CSUEB educational leadership student promoted to assistant dean and executive director at university

• October 4, 2013 5:00am

Career advancement may be the ultimate goal for many graduate students, but for some individuals the reality of promotion comes quicker than one might expect. This was the case for Carla Skorin, who started CSUEB’s Online MS in Educational Leadership program in January and was promoted to assistant dean and executive director of the School of Professional Studies at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS) in August.

“At an academic institution, your educational background is public knowledge and committee chairs will recruit you based on your education and expertise,” said Skorin, who recently finished her third quarter in the program and expects to graduate in June 2014. “The fact that I am midway through this master’s program has opened the door to a lot of opportunities, and once this degree is completed, additional opportunities will be available to me.” 

The MS in Educational Leadership program teaches educators the skills and knowledge they need to become effective school leaders at all academic levels. Although most of the program's participants are at the K-12th grade level, a substantial number of the program’s participants are becoming leaders in higher education, said Michael Fanning, coordinator for the Online MS in Educational Leadership program.

The program is offered entirely online and is organized using a cohort approach, in which a group of students follow the same course schedule and start and finish a program together. Each new cohort begins in winter quarter.

The program’s curriculum provides students with knowledge on topics including supervision and staff development, finance and human resources, instructional leadership and educational law.

Skorin, along with many of her fellow classmates, can see the instant connection between the course materials and their professional lives.

“I appreciate this program because what I learn in school I am able to bring to (SCUHS), and the projects I am working on at our university I am able to use as examples in my assignments for school,” said Skorin. “There is a direct correlation between what I am learning at CSUEB and my assignments at work.”   

Prior to her recent promotion, Skorin served in a variety of roles throughout her 22 years of employment at SCUHS, including program coordinator, program administrator, graduate education specialist and director.

And with a big promotion already under her belt, what might be next for the Southern California native?  Skorin suggests that teaching could be in her future.

“My dean would like me to become a faculty member and teach,” said Skorin. “Something such as that would not have been possible without the master’s degree.”

One thing is for certain, Skorin is a prime example of what the MS in Educational Leadership program intends to do for its students.

“Our faculty and Carla's fellow graduate students are proud of her and our other program participants, who are bringing life to our program's mission to create bold, socially responsible leaders who are at the forefront of building learning organizations which are bringing about greater equity of earning for all students,” said Fanning.

For more information on the program, visit CSUEB’s Online MS in Educational Leadership website.

EM