The Saint Leo 360° Podcast

Episode 33: Dr. Kathleen Van Eerden on Saint Leo's College of Health Professions

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, our guest is Dr. Kathleen Van Eerden, dean of the College of Health Professions at Saint Leo University. With its first degree program having launched in 2020, this is a very new college at Saint Leo under which a total of three high-demand programs will be offered starting in the fall of 2021. In this conversation, Dr. Van Eerden spoke about:

• Her background in nursing and academia, along with how she came to Saint Leo University
• The reasons behind starting the College of Health Professions
• Why Saint Leo launched the BS in Health Education and Health Promotion degree program
• Types of students this health education degree program is geared toward and where the program is offered
• Types of courses offered in this program, faculty in the program, and career opportunities with this health education degree
• Why Saint Leo started the BS in Respiratory Therapy degree program
• Types of students this respiratory therapy degree program is geared toward and where the program is offered
• Types of courses offered in this program, faculty in the program, and career opportunities with this degree
• Why Saint Leo started the BS in Nursing degree program
• Types of students this nursing degree program is geared toward and where the program is offered
• Types of courses offered in this program, faculty in the program, and career opportunities with this degree

 

Learn more about the College of Health Professions at Saint Leo University and these three exciting health sciences degree programs within the college at https://www.saintleo.edu/health-professions-degree.

Episode 32: Dr. Kenneth Embry on Saint Leo's Bachelor of Communication

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, our guest is Dr. Kenneth Embry, a faculty member in the undergraduate communication degree program in the Tapia College of Business at Saint Leo University. We also feature a guest host, Montserrat ‘Montse’ Molina, a senior multimedia management student who has had Embry for some courses in her degree program. Molina spoke with Embry about:

• His career before getting into teaching
• How he got into teaching and his journey to Saint Leo University
• His advice for prospective students thinking about enrolling in Saint Leo University’s Bachelor of Communication degree program
• Where the communication program is offered, the three tracks, and the faculty with complementary backgrounds who teach in this program
• The unique podcasting course offered in this program
• His own personal podcast and what he has learned from hosting it
• Why he asks students, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and how he helps them answer this question
• His teaching style
• What makes him proud to be a college professor
• Advice he would give a student thinking about going into the Communications field as a career
• Alumni success stories of those who have completed this degree program

 

Learn more about the Bachelor of Communication degree program offered at Saint Leo University at https://www.saintleo.edu/bachelor-communication-degree.

Episode 31: Dr. Holly Atkins on Saint Leo's BA in Education

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, Dr. Holly Atkins joins the conversation. Atkins, the chair of Saint Leo University’s undergraduate education program, discussed:

• Her teaching background in K-12 schools in Pinellas County and how she came to Saint Leo University
• The long and successful history of the undergraduate education program at Saint Leo
• Admission requirements of the program
• The Demographics and types of students who have enrolled in the education degree program and their career interests
• Where this program is offered
• The length of the program and credit requirements
• The various program tracks and minors
• An overview of the faculty who teach in the program and the one-on-one access students have to their instructors
• Field work requirements and connections this program has to local schools and organizations
• Examples of career opportunities with an undergraduate education degree
• Examples of alumni and their careers
• The graduate education programs at Saint Leo and how this program prepares students for graduate studies
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education and the future of remote learning for pre-K and K-12 students

 

Learn more about the undergraduate education program and its many options at Saint Leo University at https://www.saintleo.edu/education-degrees.

Episode 30: Social Work, Social Justice, and Unity Roundtable with 3 Social Work Faculty

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, we feature an engaging and thought-provoking roundtable discussion with three panelists who teach in the Bachelor of Social Work degree program at Saint Leo University. The panelists are Dr. Ebony Perez, chair of the undergraduate social work program, along with Prof. Christina Cazanave and Dr. Sha’leda Mirra. The three faculty members discussed:

• Why there is so much divisiveness in our society and how social media factors into this
• Simple starting points on how we can bring more unity to our population
• The meaning of the term “social justice” and what this concept represents in our society
• Why “social justice” is so much more than racial justice
• The diversity among the collective group who have shown support for social justice and unity over the past year
• How Saint Leo University has supported the positive efforts of the social justice movement from the standpoint of these three social work faculty members

Learn more about the Bachelor of Social Work degree program at Saint Leo University at https://www.saintleo.edu/social-work-bachelor-degree.

Episode 29: Dr. Judy Holcomb on Saint Leo's BA in International Hospitality Management

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, Dr. Judy Holcomb is our guest. An associate professor of international hospitality management at Saint Leo University, Dr. Holcomb spoke about:

• Her 25-year career in the hospitality field, how she got into teaching, and when she came to Saint Leo University
• When the Bachelor of Arts in International Hospitality Management degree program was started and why Saint Leo began offering it
• The demographics of the students who have enrolled in the program and their interests
• Where this undergraduate program is offered
• Program specializations and minors
• An overview of the faculty who teach in this hospitality program and those in the Tapia College of Business in general
• The access students have to their instructors
• General topics covered in the curriculum and examples of specific courses offered
• Connections to professional hospitality companies and organizations for internships, conferences, and future employment opportunities
• The main goals and outcomes of this program
• How common international hospitality management programs are in higher education and what separates this degree program from others
• Examples of career opportunities with this degree and careers Saint Leo University alumni have successfully pursued
• The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality field and why Dr. Holcomb envisions a bright future for the industry

Learn more about the bachelor’s in international hospitality management degree program at Saint Leo University at https://www.saintleo.edu/hospitality-management-international.

