The View - Spring 2024

Couple Graduates Together

And overcomes obstacles along the way

A Slice of Education

Marco’s Pizza partners with BU to help supervisors grow

Unbroken Optimist

Alum turns hardship into opportunity

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover:

Clinical Counseling student Ashley Brugmann has found a fulfilling career as a Mental Health Co-Responder embedded in the Omaha Police Department’s Northwest Precinct.

PARTNERS IN WORD AND DEED

Mission Statement

To deliver career-focused, cost-effective education with unmatched care and respect for our learners.

Vision

To boldly adapt to a rapidly changing world to ensure our learners have the skills and support they need to make an impact in the global workforce. Values

We keep our promises (Integrity)

We listen intently and embrace everyone and their ideas (Empathy)

We are willing to go farther and act fearlessly to help our learners achieve their goals (Courage) We move with urgency and don’t wait for others to take action (Innovation)

We step up and work together to create a better world (Collaboration)

Earlier this year, we took on the important task of defining our Bellevue University brand and aligning our internal team members on our brand’s purpose and how we express it.

One of our key insights was how far we’re willing to go to help learners realize their potential. Faculty in every college and staff across multiple departments shared instances of obstacles that learners faced and how our team came together to address them. Things that traditional higher education institutions aren’t known for, are the exact same items that top our list to figure out and change for good. Notably, the challenges we target are diverse because we partner with learners from varied backgrounds. Collectively, they have a staggering number of life experiences. One specific way we partner with learners is through business relationships with their employers. A terrific example is the People and Business Leadership certificate program that we helped Marco’s Pizza put in place for their

front-line supervisors. You can read more about that skills-based program on page 9.

Through education, we also champion partnerships in the public sphere. On page 6, you’ll find a story about Ashley Brugmann, a co-responder in the Omaha Police Department. Ashley uses the knowledge and skills she has gained from her Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Counseling coursework in her role. Over the last year, she and her fellow unit members have helped prevent a suicide and also comforted individuals after a retail store shooting.

Ashley’s story is unique, but it also represents our promise to do whatever it takes to help you – and every member of the Bellevue University community – succeed.

Dr. Mary Hawkins President, Bellevue University

Student Shares Powerful Message at Commencement

The student commencement speaker at the University’s 2024 Winter Commencement shared a powerful message during her address.

Nearly 500 graduates walked across the stage on January 27 to accept their diplomas at Bellevue University’s winter commencement ceremony. The ceremony featured business speaker Paul Maass, Chief Executive Officer of Scoular, and student speaker Meghann M. Below is an excerpt from her speech.

I want to tell you my story…

From my earliest memories, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer and then a judge or magistrate. I grew up watching a show that seemed to always be on in my grandparents’ house; Judge Wapner in The People’s Court – a TV show that showed a real life judge on TV making rulings. I loved it. I used to play People’s Court with my stuffed animals. Even at a young age I knew that I would be a lawyer. I went through school confident that I had a firm life plan and that I knew the way to become a magistrate.

After high school I was enrolled at Bellevue University in the fall of 1997. I was about to turn 19. That summer after my freshman year I fell in love with the boy next door. We quickly got engaged, bought a fixer-upper, and got married. All that was expensive and I found myself working two jobs. With a marriage

and a mortgage, life got in the way of my education. I couldn’t keep up with everything and I wound up dropping out of college. Busy with life, as the kids got older and life went on, I forgot about my unfinished degree.

March 17, 2022, found me sitting in a courtroom waiting to present a case. By this time I’d left the insurance company and instead I’d been doing property management for 15 years. I watched a lawyer incorrectly present a case before me. The magistrate watched as I stood up and helped him, showing him forms and what he needed to do next.

A few minutes later, when it was my turn and I’d presented my case, the magistrate asked me to stay after to talk with him. He took me into his chambers and stared directly at me and told me I should have been a lawyer. I said that had been my lifelong dream. As we continued to talk he asked what was stopping me from going to law school. I was forced to confess that I had never graduated college. I used my old excuse that had worked for me so long. I told him “life got in the way.” He talked about his life before becoming a magistrate and that he, too, hadn’t graduated college on time. As an adult he took night classes, got his college degree and went to law school at age 48.

