Department chairs bring high-level experience and expertise

From the field to the faculty: Spotlighting the faculty driving Berkeley College programs

"You'll learn to succeed from those who already have" is one of the ways Berkeley College describes the benefits of the exceptional backgrounds-both academic and professional-of our faculty. In the first of a planned series, we spoke with some of our department chairs about Berkeley's practice of choosing educators with not only excellent academic credentials, but also relevant professional experience, expertise, and firsthand know-how that they share with students for a well-rounded education that truly prepares them for the professional world.

A blend of professional experience and academic leadership that benefits students

Marjorie Silverman, PhD, exemplifies the advantages of learning from scholar-practitioners at Berkeley College. "As Chair of the Health Services Management department and a faculty member at Berkeley College for over 20 years, I bring a blend of professional experience and academic leadership that directly benefits our students," she said. "With extensive experience in the healthcare industry, including physician practice management, ambulatory surgery centers, and hospital-affiliated settings, I am committed to preparing students for the complexities of the modern healthcare landscape."

Extensive experience in one of today's most in-demand career fields

Throughout her career, Dr. Silverman has managed staff, developed and monitored operational budgets, spearheaded the launch of new facilities, and implemented strategies to enhance operational efficiency and growth. This hands-on experience allows her to bring real-world insights into the classroom, bridging theory with practice. "Students in my Health Services Management courses learn not only the fundamentals of the U.S. healthcare system, but also how to analyze operational challenges, develop actionable solutions, and effectively manage and motivate staff in a healthcare environment."

Relatable learning through real-world case studies

Dr. Silverman went on, "In my teaching, I often incorporate personal anecdotes from my career to make learning more relatable. For instance, when teaching about financial management, I incorporate an exercise about cost allocation, which is an important concept to understand when conceptualizing the overall cost of healthcare services. In my management courses, I use real-life case study discussions to encourage students to explore different approaches to handling management challenges and to apply theory to practice to achieve optimal outcomes. These real-life examples help students connect abstract concepts to practical applications and better understand the nuances of leadership and decision-making in healthcare settings."

Access to a range of healthcare leaders

Dr. Silverman has also used her knowledge of the healthcare industry to bring in guest speakers who enrich the student learning experience. "Some of our guest speakers have included representatives from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a bilingual psychotherapist, an independent contractor Revenue Cycle Manager, a Program Director from a community organization, and a Program Associate from a major academic medical center," she shared. "These speakers provide students with valuable insights into career pathways, industry trends, and leadership in healthcare."

Legal lessons from the experts

Before coming to Berkeley College, Marisol Abuin, Esq., Chair of the Legal Studies department, graduated from law school and worked for several years in the tax field as a senior tax consultant and legal editor as well as in real estate law. "I think the students benefit from the real-life practical application of the law in the courses I teach as well as the other law courses they take. For the most part, they are all taught by practitioner attorneys who are faculty members." She continued, "In presenting real-life examples in my courses, I offer my own experience as a lawyer. Particularly when teaching real estate law, I have shared my experience doing real estate closing. All the Legal Studies faculty offer that same type of experiences with their students, bringing in their own practical experience into the classroom so that students can learn through real-life application."

Preparing students for law school and beyond

"Many of our students are interested in going on to law school and we offer a Pre-Law Advisory Center that helps our current students prepare to apply for admission. We've also brought in alumni who have graduated from law school who spoke to our students about the process of getting into law school and what to expect in the first year. It has been very successful, and we have seen many of our students get admitted into law school and graduate," according to Professor Abuin. "Recently, one of our graduates was sworn into the New Jersey Bar at the Berkeley College Woodbridge campus with Professor Moya Bansile presiding."

Working closely with professional organizations

Berkeley maintains productive relationships with local paralegal associations that offer webinars on legal topics that are relevant to students, Professor Abuin noted. "Our Law Career Development course helps our students with resume, cover letters and interview techniques and we offer the opportunity for internships and many of our courses offer practical assignments where students can apply what they learn in a real meaningful way that is advantageous to a career as a paralegal. We emphasize ethics, which is extremely important in the law, especially in understanding what a paralegal can and cannot do, ensuring that our students are prepared for the real world."

