journey

Your Alumni Magazine | Spring 2016
PhoenixFocus.com
The science of
personality
Coping with
entitled co-workers
So long
9 to 5
A remarkable
journey
Nat’e Guyton, DM ’15
Chief Operating Officer, Society of Hospital Medicine
Philadelphia

contents
Features
6
The science of personality
10
So long 9 to 5
How to become a solopreneur
Your career
14
18
36
35
Quiz
How productive are you?
Entitlement at work
Careers 101
Overcoming interview
roadblocks
Skills Sharpener
Analytical thinking
Meet fellow alumni
Your career isn’t
going to plan itself.
22
Nat’e Gyuton, DM ’15
Alumna Nat’e Guyton leaves
her humble beginnings
behind.
26
Anne Marie Lutrick, MSN ’09
Through hard work and
education, this College of
Humanities alumnus
ignites a new career.
30
Melissa Melendez, MBA ’08
Jim Cooper, BSM ’98
Isadore Hall, BSB ’99
Mike Gipson, BSB ’07
34
Alumni Business
Leroy Reynolds, MBA ’13
Wish you had a career resource that could help you navigate each and every step of your
journey? As an alum of University of Phoenix, you do.
Industry spotlight: Technology
38
The Phoenix Career Guidance System TM features innovative tools and time-tested tips to
Information Systems and Technology
help you with every step along the way — from setting goals to prepping for interviews
to growing in your current position. Think of it as a customized GPS for your career.
Ready to give your dreams a plan? Visit careers.phoenix.edu/alumni to get started.
Your university
4 Letter from the president
17 ID Card
42 University news
Opportunities
2 Phoenix Career Guidance System
21 University Marketplace
35 Alumni Business Directory
41 Congratulations, graduates!
On the cover:
Nat’e Guyton
DM ’15
See story, pg. 22
The University’s Central Administration is located at 1625 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Tempe, AZ 85282. Online Campus: 3157 E. Elwood St., Phoenix, AZ 85034.
© 2015 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved. | PCS-3648
alumni.phoenix.edu 3

Letter from the president
PHOENIX FOCUS
is produced quarterly
by The University of Phoenix
Alumni Association.
Letter from
the president
Dear Alumni,
When I look back at 2015—as with my entire tenure as President—it
is my interaction with our students and alumni that has given
me the most satisfaction. None of my duties is more gratifying
than having the privilege to address our newest graduates during
commencement.
I said to our new graduates something that applies equally to all of
our alumni: “Meeting you and your colleagues around the country,
and hearing your stories, I know what perseverance looks like and
I know it can create transformation, and a whole new chapter, a
whole new beginning, with new doors and new opportunities for
you, your family and the next generation.”
This year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the
founding of University of Phoenix and welcome our one
millionth graduate, an unprecedented achievement in
higher education. As we begin a new year and continue
the journey toward becoming the most trusted provider
of career-relevant higher education for working adults,
we will move forward with our focus where it’s always
been—on you, our students and alumni. Your voices and
concerns have been, and will remain, the key guiding
force as we accomplish our vision of being recognized
as the most trusted provider of career-relevant higher
education for working adults.
Senior Director
Jenifer King, MBA ’11
Senior Editor
Sally Benford
Senior Writer
Julie Wilson
Design
ps:studios
University of Phoenix
Alumni Association
1625 W. Fountainhead
Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85282
Contact us at
alumni@phoenix.edu
T 800.795.2586
F 602.643.0552
Or visit us at
alumni.phoenix.edu
© 2016 University of Phoenix Inc.
All rights reserved.
When negative press stories gave voice to critics who questioned
the quality of a University of Phoenix education, those seeking
the truth needed only look to our alumni to see the value of your
degree demonstrated every day. I want to thank you for serving as
a living testament to the value of accessible higher education for
diverse working adults. I know from conversations with many of
you that your success is the result of determination, perseverance
and hard work.
Sincerely,
Timothy P. Slottow
President
University of Phoenix
Email: president@phoenix.edu
Twitter: @TimSlottow
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/pub/timothy-p-slottow/
b8/852/293
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PHOENIX FOCUS | The science of personality
The
science of
personality
You know all those personality tests you see on
Facebook? There may be more to the science of
personality than you think.