He asked how old I was and I said 43 and that I had two years of school left. He replied, “You’re going to be 45 anyway. Do you want to be 45 and have a degree? Or do you just want to be 45? It’s not life getting in the way. It’s you in your way.” That lit a fire within me.

I called Bellevue University the next day and re-enrolled.

Fifteen months later I stand before you now having completed my Associate’s Degree. I’m enrolled at Bellevue again, this time going for a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies. After that, it’s law school. That’s my way.

It’s too easy to make excuses, to think of excuses, to find reasons to justify the excuses…I know that all too well. I’d done it for a quarter of a century. Only when we realize the excuses are what is holding us back is when we realize we have the key to our futures. Instead, embrace the challenges and obstacles you see in life. Life doesn’t get in the way, it’s us that get in our own way.

I challenge you today to NOT get in your way.

Be the way.

Dynamic Duo Masters Higher Education Together

Dr. Carrie Carbajal

Carrie Carbajal doesn’t let obstacles stand in her way. In fact, when facing a barrier, she takes matters into her own hands.

That’s exactly why she enrolled in Bellevue University’s Human Capital Management doctoral program.

Carrie previously earned a Master of Business Administration from the University in 2013, followed by a Master of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management in 2017. During this period, she also worked for the government and faced having her accommodations taken away.

“I am deaf, but I don’t see myself as deaf as I don’t know sign language and use my voice to speak,” she explained. “I have a cochlear implant and a hearing aid, allowing me to hear sounds and communicate with others. However, the workplace can be challenging for those with disabilities, such as hearing loss. After working for a federal agency, having my accommodations taken away after five years, and then going to another government agency to sit at a desk for seven months with no training and no accommodations. I decided a change was needed.”

This decision was reaffirmed when Carrie heard Dr. Rebecca Murdock, Dean of the College of Business, speak at the 2017 Bellevue University commencement ceremony.

“‘No matter where we go, we are all unique, and the opportunities are endless. If we want to change the world, to make it better, then it is up to us as individuals to make the greatest change to humanity.’”

“This struck a chord within me so deeply that I decided it was up to me to change how society sees people with disabilities, especially hearing loss,” Carrie recalled.

Carrie determined that to do so, she needed to either become a lawyer or get her doctorate. She looked into Bellevue University’s Human Capital Management doctoral program and realized it would be the perfect fit for her, as it focuses on how employers can use practices such as optimizing employee engagement and productivity through managing and producing needed skill sets in the workforce.

In March 2018, she was accepted into the program.

“The rigorous challenges of the program later enabled me to produce my best work successfully,” Carrie said.

In December 2022, she defended her dissertation, titled “Why Are You Not Asking for Workplace Accommodations? Exploring the Attitudes and Behaviors of Individuals with Hearing Loss Requesting Workplace Accommodations: A Phenomenological Study.”

Carrie was then set to graduate in January 2023 alongside her husband, Daniel, who earned a master’s degree in data science.

“I was very excited for both of us,” Carrie said. “However, Daniel had to have back surgery right before graduation due to a car accident. Therefore, we had to cancel all of our plans and put our focus on Daniel’s recovery and rehabilitation. We both needed him to be able to walk, and thus, we focused on graduating on June 2 (doctoral hooding) and June 3, respectively.”

Today, the couple lives in Fairfield, California. Daniel is employed by a company that works on lunar technology on behalf of NASA and other classified projects. His Master of Science Degree in Data Science from Bellevue University directly impacts that work and boosts his skill set as a digital signal processing engineer.

“As a DSP engineer, having a data science background is essential because technology is advancing and turning into machine learning and adaptive systems, primarily related to data science,” he explained. “Nowadays, organizations are collecting large data sets, and knowing how to use this data is beneficial in many engineering applications.”

government-related skills since we would be working with the government. A cybersecurity degree will allow me to achieve that goal.”

Carrie’s plans for herself include writing a book about hearing loss and accommodations in the workplace, as well as advancing some of the research she found in her dissertation.

As for the company the couple hopes to establish, Daniel feels it will combine the best of their skills.

“From engineering, data science and cybersecurity to federal contracting and human capital management, we can provide services that best optimize our talents and what we have learned from Bellevue University,” he said.

Carrie shared that attending college alongside her husband was both a surreal and fun experience.

“I never expected Daniel to want or find a program that he wanted to take at Bellevue University, but he knew that my experience since getting my two master’s degrees was nothing but positive,” she said.

