Category Archives: Education/ Training/ Personal Development

Elizabeth Stauderman, a communications expert and strategic adviser with decades of experience in public affairs and external relations, will join Skidmore College as vice president for communications and marketing.

She takes the job effective  on June 1. 

As chief communications officer, Stauderman will champion a bold vision for promoting Skidmore and its mission through compelling and innovative marketing and communications efforts. 

“Elizabeth brings exceptional depth and breadth of experience that will bolster the work of the Office of Communications and Marketing here at Skidmore,” said Skidmore President Marc C. Conner. “Her passion for the liberal arts, commitment to collaboration, and keen attention to the ever-evolving opportunities and challenges facing higher education will support the college as we continue to adeptly share our unique story, distinctive value, and dedication to creative thought.” 

Stauderman formerly served as vice president for communications at the University of Rochester from 2015 to 2022, overseeing all media, public relations, and communications matters, including strategy and crisis communications. Previously, she held multiple positions at Yale University, including chief communications officer and special assistant to the president. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Yale University and a Master of Studies in Law from Yale Law School.  

By Alan VanTassel In today’s business landscape, it is far too common to have bosses who yell, threaten and micromanage their way to the top—at the expense of their employees.  Anyone who has ever worked for someone who has exhibited these characteristics will tell you that it is not an effective management style. These...

Skidmore College has created a $10 million initiative in support of its longstanding commitment to a liberal arts experience rooted in creativity that prepares students for thriving professional and personal success. 

Officials said a $5 million one-to-one matching pledge along with additional matching gifts created the Sands Family Foundation Initiative for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Skidmore College.

A century ago, Lucy Skidmore Scribner founded Skidmore College with the vision that it would help students connect the power of their minds and their hands in a new model of liberal education, college officials said. That ambition takes a dramatic step forward with the new initiative, said college President Marc C. Conner.

“This extraordinary gift celebrates what Skidmore has always done—nurture creativity and prepare students for life after graduation—and moves us forward in our ability to offer the very model for a 21st liberal arts education,” Conner said. 

“The essence of innovation and entrepreneurship is an eagerness to be bold, take risks, look at tough problems with fresh eyes, and be unafraid to fail—the hallmarks of a great liberal arts education. This gift from the Sands Family Foundation emphasizes the incredible impact that our commitment to developing exceptional creative and critical skills can have on students,” said Conner.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Brian Rollo, a leadership coach and cultural business strategist, is re-examining his business model in response to the business climate caused by COVID-19 and challenges employers will face.
“I’m always thinking, ‘What is three steps from now? How is this going to change business for me, and for the people I help?’ There are three key things businesses will need to think about as we move into a new normal,” said Rollo, who does business as Brian Rollo Consulting.
“First, in what way do we bring people back into the office now that we’ve built the infrastructure for them to work remotely. How many and who? Or is it more efficient to allow people to work from home? Do we build a hybrid workforce?” said Rollo.
“Second, there’s going to be real conversations going forward on social distancing and wearing masks. If everyone is back at work, how do we navigate some staff feeling comfortable attending closely-packed meetings when others don’t? What does that look like? What if some people are more comfortable wearing a mask while others are not, and will that become its own source of unintentional bias?

By Jennifer Farnsworth
At the Saratoga Learning Center, owner Susan Kiley is working to help students meet their educational needs during the upheaval of normal schooling caused by coronavirus pandemic.
The virus temporarily closed schools for a time, then more recently the closing was made permanent for the 2020-21 academic year.
That leaves parents, students and educators in a place that is unfamiliar, trying to navigate through the process of distant learning. Kiley said the nature of her business is to provide that extra support to students, and she said her staff is ready to help.
Saratoga Learning Center is offering additional online tutoring and proctoring services to students due to the COVID-19 virus.
“We are closely following the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines and recommendations on steps we can take to help prevent the spread of the virus, including utilizing the practices of hand sanitizing, social distancing, and masks,” she said.

SUNY Empire State College announced seven new concentrations in its online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Management program aimed at providing the skills needed to enter growing fields like healthcare management, IT management, global trade, innovation and entrepreneurship, and more.
The new concentrations have received approval from SUNY and the state Department of Education.
SUNY Empire’s graduate business programs have seen an 80 percent increase in credits taught from the 2016-2017 academic year to the 2019-2020 academic year. SUNY Empire expanded its areas of study for MBA candidates to allow them to tailor their program to suit their interests, and in response to employers’ growing needs, officials said.