By Keridwen Cornelius
People like personality tests so much they sometimes
get carried away: “Which Enneagram Personality Type
Are You Based on Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type?”
“What Does Your Phone Battery Percentage Say about
Your Personality?” “Which Love Actually Turtleneck
Are You Based on Your Star Sign?” (Yes, those are real.)
But understanding personality in scientific ways can
shine a light on your individual motivation and in the
shadowy corners of other people’s behavior. It can
improve your communication with your boss, partner or
child. It can help you make wiser career choices, predict
who you’ll fall in love with and strengthen your lasting
relationships. Plus, it’s as fun as the Love Actually
turtleneck test.
What’s your temperament type?
For decades, psychologists have tried to untangle the
mysteries of attraction. Dr. Helen Fisher, a Rutgers
University research professor and author of Anatomy of
Love, developed a personality test that offers a revealing
window into interpersonal relationships. It’s been taken
on Chemistry.com by more than 14 million people, and
it’s the only personality questionnaire in the world that
arose from brain chemistry studies and was proven by
putting test-takers in brain scanners.
She’s identified four temperament types:
• Explorers express traits associated with the
dopamine system. They’re curious, creative,
adventurous, optimistic and flexible.
• Builders have elevated activity in the serotonin
system. They’re dependable, loyal, popular, and
respect authority and social norms.
• Directors express testosterone. They’re analytical,
self-confident, forthright, not particularly
empathetic, and have deep but narrow interests.
• Negotiators express characteristics related to
estrogen, such as empathy, imagination, nurturing
and intuition.
Mutual or fatal attractions?
Explorers are attracted to Explorers. Builders fall for
Builders. Directors and Negotiators are drawn to their
opposite. “Every one of these combinations is going to
have great joys and great problems,” Fisher says. “The
more you know about who you are and about who the
other person is, the more you can anticipate the great
joys in the relationship and know more about how to
please that person. And you’re going to know more
about what the bumps in the road are going to be, and
how to get around those bumps.”
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PHOENIX FOCUS | The science of personality
For example, Fisher, an Explorer and Negotiator, is
single and enjoys spending time with a certain Builder.
But, she says, “I just kept it a friendship because I knew
that he expressed the traits of the serotonin system,
and down the road I’d get bored.” (That doesn’t mean
an Explorer and Builder can’t make a great couple.
But it’s important to ask yourself about your personal
priorities.)
Fisher tells the story of a married couple who had a
fight and realized the husband’s serotonin personality
was clashing with the wife’s estrogen style. “They were
never going to resolve the estrogen-serotonin issue
because they see the world differently,” Fisher explains.
“So the couple—who are also both Explorers—said, ‘Let’s
forget about this argument and just go hiking.’”
Each characteristic has positives and negatives.
Agreeable people are popular, Little says, but “it’s very
difficult for them to stand up within a very oppressive
ecosystem. Disagreeable people ... can stand up to
tyranny.”
Know thyself
Familiarizing yourself with your traits can help
you make better decisions. If you’re introverted or
disagreeable, it’s probably not a good idea to take a
job in PR, even if you admire the company. If you’re
highly conscientious, (detail-oriented and fastidious)
you might make a superb accountant but a lousy
improvisational jazz musician. If you’re exceedingly
open to new experiences, you might consider moving to
New York rather than Fargo.
Personality in the workplace
Being personality-savvy can also help at work. Fisher
counseled a Negotiator woman whose boss was a
walking vial of testosterone. “I said to her, ‘Fight back.
When he becomes aggressive and tough-minded, turn
around and tell him what you think.’ She did it, and
she’s the only person in the office who made friends
with him.”
“I don’t believe in the Golden Rule,” Fisher adds. “I
believe in the Platinum Rule, which is ‘Do unto others as
they would have done unto them.’ Understand who they
are so you can reach into their brain and give them your
perspective in a way they can hear it.”