“I am so lucky we have this journey of great memories to reflect on and share in each other’s accomplishments more personally. Of course, we couldn’t have done it without the support of Bellevue University’s faculty and staff.”

Carrie also shared a quote from Professor of Leadership Stephen Linenberger, who was part of her dissertation committee, that she carries with her today.

“Before attending Bellevue University, my future goal was to go into business with my wife, as she has over 10 years of government contracting experience,” he said. “We would make a great team with her skill set. I realized I needed

“He would say, ‘Leadership can be an innate skill, and it is a learned skill. Life experiences shape who we are, and sometimes these experiences can create a desire to lead,’” she said. “I now choose to lead, and thus Bellevue University has had a profound impact on how I see myself in the world today.”

Daniel added that he’s currently enrolled in Bellevue University’s cybersecurity master’s program.

Daniel Carbajal

Clinical Counseling Degree Offers Skills & Career

Path for Omaha Co-Responder

Ashley Brugmann’s longstanding desire to help people by listening to them led the Gretna, Nebraska, native to a rewarding and fulfilling career in the mental health field. Brugmann, 28, enrolled in Bellevue University’s 60-credit M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) degree program to become better at her current job and qualify for career advancement opportunities.

“Growing up, and even in school, I never really felt heard. So, I’ve always wanted to make sure that others have someone there who will actively listen and give their full attention,” said Brugmann, one of six Mental Health Co-Responders attached to the Omaha Police Department’s (OPD) Behavioral Health and Wellness Unit. All but Brugmann are licensed counselors.

A Co-Responder since May 2021, Brugmann has been embedded in the Omaha Police Department’s Northwest Precinct, monitoring police radio dispatch and emergency 911 channels and responding to calls that have a mental health component. Wearing civilian clothing and a large-print ID vest or jacket covering her bullet-proof vest, she arrives equipped with basic first aid training and her professional knowledge and experience.

“I love the crisis field and working with first responders, because it’s something new every single day. You’re able to connect with people in their worst moments,” Brugmann said, who plans to complete her coursework and internship requirements in March 2024. Her resume so far, includes an Associate’s degree in Human Services,

Last year, Ashley Brugmann (second from right) received the Omaha Police Department’s “Preservation of Life Ribbon” citation for de-escalating a suicide situation after a woman was reported outside the guardrail of a bridge crossing the Interstate 680 beltway in northwest Omaha.

Metro Community College; a Bachelor of Social Work degree, University of Nebraska-Omaha; and an M.S. in Justice Administration and Crime Management (now Criminal Justice) degree (2019), Bellevue University; and three-plus years as a child family and service specialist for Nebraska Child Protective Services investigating and managing cases of alleged child abuse and neglect, gathering collateral information and testifying at court proceedings.

Last year, Brugmann and Co-Responder Carolina Soto received Omaha Police Department “Preservation of Life Ribbon” citations for de-escalating a potential suicide situation after a woman was reported standing outside the guardrail of a bridge crossing the Interstate 680 beltway in northwest Omaha. In a collaborative effort, Omaha Police Department officers recruited several semitrailer drivers from the jammed Interstate traffic to move their rigs under the bridge while other officers shut down the street and on-ramps and Omaha firefighters climbed to the top of a trailer and used a ladder to rescue the distressed woman.

“Once we got the woman off the bridge and she was safe, I was able to stay with her until we got her safely to the hospital. She was able to get connected to the appropriate resources.”

This January, Brugmann and others responded to comfort distressed shoppers and employees at a west Omaha Target store shortly after a man entered the store and began firing an AR-15 rifle, sending frightened store occupants running for cover. Within minutes, the man was shot dead by an Omaha Police Department officer after repeatedly refusing to put his weapon down. Brugmann commended the actions of first responders and Target managers for their response and said her work experiences have both complemented and affirmed what she is learning from her CMHC coursework.

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program now enrolls well over 600 students, making it the University’s largest graduate program, according to Dr. Barb Daubenspeck, Program Director. Enrollment has more than doubled since 2017, when the program earned accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Accreditation was an important milestone for the program and enrollment growth, said Daubenspeck, who led and orchestrated the combined efforts of University faculty and staff. More than 100 graduate students from throughout the U.S. now complete the program each year.

