Alumna Advances in Adult Learning Field to President and CEO of Career Training Academy Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Meet Kimberly Rassau, Ed.D.
Job title: President and CEO
Employer: Career Training Academy
Degrees earned: M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Adult Learning and Training, 2007, and B.S. in Applied Corporate Communication, 2006, Point Park University; Doctor of Education, Argosy University, 2013
Hometown and current residence: New Kensington, Pa.
High school: Valley High School
LinkedIn: Kimberly Rassau, Ed.D.
Update: Dr. Rassau has accepted the position of executive director of the Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh.
-- Jim Bland, Board Director, Career Training Academy
Who inspired you to pursue a career in adult learning and training?
I was inspired to pursue a career in adult learning and training by my mentor, Marcia A. Wratcher, Ph.D., whom I worked with at Carnegie Mellon University early in my career and later in my career at Education Management Corporation. Her extraordinary commitment and passion to the field of instructional design was contagious and fueled my interest in pursuing a career in adult learning and training.
Throughout the course of my professional work at EDMC, I quickly understood the need for adult programming that intersected between academic and technical pathways. It was then I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I could build high-quality adult learning and training programs that were academically rigorous and aligned with labor market demands to ultimately provide a viable pathway to employment for adults.
Why did you choose Point Park's curriculum and instruction master's program?
I attended Point Park as an undergraduate communication student. My experience was so positive that I chose to return to Point Park for my graduate studies. Determining factors in choosing Point Park's Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction program included the subject matter expertise, flexibility and patience of the faculty as well as the diverse talent of the students. Also, the program's direction and emphasis on practical application were key in my decision.
Simply put, it was a great match. The convenient delivery model and the relevance of the courses to my professional goals were also factors. As a working professional in the field of education, the courses in the curriculum and instruction program not only provided the specialized training I needed to advance my career, but were relevant to my everyday work assignments. They provided immediate value and meaningful learning experiences, and kept me motivated to continue through the program. Overall, the M.A. classes offered a collaborative experience that suited my personal needs and professional goals.
How have your M.A. classes helped you in your career?
The M.A. in curriculum and instruction courses provided me with a nuanced and sophisticated knowledge of the education field. Without this program, I would not have reached the professional successes I've enjoyed thus far in my career. Not a day goes by in my current role where I don't draw on the knowledge I've obtained as a result of the course work completed in the curriculum and instruction graduate program at Point Park.
As president of a career school, I have to possess a thorough understanding of the educational programming as it relates to adult learning theory to ensure the training needs of the students are being met. The courses in my M.A. program provided that knowledge.
What advice do you have for our graduate students in the education department?
The experience you have is yours to create! Your Point Park graduate program in education is one the greatest tools you'll have access to for shaping your own professional development. My advice to graduate students in the education department: Leverage every opportunity to challenge yourself by reading and thinking widely and exhaustively during your time at Point Park.
Photo by Shayna Mendez, senior photojournalism major