Another useful and scientifically supported personality
metric is the Big Five. Dr. Brian Little, a Cambridge
University research professor and author of Me, Myself,
and Us, recommends the online NEO PI-R Big Five
test. It measures five traits: Openness to experience,
Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and
Neuroticism.
However, Little counsels against using the Big Five as
a rigid guideline for decision-making or to pigeonhole
people: “I challenge whether those relatively fixed
traits are sufficient to help explain some of the more
interesting and nuanced aspects of our everyday
behavior.”
Rather, he says, people can temporarily act out of
character to be successful at something they’re
passionate about or to cope with a challenging situation.
Little—a natural introvert—turns into a charismatic
extravert when he’s teaching because he wants to excite
his students. A disagreeable man might act agreeable
when meeting his fiancé’s parents. A normally careless
cancer patient might choose to be conscientious about
her doctor’s instructions to save her own life.
Change for the better?
Though it’s a cliché to say that people can’t change, they
actually can, Little says. However, “it’s unwise to change
your global personality in one big step. It’s better to
do it on a smaller scale.” But be aware that even when
you make small, situation-specific changes, there’s a cost. “If you
protractedly act out of character, you may run the risk of burning
out,” he says. “One way of mitigating the potential cost is to find
restorative niches.”
After acting extraverted, an introvert might take a solo walk or—as
Little did after his classes—hide in the bathroom. An extravert who’s
had to be reserved requires a wild night out. An introvert-extravert
couple needs breaks from each other.
Getting in tune with your natural and temporary personality traits
can help you take care of yourself and those close to you, as well as
allow you to be more adaptable to the situations life throws at you.
“You’re able to see aspects of your life become more clarified,” Little
says. “You gain perspective, and it helps you reflect better.”
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PHOENIX FOCUS | So long 9-to-5
So Long
9-to-5
Do you want more freedom in your career? It may
be time to think outside the cubicle.
Lori K. Baker
As employees, we’ve all been struck by wanderlust—the
feeling of being shackled to our desk when the weather
outside is gorgeous. As we curse our long commutes or
roll our eyes at the latest bureaucratic snafu, we can’t
help but think: “If I were my own boss, I wouldn’t have
these problems.” Or, “If only I could work from home and
have a more flexible schedule.”
Thinking outside the cubicle
It’s no wonder more than one in three
U.S. workers—an estimated 53.7 million
Americans—now think outside the
cubicle. That’s the number of freelance
business owners, independent contractors,
moonlighters, temporary employees
and “diversified portfolio” workers with
different income streams in the U.S. today,
according to a recent study. This study,
conducted by the independent research
firm Edelman Berland and commissioned
by the Freelancers Union and Upwork,
also reveals approximately 700,000 more
workers joined the ranks of freelancers
between 2014 and 2015. “Freelancing
is the new normal,” says Sara Horowitz,
founder and executive director of
Freelancers Union.
A greater demand for flexible work hours
drives the trend. The study shows the
majority of workers freelance by choice—
with 50 percent reporting they wouldn’t
trade freelancing for a traditional 9-to-5
job, even for better pay. In fact, 60 percent
of freelancers discovered higher earnings
after saying so long to 9-to-5. Of those
who earned more, 78 percent said they
accomplished the feat within a year or less.
The new commute
Today, several factors make becoming
your own boss a more attainable goal than
ever before. First, it’s now affordable to
tout your skills (or wares) on a website and
connect with potential clients around the
globe via social media.
“Videoconferencing in particular has been
a real game changer for people who want to
work independently because you literally
can work from anywhere,” says Katy
Tynan, professional speaker and author of
Free Agent: The Independent Professional’s
Roadmap to Self-Employment Success.
“Companies have also latched onto the idea
that they can look for talent outside the 20-
mile radius of the city they’re in,” she says.
Through low-cost, high-bandwidth
Internet access, remote team members
can collaborate on multimedia projects,
videos, documents and spreadsheets from
a variety of locations.
10 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
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PHOENIX FOCUS | So long 9-to-5
Going the way of the Edsel
These high-tech changes in how we work make the 40-hour workweek look,
well, antiquated. About a century ago, Henry Ford cemented the 40-hour
workweek as a labor norm, and some think the tradition should go the way
of Ford’s Edsel. Recent research reveals the 9-to-5 routine is a poor fit for the
natural sleep/wake cycle of many workers.