Most pursue state licensure, often a required qualification for working as a counselor, and graduates’ job placement rate is 100%. There are now 15 full-time and 10 adjunct faculty, most of whom have CACREP-required Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision degrees and are counselor practitioners themselves.

Adversity and personal tragedy over a period of years have redirected Daubenspeck’s perspective on human behavior from the academic to the applied side, and she decided to pursue a counseling license herself. In 2010, she lost her longtime Psychology Department Chair position when Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, closed, and divorce abruptly ended her 18-year marriage. After remarrying, she and her husband lost a newborn son. She has been counseling part-time for five years, meeting with 10 to 15 clients a week, in addition to teaching and directing the CMHC program.

“I absolutely love counseling. It is such a gift to be able to sit with people and be a witness to their difficulty and pain as well as their successes,” said Daubenspeck.

“My passion is working with future mental health professionals and helping them to not only learn about counseling and develop counseling skills, but also helping them shift their professional identities and become counselors.”

University Partners with Google to offer Education Reimbursement

Googlers now have a new education benefit, thanks to a partnership between Google and Bellevue University.

The benefit comes in the form of enhanced education assistance and will allow all Googlers to attend Bellevue University and have their tuition costs paid for by Google and Bellevue University.

“Googlers are on a mission to make the world’s information universally accessible. We’re doing the same thing with careerrelevant education.”

- Jim Nekuda, Bellevue University’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships

Googlers’ immediate family members will also receive a Bellevue University education benefit of up to $2,500 a year. Googlers and their immediate family members can choose from more than 50 online bachelor’s degrees and nearly 30 master’s degrees at Bellevue University.

Zack Wineinger, Manager of Data Center Operations-SRP for Google, said the company is looking forward to expanding its educational benefits to build both job-related and personal learning skills.

“Partnering with Bellevue University is a great new option for our team members who need a quality education and the flexibility to fit education into their busy work and family schedules,” he said. Google has created 120+ jobs in Nebraska and 900-plus in Iowa.

Googlers can get more information online at google.corporatelearning.com

Employee Growth Focus Helps Individuals

and Organizations Succeed

In addition to its partnership with Google, Bellevue University helps more than 125 other organizations around the country realize the exponential value of investing in their employees.

The University serves students from some of the country’s best-known brands, such as Walmart, The Walt Disney Company, Target and Chipotle, through its partnership with Guild, and has many other direct partnerships with corporations and non-profit organizations.

Jim Nekuda, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, said the impact is notable, no matter what size of organization is involved. “When employees receive an education from Bellevue University, they are transformed,” he said. “The confidence and skills they gain in the classroom help them grow personally, and also help their company grow and succeed in the marketplace.”

For more information on Bellevue University’s employee growth planning programs, contact epettinger@bellevue.edu.

Marco’s Pizza Partners to Pilot Leadership Education Program for Front-Line Employees

Last year, Marco’s Pizza, the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brand rolled out a different kind of ingredient – college-level educational courses for its franchise supervisors and shift leaders.

Sixteen Marco’s Pizza franchise supervisors from markets across the country were selected to participate in a pilot People and Business Leadership certificate program through the pizza brand’s partnership with Bellevue University’s College of Technology, Engineering and Management.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to add value to our people,” said Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Marco’s Pizza Rod Sanders. “We’re a performance brand and we know we succeed only when we value everyone and help our people to succeed. This program is another ingredient that we believe will contribute to our team members by preparing them for a lifetime of success, inside or outside of Marco’s Pizza.”

“The class really taught me to see the bigger picture, that there are different ways to train and communicate with my team,” said Elizabeth Fields, Marco’s Pizza General Manager in Illinois. “I loved that the course was online, and I plan to take what I’ve learned and put it into action at my store.”

According to Dr. Matt Davis, Bellevue University Executive Vice President and Dean of the College, the certificate program, where students master essential business management and leadership skills in two courses, is built to be accessible to front-line workers like those at Marco’s Pizza.

“Great management and leadership skills can be learned,” said Dr. Davis, noting that the certificate program’s curriculum is based on a program used successfully by one of the nation’s leading retailers. “Now we’ve taken it to the next level with a mobile-first course design that incorporates relevance, rigor, and respect for the learner’s time.”

