Juggling the Worlds of Work and Academics to Get Ahead

The College of Professional Studies celebrated GW’s Bicentennial and 20 years of promoting career growth and change.

June 19, 2021

Janis Nicholas, Randy Townsend, Nikita Thompson

CPS alumni Janis Nicholas, Randy Townsend and Nikita Thompson.

The College of Professional Studies (CPS) signature event commemorating George Washington University’s Bicentennial featured a distinguished panel of alumni who described the personal and professional growth they’ve experienced through participation in CPS programs.

CPS, founded 20 years ago, is one of the university’s newer colleges, created for non-traditional students who already are working and hope to advance careers or change professions by completing bachelor’s degrees, pursuing master’s degrees or participating in graduate certificate and noncredit programs in a variety of fields.

Melissa Feuer, the CPS interim dean, opened the online discussion, “The Changing Nature of Higher Education and Career Transitions,” noting that one of the college’s unique characteristics “is that it produces leaders in many different fields. Each of these fields is especially relevant to the challenges and opportunities the world currently faces.”

She highlighted the academic mastery and practical experience the college offers in information technology, cybersecurity, homeland security, publishing, paralegal services, political management and health care corporate compliance.

Nicole Mintz, CPS director of career services, moderated the live group discussion with the alumni panelists, including:

  • Janis Nicholas, B.P.S. '21 (Cybersecurity), 
    Manager, IT Service Delivery GW Office of Technology Services;
     
  • Randy Townsend, M.P.S. '11 (Publishing),
    Director of Publication Operations, American Geophysical Union, editor-in-chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, publishing faculty member.
     
  • Nikita Thompson, CERT ‘20, ’21 (Paralegal Studies, Healthcare Corporate Compliance). Currently working at the U.S. Senate and a master’s candidate in Paralegal Studies.
      


More information about the event: