Title: Senior Adjunct Lecturer

Department: Paul H. Cook Department of Information Systems & Statistics

Years teaching: 30+

Courses taught: Information Systems and Technologies, Internship Programs, Principles of MIS, Wall Street Career Program (Excel), Executive Education Bootcamp (Excel)

Teaching modality: Face-to-Face, Online Synchronous, and Asynchronous

Typical class size: 25-30

Why do you embed career readiness into your course(s)?

With over 37 years of experience, I have embedded career readiness into my courses to ensure students leave the classroom equipped with more than just academic knowledge—they develop practical communication, analytical, and professional skills essential for the workforce. By simulating real-world scenarios, such as presenting to a boss or interviewing a professional in the field, they gain hands-on experience that builds confidence and prepares them for internships, job interviews, and future careers. It’s important that they clearly see the connection between classroom learning and real-world applications.

How are you currently embedding career readiness into your course(s)?

In my courses, I embed career readiness by incorporating VoiceThread assignments where students must present their work as if they are explaining it to a supervisor. For example, when completing Excel, research or algorithmic tasks, students record themselves walking through their analysis, solutions, etc. building confidence in articulating technical skills—an essential ability for job interviews. Many students have shared that this practice helped them feel more prepared when discussing skillsets during actual interviews.

Additionally, students complete a research paper that requires interviewing a professional in the field they are exploring. This not only provides authentic, real-world insights but also deepens the relevance of the topic. Students then share their findings with the class, allowing everyone to benefit from these external perspectives.

What teaching tools and/or resources do you recommend faculty utilize when embedding career readiness into their curriculum?

I recommend faculty incorporate tools and strategies that simulate real-world professional experiences and encourage students to actively communicate their skills. Platforms like VoiceThread/VOCAT and requiring videos within Brightspace enable students to present their work in a workplace-style format, helping them build confidence and improve articulation. LinkedIn Learning is an excellent resource for enhancing course content with industry-relevant tutorials and certifications. Assignments can also be enriched by requiring students to conduct informational interviews with professionals, offering valuable insight into career paths and current industry practices. Finally, integrating AI tools into coursework allows students to develop essential digital literacy and learn how to use emerging technologies effectively—a critical skill in today’s workforce. Baruch also offers many talks from industry leaders which occur during the semester. Sharing these with your class can encourage them to learn from industry experts.

What’s the best advice about teaching you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received about teaching is to teach students, not just content. While subject matter is important, the real difference comes from empathy—understanding their goals, challenges, and motivations.

How would you best describe your teaching style?

My rewarding teaching “wins” occur when former students share that a VoiceThread assignment directly helped them land an internship. In the assignment, they had to present their solution to an Excel problem as if I were their supervisor—mirroring a real workplace scenario. During the interview, they were asked to explain how they applied Excel in a class project, and they confidently referenced the assignment, impressing the interviewer. It was a powerful moment that reinforced how simulating real-world experiences in the classroom can have a lasting impact on students’ career readiness.