COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES | NEWSROOM
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- “Finish What You Start”: Russ Ebbets Completes Ƶ Degree 50 Years in the Making When Russ Ebbets arrived at Ƶ for his freshman year in the fall of 1972, he never would have expected that he would complete that degree more than 50 years later, having traveled the world, built a career and published a handful of books in between. After the many twists and turns of his life, he returned to CPS, with a bachelor's degree and multiple graduate degrees to his name, to proudly finish what he'd started decades prior.
- Degrees of Determination: Jen Villalobos is a Ƶ Story of Persistence and Pride Jen Villalobos’s journey to her degree wasn’t a straight path—it was a story of persistence, determination and the belief that it’s never too late to take the next step forward. The road to receiving her degree wasn’t without its challenges. As a working professional, wife, and mother of six in a blended family, Jen juggled a demanding job with part-time coursework.
- The Power of Design Thinking in Problem-Solving The top-down problem-solving approach is outdated. Linear, hierarchical paths handed down by leadership often miss the mark when solving challenges and thinking through projects. Design thinking - a dynamic shift in problem-solving - puts the user at the center of the process. It’s a game-changer for businesses and organizations seeking to create meaningful solutions to complex challenges.
- Digital Marketing is the Smartest Career Move You Haven't Made Yet Whether you’re a creative professional, an aspiring strategist or someone ready for a career reset, digital marketing offers a unique combination of relevance, adaptability and immediate ROI. The best part? You don’t need to start from scratch—you just need to upskill strategically.
- What to Do When the Job Market Feels Impossible Feeling stuck in your job search? Discover why it’s so hard to get hired right now—and how professional education can help you move forward with confidence.
- DMAIC Explained: The 5-Step Lean Six Sigma Method That Improves Processes Learn what DMAIC stands for and how this 5-step Lean Six Sigma method helps professionals improve processes, reduce waste and drive measurable results.
- CPS Graduate and Former Ƶ Basketball Star Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to Deliver Student Address at Ƶ's 2025 Commencement Jeremiah Robinson-Earl '25 CPS, a former member of the Ƶ Men’s Basketball team, has been selected as the student speaker at Ƶ’s 2025 Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. Robinson-Earl, currently a member of the New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA), completed his degree in General Studies online through the College of Professional Studies (CPS). This marks the first time that a CPS student will deliver the student address at Ƶ’s Commencement ceremony.
- VUnited Inclusive Employment Symposium Celebrates Neurodiversity and Accessibility in the Workplace This March marked the inaugural VUnited Inclusive Employment Symposium, an event championing neuroinclusion in the workforce. Created in conjunction with Ƶ’s VUnited Scholars the symposium welcomed lawmakers, employers, educators, students, and guests to discuss inclusive hiring practices. Presenters included Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro and speakers from KPMG, Comcast and Wawa.
- Think AI Will Replace HR? Think Again. As technology reshapes the workplace, it's not automation but human insight, strategy and ethical leadership that will define the future of HR--and the professionals who lead it.
- “It Felt Like Home”: How Ƶ’s Paralegal Certificate Launched Lauren Berry’s Legal Career When Lauren Berry arrived on Ƶ’s campus to study as part of the Fall 2023 cohort of the Paralegal Professional Certificate Program, she brought a standard five-subject notebook for class. As the program continued through the semester, covering 15 topics over just a few months, Lauren’s notebook slowly filled with all the knowledge she absorbed day after day. Now as she continues her path in the legal field, as a paralegal hopeful to attend law school and with aspirations to reach the top of the industry, her notebook is always nearby – a resource to remind her of the foundation of knowledge she’s built for a budding legal career.
- The Value of Professional Education The increasing demand in the workforce for highly skilled and specialized employees has propelled professional education and certificate programs to unprecedented heights in recent years. With future trends on an upward trajectory, there has never been a more crucial time to invest in your career with professional development programs.
- Lean Enterprise: How Shifting Your Perspective Can Impact the Bottom Line Lean methodologies can be applied to any industry or business function, as well as in your personal life. This bootcamp serves as a strong foundation for continuous improvement tools and techniques, including 5S, Poka-yoke and value stream mapping.
- Ƶ Offers New Textbook Access Program to Save Students on Class Materials Ƶ and the College of Professional Studies (CPS) seek to offer adult students a chance to earn their degrees at an elite university at a reasonable cost. However, the cost of textbooks and course materials has sometimes made that more difficult. Moving forward, credit students in the College of Professional Studies will be able to leverage a new textbook access program designed to make textbooks and other course materials more affordable.
- Igniting Innovation Through Entrepreneurship The Entrepreneurship Symposium connects aspiring entrepreneurs with established visionaries. Over one weekend, students across the University gathered to learn more about design thinking, pitch strategies, and how to take an idea to market. Ƶ alumni participated in discussion panels and other industry experts served as workshop instructors.
- Ƶ's Pre-College Summer Academy Offers Immersive Campus Experience Ƶ's Pre-College Summer Academy is a four-week intensive program, open to current juniors and seniors that gives students a taste of college life, earning them real college credits they can list on their transcript.