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Faces of Impact: Allison Vincent, Admissions Application Specialist

For more than two decades, Allison Vincent has been a steady and compassionate guide for students beginning their educational journeys at the College of Professional Studies. From maintaining the systems that power our admissions process to offering thoughtful support to applicants navigating their next steps, Vincent plays a vital behind‑the‑scenes role in helping learners move confidently toward their goals.

In this edition of Faces of Impact, Vincent reflects on her career at the College of Professional Studies, the moments that have stayed with her, and the deep commitment her team brings to every student they serve.

What is your current role and what does it involve?

My current role is the Admissions Application Specialist. I help maintain the application forms, troubleshoot application issues, and process applications in the University’s computer systems.

How long have you been with the college, and what’s your journey been like?

I started at the College of Professional Studies in 1998 and have worked in various capacities in marketing, recruitment and admissions during that time. A variety of my tasks have included updating webpages, managing email campaigns and the online chat, testing incoming computer software changes and upgrades, and editing an arts journal.

In one sentence, how would you describe your department’s mission?

We assist individuals in selecting and applying for programs that can help meet their goals for personal enrichment and professional growth.

Can you share a student interaction that left a lasting impact on you?

I usually see students at the start of their journey, but I remember one couple who decided to work on their online degrees together. When they completed their programs, they brought their kids and their parents to the graduation ceremony here in Syracuse, even though they lived quite a few hours away. It was exciting and rewarding to see what a happy impact our programs were able to make on so many lives and generations. It’s always exciting when students bring in their siblings, kids, or parents to apply, so we have multiple generations working toward a brighter future!

How does your team help students succeed in the real world?

Our degrees are designed to allow students to fit education into their busy lives and to learn skills they can apply right away. Many of our students are able to use their new skills for promotions and new, more fulfilling positions.

In what ways does your team go above and beyond to serve your students?

We always take the time to listen! We meet with students where they are, either in time or location. We work weekends and evenings as needed to accommodate their schedules.

How Today’s Learners Can Prepare for an AI‑Driven Workforce

As industries transform at high speed, organizations are prioritizing graduates who bring a blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Artificial intelligence, digital automation, and data‑driven decision‑making are reshaping fields like healthcare, retail, finance, and technology. As a result, AI‑driven workforce skills are becoming essential for long‑term career success.

Businessman using artificial intelligence technology

Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) is meeting this demand head‑on. Through flexible online degrees, certificates, and minors, learn how CPS equips students with the practical knowledge employers increasingly expect.

AI in Business Process Automation: Preparing Future Professionals for an AI‑Driven Workforce

One of the most forward‑thinking programs at Syracuse University is the Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.) in AI in Business Process Automation, a 120‑credit online degree designed specifically for the realities of an AI‑powered economy.

Students develop AI‑driven workforce skills such as:

  • Evaluating AI tools and digital automation systems to improve operational efficiency
  • Translating complex data into clear, actionable business insights
  • Designing intelligent automation solutions that streamline workflows
  • Anticipating emerging AI trends, risks, and opportunities across industries

These capabilities align directly with the competencies employers will prioritize over the next decade: critical thinking, ethical decision‑making, and the ability to leverage AI for strategic business outcomes. As AI becomes embedded in every sector, graduates with these AI‑driven workforce skills will stand out.

Flexible Programs Across High‑Demand Fields

The College of Professional Studies also provides a broad selection of online programs that complement AI-based skills, including options in leadership, technology, policy, and interdisciplinary studies.

Leadership and Management

These programs strengthen decision‑making, communication, and organizational leadership skills, which highly complement AI‑enabled tools and workflows.

Technology and Security

Students gain technical fluency in cybersecurity, automation, and AI applications, which are core components of modern AI‑driven workforce skills.

Interdisciplinary and Policy‑Focused Programs

  • Healthcare Administration – B.P.S.
  • Policy Studies – B.P.S.
  • Interdisciplinary Studies – B.P.S.

These programs prepare students to navigate complex systems, analyze data, and apply policy insights, which are competencies increasingly enhanced by AI‑powered tools.

Across all programs, CPS emphasizes practical, applied learning that prepares graduates to lead in roles requiring human judgment, creativity, and AI‑enabled decision‑making.

Flexible, Career‑Focused Learning for Working Professionals

Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies programs are intentionally designed for adult learners, career changers, and working professionals who need flexibility without sacrificing academic rigor. Students benefit from:

  • 100% online coursework
  • Multiple start dates throughout the year
  • Stackable and transferable credits
  • Hands‑on, applied learning aligned with real employer needs

This structure allows students to build AI‑driven workforce skills at their own pace while immediately applying new knowledge in their current roles.

Shaping the Future With AI‑Driven Workforce Skills

By integrating AI literacy, digital automation, leadership development, and interdisciplinary problem‑solving, Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies ensures its graduates are prepared for the careers of the future. As industries continue to evolve, professionals with strong AI‑driven workforce skills will be best positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of an AI‑powered economy.

Learn more about AI-Driven Workforce degrees, minors, and credit certificates today.

Syracuse University is the #1 Private School for Online Degrees in NY

Syracuse University has been ranked #1 in New York State among private universities for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Online Programs rankings. This top placement underscores the University’s leadership in providing flexible, high-quality higher education for students in New York and beyond.