For the Marco’s Pizza team members who successfully complete the program, the eight credit hours they earn can be applied toward an undergraduate, four-year college degree. The pizza brand is already looking ahead to opening the program to a new class of supervisors.

“Marco’s will look to evaluate the program’s long-term impact using feedback from participants and we hope to track retention over time,” added Sanders.

The ultimate goal of the program is to upskill Marco’s Pizza employees while also boosting the company’s overall employee satisfaction and engagement.

“This educational opportunity not only helps our stores as team members are learning skills they can apply on the job, they’re also learning skills that they’ll take with them throughout their lives - it’s truly a win-win situation,” affirmed Sanders.

*Marco’s Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand based on year-over-year unit growth, according to 2022 NRN Top 500 U.S. Restaurant Ranking LSR Pizza Segment.

Alum Turns Hardship Into Opportunity Through Determination, Education

Bellevue University alumnus Kofi Douhadji has spent nearly his whole life transforming poverty into possibility. Growing up in a village in west Africa, he was often embarrassed by the handme-downs he wore. “My parents couldn’t afford clothing, and kids would come up to me and say ‘that’s my t–shirt’,” he said.

Douhadji’s entrepreneurial spirit arose early on, as he found ways to see past his circumstances. ”I changed the clothes so they would become something so unique that whoever owned them before couldn’t recognize them,” he said. He became so good at the technique that he customized clothes for his fellow students in exchange for food and school supplies. This later became the inspiration for his first business.

Fulfilling Dreams with a Big Move

After graduating with a degree in civil engineering, Douhadji started his first company in Togo in 2008. It was the first of several entrepreneurial ventures, including a media company, an executive coaching business and a line of athletic wear.

Though he had a successful engineering career in Africa, Douhadji felt there was more to explore. He remembers having a fascination with the United States from a young age. “I was a fan of the culture and America’s place on the world stage,”

he said. In 2016, he moved to the U.S. with his wife and young daughter. “We left everything behind and started new in the U.S,” he said. It was the best decision I ever made.”

Giving Back Through Service

After relocating across the globe, Douhadji felt gratitude for the opportunities that opened up for his family. “One time I was watching my daughter in the living room, so happy and carefree,” he said.

“I am thankful my daughter gets to have a different life than I had. I just felt so grateful and started looking for ways to give back to this wonderful country.”

He became a United States citizen, joined the Air Force and has since become a commissioned officer.

“I came in and I just loved it,” he said.

Pursuing New Paths Through Education

Coming to the U.S. also empowered Douhadji to pursue his long-term goals and interests.

“Civil engineering was more to make a living, but when I moved here, I wanted to align myself with my purpose in life.”

Kofi Douhadji with his family. He and his wife now have three children.

His true passion is inspiring and lifting others up.

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Analysis and Management, and a Master of Science in Management helped him increase his skills and knowledge across all his pursuits.

“I learned about Bellevue University when I was stationed in Washington state,” Douhadji said. “I researched online, and found out that Bellevue University had an office on base, where you could go talk to real people and discuss your goals.”

He earned both degrees online, and said the way the courses are structured set him up for success.

“There were many things that I could apply immediately to my military career, my businesses and my personal development,” he said. “They were not abstract concepts that you would apply to some job, some day. I loved this a lot.”

He said the supportive staff and faculty at Bellevue University played a large role in his success. “They worked with me on tuition and using my GI Bill, and showed a lot of compassion,” he said.

In fact, Douhadji still stays in touch with some of the professors he met. “You can reach out any time you need help, and they’ll be there.”

Writing His Own Future

Douhadji always wanted to be an author, and he brought that dream to life when he wrote “Unbroken Optimist.”

“I wanted to get as close as possible to my personal experiences. When we share our story, we make the world less lonely for others who relate.”

With the book, Douhadji hopes to help others transform and lead the lives they want. “People overlook their potential and let external conditions control their lives,” he said. “I got out of poverty intentionally, worked to create jobs for others, and made it all the way to Bellevue University and beyond.”

Douhadji and his wife now have three children and he hopes to pass on the lessons he’s learned. “I want to create and foster an environment where my kids can design their own lives and be good stewards in the world,” he said.

Kofi Douhadji earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Analysis and Management and went onto earn a Master of Science in Management degree. Today, he is an author, speaker, coach, entrepreneur and commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.

