April 3, 2017

Dear Goodwin students, faculty and staff,

In just ten weeks, Goodwin College of Professional Studies will welcome a new class of alumni through our College and University Commencement ceremonies. It is difficult to believe that the Class of 2017 will soon finish their studies at Drexel, but I wish a safe, rewarding and meaningful quarter to these students.

This quarter, our First-Year Exploratory Studies students begin the transition into their chosen majors. Throughout the past year, these students have challenged themselves academically, built a community with their fellow students and advisors and explored the multitude of paths available to them. I believe this program is one of the most exciting at Drexel, and while it is hard to say goodbye as our students move from Goodwin to their respective Drexel colleges and schools, I look forward to hearing of their accomplishments in their newly discovered fields of study. Also, we welcome Karima Roepel, academic advisor for First-Year Exploratory Studies, who will be covering for Caitlin McCormick-Baldwin while she is out on leave.

Degree Completion enrollment continues to increase, and we will begin marketing these programs more heavily in the coming months to capitalize on this growth. Keep an ear out for radio advertisements, and look around our website as we update it with new information, videos, student testimonials and more.

Our Master of Science in Professional Studies program is on track for a cohort this fall. The program blog is updated weekly on topics ranging from business ethics to job search tips, valuable information for any student or working professional. In addition, Program Director Anne Converse Willkomm will lead a webinar on "The Art and Science of Influencing Others" in collaboration with Drexel University Online later this month. Registration is free and open to the public, so I encourage all to attend.

In the winter quarter, we ran Continuing Professional Education courses in project management and process improvement, all of which received high praise. We continue to build partnerships throughout the region, presenting at the National UPCEA Conference in March and delivering a presentation at the Philadelphia Society of Human Resources Management conference last week. Always eager to fill skills gaps in motivated individuals, we will offer courses in coding and web design, data analytics, professional sales and more in the coming months.

Finally, in any organization, it is important to consult a variety of viewpoints. Goodwin is no different, and I am happy to announce that we will launch the Goodwin College Advisory Council next month to help guide the College in this period of growth. This council, comprised of prominent alumni, industry veterans and other esteemed persons, will no doubt prove an invaluable resource as we continue moving forward.

Thank you for playing a crucial role in our success.

All my best during the spring quarter,

Tim Gilrain
Executive Director
Goodwin College of Professional Studies