Till Roenneberg, PhD, a researcher with the Institute of Medical Psychology
at the University of Munich coined the term “social jetlag” to describe the
mental fog that results when you skimp on sleep or set your alarm clock an
hour or two earlier to get to work. Other sleep experts, such as Kevin Wright,
PhD, a researcher with the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the
University of Colorado at Boulder, use the term “sleep inertia” to describe the
grogginess or gradual awakening of our brain each morning. It’s easy to see
why members of the chronically fatigued workforce are considering taking
the leap to self-employment.
Look before you leap
If you have a salaried position or were recently laid off, how can you decide if
now is the right time to pursue self-employment?
“One of the common mistakes that people make is jumping into freelancing
all at once,” says Caitlin Pearce, Freelancers Union director of member
engagement. “We always advise that you do it gradually. A hard and fast
rule is make sure you have between three and six months’ living expenses
before you quit your job. You should definitely have enough clients to keep
you going.” To build up your client list, you’ll need to moonlight on projects
outside your normal work schedule.
Next, take an honest look at what tasks you enjoy. Keep in mind that once
you’re self-employed you’ll have to handle all aspects of the business—from
secretarial and accounting duties to chasing overdue payments like a bill
collector.
“The people I know who are really successful like the variety self-employment
brings,” Tynan says. “The people who are less successful are the people who
really, really love the work they do, but don’t like the rest of it. These are
people who typically prefer to be employees.”
Once you’ve built a list of long-term clients and work keeps rolling in, never
stop marketing. “Allocate at least a couple of days per month to business
building—to find new leads, get to know folks in your industry, find mentors
and industry groups to keep you on top of trends, and to develop yourself and
your skills,” Pearce says.
Expect to devote long hours to your enterprise, but keep your eye on the prize,
says Barbara Winter, author of Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways
for Creating Work That You Love. She says, “If you don’t follow your dream,
what will be missing from the world?”
“Once you’ve built
a list of long-term
clients and work keeps
rolling in, never stop
marketing.”
1
Don’t
go it alone.
“I almost never recommend that freelancers
work from home full-time,” says Katy Tynan,
professional speaker and author of Free Agent: The
Independent Professional’s Roadmap to Self-Employment
Success. Instead, she recommends “co-working,” spending
a portion of your week toiling away with fellow small and
independent operators in a shared office space. There are
now approximately 800 commercial co-working facilities in
the U.S., creating plenty of camaraderie—plus interactions
that can lead to new ideas, new projects and new clients.
2
Set
4Tips
for working
efficiently at home
up a professional home office.
“There’s nothing more unprofessional than being
on a videoconference with a dog barking in
the background or piles of laundry hanging off
chairs,” Tynan says. She recommends setting up a dedicated
work space “that will maintain your professional image—
even if someone Skypes you when you least expect it.”
3
Use the best time
management tricks.
Figure out how and when you do your best
work, and always set your schedule around it,
advises Barbara Winter, author of Making a Living Without
a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love. Also,
let family and friends know it’s important for you to be
uninterrupted when you’re in your office or studio.
4
Invest in the right technology—
and know how to use it.
As a solopreneur, you now head your IT
department, so it’s important to learn how to fix
basic software or hardware glitches and to have a computer
backup system. “You never want to lose all your work
because the computer crashed,” Tynan says.
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PHOENIX FOCUS | How Productive Are You?
1 | When working or doing household
projects, I generally:
How Productive
Are You?
A. Keep an organized list of tasks that I check off when I
finish them.
B. Will create a list, but often I don’t use it.
C. Just go with what’s in my head when completing
tasks. I don’t write anything down.
Take our quiz and find out if you’re
up to the task when it comes to being
productive.
2 | When I’m engaged in something that I
need to concentrate on for a few hours in
order to finish, I:
A. Only check emails at a designated time, when I know
I can respond to them. I don’t let anything interrupt me
when I’m working.
