn like he's the first one of the first people to congratulate me. We still email back and

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forth. Like he was like he even he taught me how to do my taxes, Kelly. like it was hilarious and he was he was also like a business professor. He had an MBA so he helped me with like all the different things and he was also like my biggest supporter at the time. He helped me learn so much about like working and like careers and all those different things. But like professor-wise, I would have to say like I think everybody can attest to these. Dr. Dori, she's still my biggest cheerleader. We have lunch

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scheduled together in two weeks. Like it's great how I like keep these relationships with these like with these professors that helped me get to where I am today. Dr. Crosby, um Jenny Buechel, like they're all I talk to them like all the time. They're always here. >> My younger sister is here. So I like see the professors as I'm dropping her off and like you know wave to each other. But like I still keep in contact with all these people. And I think that's like the biggest thing about like being

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part of the Manor community. We're just all so close. We're like a family, >> right? I absolutely love that. We're definitely a family for better or for worse. Um, and it's really cool. It's cool that like you went from your actual family and then you know, Anupa, Ramesa, you and Mania now are all have had your own Manor experiences where you got like another family, an extended part of your family. Um, I love that. And obviously Rich was a huge influence for you and is still today. And that's

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really special that even when you graduate, even when you move on from Manor, um the people that you meet here, the people that are in your lives are going to remain in your lives in in those ways cheering you on. And that's really what it's all about at the end of the day. Um so Z, what advice would you give to current students? Why is Manor a great choice for them? I think my biggest piece of advice is to use the resources that you have available to you here. Like you're

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paying your tuition and you're here for a lot of the day. Use the resources that are presented to you. If you're a science student, use the anatomy models in the library. If you're a physical textbook person, use the physical textbook course reserves in the library. Like I'm a big advocator for the library, but there's other things. Your professors are resources. They can help you with finding jobs like the career the career services there's people around Manor who are willing to help

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you at all times. So your professors staff members there's computers we have laptops and now I heard that students are getting laptops and stuff too. So I think all those different kinds of resource tutoring you can come to me for tutoring that's a resource like you don't have to pay for it like you do at other colleges like all of those different things are all resources that are available to you to use. So use them to your advantage. Participate in clubs. Take initiative in kind of like leading

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projects and things, you know, do public speaking things like just anything that you feel like you can do better in. Find an opportunity to do that thing while you're here. It's the best place to test and start new things. You can start a club. You can do all those different kinds of things here at Manor. >> That's great. I love I love the plug for resources obviously because we do we have so many resources here at Manor College and we have wraparound services. We take a really holistic approach to

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students. So obviously we want them to get a degree and you know get good grades and do all those academic things. But there's tutoring, there's a food pantry, there's a career closet, there's a safe fund in case you need help paying a bill that month. There's academic support, there's a library, there's free, you know, free laptops. We're giving free meals to some students. There are so many ways to not just get help and support, but like make yourselves better. If you're a B student

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and you want to be an A student, we have support for that. If you're a D student and you want to become a C student, we have ways to help you. So, definitely um I totally echo what you're saying, Zoma, is like we have the resources, but students have to use the resources, you know? So, that's really important. But then also you're talking about like something you want to be better at. Like college is a great place to like practice things and like it's okay to fail in college. It's like a little

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bubble. It's safe if you mess up. It's okay. We'll give you grace. Um so definitely try to step out of your comfort zone. I think a lot of alumni give that advice is like use Manor to like step out of your comfort zone, meet new people. Um, and don't be don't be shy because this is a good safe space to like do that where you're gonna be okay. >> Thank you so much, Zoma, for spending some time with us. We wish you nothing but the best and I know we'll be seeing

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you around campus um either as tutoring or when you're hanging out with Mania, who I get to see all the time as she's one of our marketing interns. Um, but thanks Zoma so much and wishing you all the best. >> Thanks, Kelly. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories

00:22:34
about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always.