2026 Ranking Highlights (Private Universities)

Syracuse University has earned distinguished national and state placements:

“These rankings reflect the excellence of Syracuse University and our commitment to delivering rigorous, market-sensitive, and applied programs that prepare learners for real-world success,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “Our career-focused, high-quality, flexible study options empower part-time learners to reach their educational goals.”

Empowering the Modern Workforce

These rankings highlight the College of Professional Studies’ mission to expand high-quality education to learners balancing careers, military service, and family responsibilities. With flexible academic pathways, the University continues to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

Syracuse University’s strong national rankings underscore the excellence of its online degree and certificate programs, which are developed by distinguished faculty to deliver practical, real-world skills. Programs and courses are designed to be immediately applicable to workplace challenges, enabling learners to apply new knowledge directly to their careers.

Cutting Through Red Tape: Austin Zwick Publishes New Research Tackling the Housing Crisis

Austin Zwick, associate teaching professor and program director for the Policy Studies program at the College of Professional Studies, has published new research on how cities can fix their planning systems to address housing crises.

The article appears in Urban Governance. It examines Vancouver’s shift from negotiation-based planning to a clear, rules-based system. Zwick’s research shows how discretionary systems—where each building project needs lengthy negotiations—cause major delays, higher costs, and unfair outcomes.

Through detailed analysis and interviews with planners, developers, and housing advocates, Zwick shows how Vancouver’s reforms have improved transparency, efficiency, and accountability. These reforms include citywide upzoning and standardized approval processes, more effectively and equitably allowing housing supply to catch up with demand.

The research uses the Commercial-Broadway Safeway project as a key example. It shows how negotiation-heavy processes delayed housing construction and drive up costs for years, making housing less available and more expensive. Zwick concludes that “cities confronting housing affordability crises should systematically remove discretionary ordinances from their planning codes.”

This research brings real policy solutions into the classroom. In PST367: Smart Cities and Urban Policy, Policy Studies students learn to analyze and solve complex urban challenges.

Read the full article from Urban Governance here.

Seinfeld Scholars Program Inspires Military-Connected Student to Never Give Up

Amid the rhythm of early morning drills and the high demands of military service, Ty Tran knew he could not compromise his duties in pursuit of higher education. Tran, having served through multiple deployments and duty stations throughout his eight-year Navy career, naturally approached his education with the same enduring discipline and purpose. Now, a seasoned leader in operations and team leadership, Tran recounts his journey with deep care, reflecting on the critical role of his service in shaping his experience in education and the workforce.

When Tran first began research, he knew he had to be intentional with both his time and resources. He sought institutions that were equipped to support both his academic goals and the demands of military life. During this search, he returned to a critical question: at what place would he fit and feel supported as both a student and as a service member?

This search led him to Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies.

Learning to Lead with Empathy

The College of Professional Studies stood out immediately with its flexible learning, strong advising, and a culture built around supporting working professionals and military service members. Though, the real anchor came in the form of his advisor, Cherri Wells, whose mentorship carried him through deployments, breaks, cross-country moves, and degree changes. Across his four years, Wells became more than an advisor but a guiding light amidst the uncertainty and challenges of balancing service and studies.

“Before Syracuse, I was very focused on structure and execution — doing my job well, checking the boxes,” says Tran. “But my experience here, especially the people who’ve guided me, taught me to look beyond that. I’ve learned to lead with empathy and to see the value in slowing down and truly learning from the process.”

As that stability took root, so did Tran’s sense of direction. While initially entering the program under the liberal arts core, he soon shifted toward a more focused path, a blend between his passion for leadership, operations, and creativity. The College of Professional Studies’ business management track became the ideal path to his long-term dream of working in the beauty and luxury marketing industry. Tran lauded the program’s versatility, allowing him to merge the leadership skills he had developed through years of military service with a long-time dream of his.

Ultimately, Tran’s ongoing discipline and commitment to growth led him to the Seinfeld Scholars Program. This program, offered by the College of Professional Studies, was rooted in the very values he had embraced both in the U.S. Navy and the classroom.

Becoming a Seinfeld Scholar was not a mere accolade for him but an embodiment of his journey throughout military service and education. It was a celebration of individuals like Tran who overcame significant personal and professional obstacles to realize their own unique aspirations. The program’s credo, “Never Give Up,” became a guiding philosophy as he pursued a non-traditional educational path.

Embracing a Mosaic of Experiences

Among fellow Seinfeld Scholars, Tran reveals what he calls a “modern folklore,” individuals whose stories carried their own forms of magic. Veterans, parents, career changers, students rebuilding their lives all under one guiding philosophy. Despite their vastly different paths and challenges, Tran recognized pieces of himself in those stories, and pieces of them in his own.

Today, Tran sees his education as more than a credential. He reflects on his journey as a veteran and student, seeing his life as a mosaic of experiences that have shaped who he is and who he continues to become. He embraces persistence, wisdom, and the courage to pursue his goals relentlessly. He encourages others to move forward thoughtfully, balancing discipline with compassion, and to trust that their paths will unfold with purpose. In sharing his story, Tran shows that purpose is not found in a single moment, but in the steady, deliberate steps that carry us forward, and he hopes others will find their own sense of direction along the way.

To learn more about the Seinfeld Scholars Program, visit professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/tuition-aid/scholarships-grants/seinfeldscholars.

By Katie Huang