Encouraging students to network

"A Berkeley education stands out because we are career oriented," according to Rosemarie McLaughlin, CPA, MBA, Chair of Business Analytics and Technology, who shares Professor Abuin's views on students getting involved with professional organizations. "The goal is for our students to graduate and get a job immediately." As a CPA in both New York and New Jersey, Professor McLaughlin has worked in both public and private accounting, enabling her to give both perspectives from a career point of view.

"I share stories of auditing engagements and discuss jobs are in private accounting such as planning, budgeting, expense management, as well as traditional maintenance of the books and records," she said. "I also encourage Accounting majors to join the AICPA-CIMA student membership which has many resources about careers, additional knowledge and the opportunity to make connections."

Helping others become better versions of themselves

Dr. Gregory Hotchkiss was instrumental in developing the College's Media Communications degree program. He is also a professor in the Humanities within the Division of General Education teaching courses in ethics, philosophy, world religions, feminist thought, and others. In addition to a Bachelor's degree, he holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Theology (ThM), and Doctor of Theology (ThD) and brings a wealth of experience to Berkeley College-he is an accomplished public speaker, former radio broadcaster, and hospital chaplain. Prior to joining Berkeley College, he served for 25 years in pastoral leadership roles, teaching, preaching, and managing congregations in Massachusetts and New Jersey. In conjunction with his church work, he also produced a local radio broadcast that ran successfully for 15 years. Students benefit from his many years of practical experience in helping others become better versions of themselves, supporting those facing trauma in their lives, and guiding people to become more self-confident and productive individuals.

Offering guidance and support

"I have shared with students struggling with challenges in their educational and career paths my own struggles with a major career change that I made when I decided to leave church work, complete a doctorate, and find a new career path," he said. "I speak with students about how the unknown can be frightening but that the only way to find new possibilities and create new opportunities is to step into that unknown with the will to find a new way. With that life experience, I have guided and supported many students into new career paths for themselves. For example, I have several former students who found their career success in public school teaching through my contacts and support after their graduation from Berkeley. With my guidance and letters of recommendation, many others have gone on to grad school for careers in law, social work, and entrepreneurial business endeavors of their own."

Field trips that expand horizons

Professor Hotchkiss continued, "To help students see firsthand the rich cultural diversity in value priorities, worldviews, faith practices, and the like, I have, for example, led classes on field trips to visit a Buddhist temple, an Episcopal cathedral, a Presbyterian house of worship, as well as meeting with faith community leaders."

Always putting the student first

"At Berkeley, students learn in small classes with professors who are committed to teaching and learning through interactive engagement, relationship building, and real-life problem solving," commented Professor Hotchkiss. "Every aspect and department of Berkeley College is there to support student success toward graduation and a career. In so many important ways, everyone at Berkeley shows what it means to put the student first."

A focus on career readiness

Dr. Silverman agrees that Berkeley College stands out for its emphasis on career readiness. "The Health Services Management curricula integrate real-world applications, such as case studies and industry-aligned projects. In our courses, students develop a broad knowledge of the healthcare industry and skills such as strategic planning, effective management of staff, and data-driven decision-making-competencies that are directly transferable to the workplace. In the Health Services Management department, our faculty are more than educators-we are mentors and advocates for our students' success. I am proud to contribute to a learning environment that combines academic excellence with practical experience, fostering confident, capable graduates who are ready to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry."

Real-world expertise shared by highly successful professionals. Exposure to guest speakers and other high-level industry experts. Exceptional networking opportunities. These are just a few of the ways in which a Berkeley College education helps students reach their full potential.

Dr. Hotchkiss concluded, "Berkeley College is the place where students will find the support they need to succeed in their education toward a career. While other colleges promise support, Berkeley delivers above and beyond what many others offer."

The views and/or opinions in this article are those of the individuals interviewed. The academic achievements and/or employment outcomes described in this article are specific to each individual and are not a guarantee of similar results for past or current students. For up-to-date and detailed information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu and view our catalogs at BerkeleyCollege.edu/publications.