He plans to keep learning and growing to impact the world through writing, coaching and speaking. In fact, Douhadji has a second book coming out soon. “I want to bring the best to the world to make the impossible possible where I can.”

Graduate Pursues Successful Career in Clinical Psychology

When Faigy Mandelbaum considered her options for college, she knew she wanted to study in an environment that would provide her with a secular education while being supportive of her Jewish faith.

“It was important to me that I join a college that was welcoming to me and my religious values,” she said. “Bellevue University maintains a strong collaboration with the Jewish community, which we are very grateful for.”

That collaboration is showcased through Bellevue University’s partnership with Yeshiva Initiatives Educational Programs (YIEP). The customized programs, administered through the University, allow Orthodox Jews to continue their education in an environment that is respectful of their lifestyle and cultural customs.

Mandelbaum’s choice to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science and Human Services at Bellevue University was inspired by her experiences working in a shelter for homeless and runaway youth in the Jewish community.

“I was amazed at the resilience of these teenagers who had gone through tremendous childhood trauma and, with the right therapeutic supports, were able to move toward healing.”

She said. “I was curious about the recovery process in trauma, which led me to discover my interests in therapy, applied clinical research, and teaching undergraduate students – the combination of which led me to continue my education for my doctoral degree in clinical psychology.”

Mandelbaum graduated from Bellevue University with a 4.0 GPA in December 2014. She then completed a post baccalaureate in psychology at Brooklyn College before earning a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Hofstra University, where she’s currently a sixth-year Ph.D. student.

In 2022, Mandelbaum was selected to receive the prestigious Fulbright Research Award. The Fulbright Israel open-study award is granted to three individuals each year based on academic excellence, the leadership promise of the applicant, and their potential to both advance

knowledge and enhance mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Israel.

During her 10-month Fulbright fellowship, Mandelbaum studied the impact of childhood trauma on the development of complex-PTSD in Israeli lone soldiers.

“My Fulbright experience was incredibly meaningful because I was able to collaborate for an entire year with Dr. Rachel Dekel, Ph.D., a fabulous professor at the Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work at Bar-Ilan University, Israel, whose work I really appreciate,”

Mandelbaum said. “Dr. Dekel studies how PTSD impacts not only the person who has it, but the family members and spouse of the individual. It has been a tremendously rewarding opportunity to learn from her this past year, and I am hopeful that I will have future opportunities to collaborate with her and her lab.”

Another effort that Mandelbaum is proud of is having the opportunity to represent the Orthodox Jewish community, and more specifically, the Bais Yaakov school system across a wide spectrum of audiences from around

the globe, including as a representative of Israel at a Middle Eastern North African Conference hosted by Jordan, where she presented her research on Israeli lone soldiers.

“Many people who have experienced abuse in their early years find that as adults, they struggle with complexPTSD, trust difficulties, relationship difficulties, depression and high levels of anxiety,” she explained. “My research aims to improve evidence-based and culturally sensitive therapies to help people find healing.”

This year, Mandelbaum moved to Boston to complete a dialectical behavior therapy-focused internship at McLean Hospital-Harvard Medical School.

Looking further into the future, Mandelbaum hopes to be a researcher, professor and clinician in complex trauma, virtual reality treatment for phobias and trauma, and continue supporting lone soldiers and lone soldier veterans.

“I am particularly interested in the overlap between neuroscience, technology and psychology,” she said. “I think that over the next few years, the world of neuroscience and technology will increasingly influence trauma treatments. I have had some access to this overlap in my work as a therapist in the Phobia and Trauma Clinic at Hofstra University where I used virtual reality exposure therapy to treat phobias and PTSD symptoms.”

Mandelbaum added, “I would not have reached this point of my education without the foundations that I received during my undergraduate education. I will always be grateful to Bellevue University for starting me on this journey.”

Bellevue University’s Counseling Program Serves “Amazing Group”

Bellevue University’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is the only Jewish Orthodox-sensitive program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP). CACREP is an independent accredited agency that assures graduate counseling programs throughout the United States and the world meet standards within the counseling profession.

To date, more than 1,000 YIEP learners have graduated from Bellevue University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and other programs.

According to Program Director, Dr. Barb Daubenspeck, “the YIEP cohort students are an amazing group. Many have large families, demanding jobs, and other community and personal responsibilities, yet engage with the faculty and the courses at a very high level.”