By Jenny Jedeikin
B. Work for an hour without checking emails, but then I
interrupt whatever I’m doing to check email.
Iconic American novelist Ernest Hemingway
once quipped, “Never mistake motion for
action.” Indeed, if you want to be more
productive, don’t just get busy putting in
more hours. Instead take a look at how much
you actually accomplish in a day, and try to
improve your ability to focus on tasks through
completion.
C. Check and read emails as they come in, no matter
what I’m doing. I’m obsessed with reading new emails. I
don’t mind distractions.
3 | When I need to find an important
document, like a birth certificate or a
computer document that’s more than a
year old, I:
4 | When I start something, like a book or a
home project, I:
5 | If I’m in the middle of a project and I suddenly
remember an unrelated task I need to do, I:
Whether you’re working on a website redesign,
filing your income taxes or redecorating your home,
by becoming more aware of your productivity and
understanding your habits, you’ll find ways to enhance
your process.
Our quiz helps you discover your productivity quotient.
A. Know where things are filed. I can always find what
I need.
B. Can locate it sometimes. Some items are organized,
while others are not.
C. Have to give myself at least an hour or two—my
information isn’t very organized.
A. Always finish what I start.
B. Will finish it, although it may take me several weeks
or months.
C. Don’t finish it because I’m often distracted by
something else.
A. Jot it down briefly and go back to the task at hand.
B. Might take a few minutes to work on the new task, but I’ll get
back to what I was doing a bit later.
C. Will likely shift gears entirely and start working on the new task.
Multitasking is how I work—I have a hard time sticking to just one
thing.
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6 | If I’m working on a task at my desk,
for a break, I:
A. Walk or stretch every 90 minutes.
B. Don’t pay attention to breaks. I keep going until I
burn out.
C. Can’t concentrate for longer than 20-30 minutes at a
time, so I’m always taking breaks to check Facebook or
social media.
10 | Whenever I have a firm deadline for an
important project at work or home, I:
A. Am organized to meet it. I schedule tasks in a way that
allows me to complete them on schedule.
B. Procrastinate—I don’t worry about deadlines because I
know I can get it done at the last minute, before it’s due.
C. Have a hard time meeting deadlines—everyone knows
that about me.
Get carded,
alum.
7 | Although it varies, when my day is over,
I generally:
A. Feel relaxed and satisfied with how I’ve managed my
day.
B. Am glad to be done, but worried that I wasn’t
productive enough.
C. Feel burned out and frustrated—like I need a martini.
8 | When I sit down to work on a project, I:
A. Get right to work.
B. Read the day’s news or social media for at least 15
minutes first.
C. Usually just putter for an hour or more. I need windup
time.
9 | When I’m faced with a long task
involving paperwork and digesting many
documents, I:
A. Use techniques such as skimming and note-taking to
identify key points.
B. Start at the beginning and read every word from
start to finish.
C. Stare at the wall for a while before I get started, and
then start over a few times.
TALLY YOUR SCORE
Time to assess your productivity. Count up your answers
by giving yourself 10 points for each A answer; 5 for each
B; and 0 for each C.
65–100 Super Producer
Excellent! You’re probably very productive already.
But every process—even yours—can be improved. Have
you ever thought about batching similar types of work
activities together? The brain can sometimes focus better
when engaging in the same activity repeatedly, such as
making phone calls or replying to emails. You also might
benefit from seeing which time of day you work best,
and then schedule more challenging tasks during that
timeframe.
30–60 Room for Improvement
Adequate. You’re good at getting some things done,
but you can likely do much better to increase your
productivity. It may be helpful to realize that when you
interrupt yourself to start another activity, it can take
23 minutes, on average, to get back to the same level of
concentration that you had before you shifted gears.
Although many people think multi-tasking is helpful for
productivity, many experts say the reverse is actually
true. Consider sticking to one project at a time to see if
you achieve better results.
0–25 Stuck in a Rut
Whoa! Your low score indicates you may be struggling to
focus on your objectives to achieve effective outcomes.
Perhaps you need to reexamine your goals. People who
take the time to organize and plan their work days are
more productive. Think about sitting down to make a list
of daily goals—you may be surprised at your results.