Episode 28: Discussing Saint Leo's Doctor of Business Administration with Dr. Dale Mancini

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, we catch up with Dr. Dale Mancini, the director of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Saint Leo University. Dr. Mancini discussed:

• A brief bio about himself and how he got into teaching for Saint Leo University
• The history of the Doctor of Business Administration program and why Saint Leo started the program
• The admission requirements
• The varied demographics and backgrounds of the types of students who have enrolled in this doctoral program
• Where the program is offered
• An overview of the program requirements
• Examples of courses
• The faculty who teach in the program and how they stand out
• Career opportunities and advancement possibilities with a DBA or any terminal degree on your resume
  
  Learn more about Saint Leo’s Doctor of Business Administration program at https://www.saintleo.edu/doctor-of-business-administration.

Episode 27: A Roundtable with 3 International Students Pursuing Graduate Degrees

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, we are joined by three international graduate students for a roundtable discussion. The students are Andrada Alston Gordan (Master of Accounting), Erik Hoffmann (MBA in Marketing), and
Ilia Iarmanov (MBA). During the conversation, they each spoke about:

• Which countries they are from and why they came to the United States
• How they initially learned about Saint Leo University and why they decided to enroll in a graduate degree program with the university and attend University Campus
• Assimilating in American culture
• Their respective graduate degree programs
• Notable Saint Leo professors and courses in their graduate studies
• Work opportunities and other involvement on campus
• How accepting the Saint Leo community has been to them
• Which Saint Leo University core values have resonated most with them
• Why they would recommend Saint Leo to other international students
• How Saint Leo University has prepared them in their careers

Learn more about the Master of Accounting degree program (MAcc) at Saint Leo at https://www.saintleo.edu/accounting-master-degree.

Find out more about Saint Leo’s MBA program and its numerous high-demand specializations at https://www.saintleo.edu/graduate-business-programs-admissions.

Episode 26: Exploring Saint Leo's Bachelor of Social Work Program with Dr. Ebony Perez

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, we are joined by Dr. Ebony Perez, chair of undergraduate social work at Saint Leo University. Dr. Perez discussed:

• Her education and practical experience working in the social work field
• The long and successful history of Saint Leo University’s Bachelor of Social Work degree program dating back to the 1960s
• The types of students who have enrolled in this undergraduate social work degree program and their career interests
• Where the program is offered and some nice flexible options for all types of learners
• The social work minor option and the other majors with which this minor can effectively be paired
• The background of the faculty in this program and their one-on-one access to Saint Leo students
• The types of courses offered in this social work degree program and some unique electives
• The requirement for students to attain practical experience through field placements and internships, along with specific connections Saint Leo University has to local organizations around the Tampa Bay area
• Opportunities for students to also earn a Master of Social Work degree from Saint Leo in just one year upon earning a Bachelor of Social Work degree
• Where Saint Leo BSW alumni are currently working and how their degree has helped them attain a variety of rewarding roles in the social work field
• How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the social work field and the increased opportunities within the field as a result of the pandemic’s effects on our society

 

Learn more about Saint Leo University’s Bachelor of Social Work degree program at https://www.saintleo.edu/social-work-bachelor-degree.

Find out more about Dr. Perez in her faculty bio at https://www.saintleo.edu/faculty-bios/Ebony-N-Perez-PhD-MSW.

Episode 25: Dr. Angela Manos, 32-Year Army Vet & Criminal Justice Professor

In this episode of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, 32-year Army veteran and Saint Leo University criminal justice professor Dr. Angela Manos is our guest. Dr. Manos spoke about:

• Growing up in a military family that constantly moved due to her dad serving in the U.S. Navy
• How she was one of the first females to go through basic training and serve in a unit with men in the Army’s Military Police Corps
• Serving several deployments in third-world countries
• Her 18-month deployment to Afghanistan
• How she and her comrades supported each other in the military, including the wives of her fellow male soldiers
• What she learned most from her military service
• Receiving a Purple Heart and a combat action badge
• Her post-military life and involvement in the Wounded Warrior Project and other organizations
• How she got into teaching for Saint Leo University as an adjunct instructor and then as a full-time professor
• Teaching in Saint Leo’s criminal justice degree programs online
• Her involvement in Saint Leo’s Criminal Justice Association online group
• What prospective students can expect out of Saint Leo’s online criminal justice degree programs

Learn more about Dr. Angela Manos in this blog article: https://www.saintleo.edu/blog/after-32-years-in-army-a-purple-heart-vet-now-serves-saint-leo.

Episode 24: Talking Cybersecurity with Dr. Marwan Omar

In Episode 24 of the Saint Leo 360 podcast, we catch up with Dr. Marwan Omar, an assistant professor of computer science at Saint Leo University in its undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity degree programs. Omar discussed:

• His education and unique work history prior to coming to Saint Leo University
• The bachelor’s in cybersecurity program at Saint Leo
• The types of students who have enrolled in the undergraduate cybersecurity program and their interests and pursuits
• The faculty and types of classes offered in the cybersecurity bachelor’s program
• Career opportunities one may pursue with a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree and practical experience through internships and other opportunities
• The master’s in cybersecurity program, where it is offered, and the types of students who have enrolled in this graduate degree program
• The faculty who teach in the master’s program
• How the master’s program blends technical and managerial topics of the cybersecurity field for advanced learners
• The MBA with a specialization in Cybersecurity Management
• The current state and future of the cybersecurity field
• How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted cybersecurity and the need for more security with millions of people working remotely

For more information on the cybersecurity bachelor’s program at Saint Leo University, visit https://www.saintleo.edu/cyber-security-degree.

Learn more about the master’s in cybersecurity program at https://www.saintleo.edu/masters-degree-in-cyber-security.

Get the scoop on Saint Leo’s MBA with a specialization in Cybersecurity Management at https://www.saintleo.edu/cyber-security-management-mba-online.