Pro Soccer Player Drives Toward Goal with Bellevue University

This article first appeared in “From the Pitch” a series sponsored by the USL. The author is Leo Fernandes, a professional soccer player with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, in the USL, and a Bellevue University student.

I loved my time at Stony Brook University.

We had a great team every year. We were really good, we were very competitive, and I played with some of my closest friends, relationships that continue to this day.

What’s more, I took that opportunity to drive toward my goal of becoming a professional soccer player. The individual awards I won for the Seawolves – being voted America East Midfielder of the Year three times among them – helped get me on the radar.

So did the influence of my coaches. First there was Cesar Markovic, who recruited me. This 17-year-old kid from Long Island, who brought me on board. Then there was Ryan Anatol, who is now still the Head Coach

and is continuing to do great things for the program. Coach Anatol made the connections for me with the Philadelphia Union and their USL League Two affiliate Reading United AC to help my development.

If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

For everything I accomplished, though, there is one thing I regret –I didn’t finish my degree.

To be honest, growing up, school just wasn’t the main focus. I think it was partly because my parents were from Brazil, and I was born in Brazil, so we didn’t really know how the system worked here. My number one goal was to play professional soccer, so every day I was at Stony Brook, the work was to make it as a pro, and school came second.

Thankfully, I achieved my primary aim, even if getting picked in the old MLS Supplemental Draft wasn’t the most glamorous entryway. No, I didn’t get to shake Don Garber’s hand, and I didn’t get a scarf to mark the moment. Actually, my agent called me before the Union did to let me know. My name appeared on the league website, and it was off to training camp.

A decade on from leaving Stony Brook, though, I’m happy to say I’m back in school. And, what’s more, I love my new routine.

Whenever I’m done with training, I have an hour or two before I go and pick up my son from school. I’ll head into a local coffee shop, open my computer and Bellevue University coursework, and I’ll get a bunch of work done toward my Bachelors’ Degree in Sports Management.

I like the flexibility Bellevue University allows me to just go online and take care of my work or do assignments. That part has been great, because when the kids get home, there’s no more free time. The afternoons and evenings, it’s all about them. I will say, though, we’re becoming a studious family.

My wife is also taking courses to become a nurse practitioner, and we want to make sure we set examples for our kids, by showing them the importance of school and education.

I’m very happy Bellevue University – through its partnership with the USL – they have given me this opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted. So, what does my future look like? I ask myself that every day, and I’m still not sure yet.

The good news is I still love playing football, and I still see myself being a player for a long time. After the past season for the Tampa Bay Rowdies – winning Most Valuable Player, but missing out on the league title – I’m even more determined to come back and try and help my team win the USL Championship next year.

But between completing my degree and pursuing my coaching licenses – I’ve earned my USSF “B” License so far – I know that whatever the future holds, I’m going to be ready for that next adventure.

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Ian Bremmer Provides Insights on Global Risks at Annual Signature Event

Featured speaker Dr. Ian Bremmer, one of the world’s foremost global political risk experts, brought a hopeful international perspective, humor, and serious food for thought to the nearly 700 people attending Bellevue University’s 14th Signature Event in early October (prior to the Hamas attacks on Israel). The founder of the Eurasia Group and GZERO Media’s remarks included thoughtful, informed takes on people, challenges, opportunities, and potential threats around the world.

Russia-Ukraine War

The February 2022 Russian invasion and continuing war in Ukraine has resulted in 500,000 casualties so far, as well as billions of dollars in damage in Ukraine and the regional and world economies. The war has affected energy and fertilizer costs in Europe and elsewhere, but its greatest impact has been in some of the world’s poorest nations, which depend on grain shipment from the disrupted regions.

China-Russia Relations

Relations between China and Russia have deteriorated because of the Ukraine war, although “the Chinese don’t want Russia to lose.” The Chinese continue to provide non-military aid and trade with Russia. There is little likelihood either China or Russia would use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, according to Bremmer.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The advent of AI technology is comparable to electricity in its potential societal impact. Going forward, it could drive a “second globalization” in 10 to 20 years. Not only is it transformative in creating new companies but within existing ones. The potential downside? I also think there will be a proliferation of the ability to use AI by bad actors. Iam

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