Need to show proof of your alumni status?
Get your own ID card now at alumni.phoenix.edu
16 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
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PHOENIX FOCUS | Entitlement at work
Entitlement
at work
Dr. John Townsend, author of The
Entitlement Cure, explains how to get
over yourself and get to work.
By Julie Wilson
If you’re like millions of other working
professionals, chances are you’ve already
joined the ultimate professional networking
website, LinkedIn®.
Have you ever encountered someone who cut to the
head of the line or parked in the fire lane because they
didn’t think the rules applied to them? This entitled
mindset is what Dr. John Townsend, psychologist
and bestselling author, explores in his latest book,
The Entitlement Cure: Finding Success in Doing Hard
Things the Right Way. Phoenix Focus caught up with
him to learn more about what makes people who feel
entitled tick.
PHOENIX FOCUS: The term “entitlement” gets tossed
around in casual conversation and makes the occasional
headline about spoiled children or government
spending, but what exactly is it?
Dr. John Townsend: It comes down to two attributes,
really. The first attribute is that I am not responsible for
my behavior or the implications of it. The second is that
I deserve to be special. I don’t have to wait in the back
of the line. I know people in their twenties and people
in their mid-eighties who are entitled. It has nothing
to do with generation. It’s a human condition, not a
generational condition.
PF: Why do people develop a sense of entitlement?
JT: At a psychological level, what happens—in layman
terms—is we have two buckets inside us. One we call the
real self and the other we call the false self. A person has
passions, desires, strengths and weaknesses. The false
self is also grandiose, self-absorbed and narcissistic.
When a parent praises a child for being pretty, they
didn’t do anything [to be pretty]. When a parent says
you work really hard, love your friends, did a good
job, that is the real self. It took effort. Entitlement is
when there is an overfeeding of the false self and an
underfeeding of the real self.
The same thing happens in the workplace. You have
people now who feel like because they got to work on
time there is supposed to be a party. When bosses do
that, they are feeding the false self.
Both parents and bosses should reserve praise for two
things. One is expended effort—for staying up late,
focusing and working really hard. You praise that, and
you praise success—when someone got the account or
won the game.
PF: Why do parents offer so much praise in the absence
of accomplishment?
JT: Because they think making a child feel good about
themselves all the time is going to win. They get that
wrong. We are finding out now that the self-images of
entitled children are very low. When you dig into their
psyches, you find they are terribly insecure, terribly
afraid of taking on challenges and terribly afraid of
failing, so it’s not working.
PF: How does entitlement impact people’s professional
and personal lives?
JT: They are unable to get and keep the jobs that
could be helping them reach their potential, and they
are having awful relationship conflicts. Entitlement
basically creates a sense that since you are special, you
shouldn’t have to get your hands dirty. This attitude
sabotages success.
PF: So what creates success and reduces entitlement?
JT: When you look at studies on what builds successful
people, one of the things they are very good at is doing
difficult things. And the idea is that to do great business
or to have a great relationship, you have to do difficult
things and roll up your sleeves. That is the cure to
entitlement. The habit of doing what is best rather than
what is convenient to achieve a worthwhile outcome.
That means failing and struggling and doing things you
don’t have a passion for.
You have to stop saying, ‘I deserve’ and start saying,
‘I am responsible.’ I deserve a great marriage and a
great job—deserve is a very disempowering word.
I am responsible to do whatever it takes to have a
great marriage, a great job, to be happy. Now that’s
empowering. The choice is mine and I can do something
about it.
PF: What does choosing to do the difficult thing
look like?
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JT: What you find in very successful people is that they
routinely start the day doing the hard thing first. Do
you know any mom who says eat your ice cream first?
No. That’s just the way life works. You learn to do the
next difficult thing first so life is better later.
What really motivates people is what kind of life they
want to have. I divide life into what I call the three Ps.
The personal part is healthy emotions and healthy
behaviors. I want to be happy and self-disciplined. The
second P is people. I want to have great relationships
with people I love. The third P is performance. I want a
great car and a great job. I want to use my gifts to help
the world. Entitlement creates problems in all three of
these areas.
PF: So how do you deal with friends, family members
or coworkers who act entitled?
JT: First, you have to disconnect from the need for
them to be healthy. You have to accept them as they are.
Second, you have to be a little careful about narcissistic
injury, meaning that entitled people are very sensitive
to being embarrassed or humiliated. They can go into
rages or tantrums sometimes. They can’t handle the
real self. It has got to be that false self. Be careful of
making them feel embarrassed or ashamed because
they tend to react in unpleasant ways. And do what
healthy people do. When they do something nice, tell
them.
PF: What are the benefits of pursuing the more difficult
path in life?
JT: Life is in our relationships, in our internal world
and in our work. The benefit is that you have selfcontrolled
behavior and heathy feelings. You have great
friends and people you love to be with. You’re doing
something meaningful that you are good at. That’s a
pretty good life.
Meet Dr. Townsend
Dr. John Townsend is a New York Times bestselling
author, business consultant, leadership coach and
psychologist. He has written or co-written 27 books,
selling 8 million copies, including the Boundaries
series; Leadership Beyond Reason and his newest
bestseller, The Entitlement Cure.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Townsend has engaged
with leaders, organizations and individuals around
the globe, offering them life-changing solutions
to their problems. He is a co-host of the nationally
syndicated talk show “New Life Live,” which is heard
in 180 markets with 3 million listeners.
He is the founder of the Townsend Institute for
Leadership and Counseling, which offers graduate
degrees and credentialing in organizational
leadership, executive coaching and counseling.
Shop the new
University Marketplace
Featuring:
• More of your favorite brands and stores
• More alumni deals and cash back
• Printable grocery coupons
• Gift cards
• A browser plugin that enables you to earn cash back even when
you aren’t logged into the Marketplace site.
Sign in with your existing password or register as a new member at:
www.shopuniversitymarketplace.com, and start shopping!
University Marketplace
shopuniversitymarketplace.com
20 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 21

PHOENIX FOCUS | Nat’e Guyton
School of Advanced Studies
A remarkable
journey
By Marilyn Hawkes
Photographs by Jeff Wojtaszek
Alumna Nat’e Guyton uses her innate
leadership skills and strong support system
to leave her humble beginnings behind.
As an 8-year-old girl, Nat’e Guyton went to live with her
grandmother in inner city Philadelphia. “My parents were
teenagers when they had me. They were young and uneducated
and they went off to live their tumultuous lives,” she says.
22 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
Nat’e Gyuton, DM ’15
Chief Operating Officer, Society of Hospital Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
alumni.phoenix.edu 23

PHOENIX FOCUS | Nat’e Guyton
School of Advanced Studies
“Instead of dwelling on her situation, Guyton says it
gave her more resolve and determination to seek a
better life.
“It caused me to be laser focused on what I needed
to do for myself and my family, my career and my
community. Nobody in my community had education
and many people were laid off and on welfare.”
Overcoming the odds
Despite a lack of money and scarcity of educational
role models, Guyton found the inner strength to
transcend the obstacles. “I say it was God’s will. I didn’t
have a road map, but I had a vision in my head early
on,” she says.
Because of that vision, Guyton graduated in 2015 with
a Doctor of Management from University of Phoenix.
She recently landed the position of Chief Operating
Officer of the Society of Hospital Medicine, a nonprofit
organization based in Philadelphia that represents
more than 14,000 practicing hospitalists in the U.S.
“I speak to young ladies about
developmental opportunities and
career pathways, getting their
resumes together and getting
into college.”
Nat’e Guyton
Before earning her doctoral degree, Guyton obtained
a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree
in nursing education from Widener University, got
married and raised two boys, now 7 and 14.
Guyton credits her husband, Sean, whom she met at
15, with helping her succeed. While Guyton attended
school, he took care of the children and helped
maintain their home. He shuttled them to sports
practices, went grocery shopping and made dinner
when Guyton was at school, studying or working late.
He continues to do the same today while working a full
time job.
“My husband is awesome. … He’s also been a constant
in my life outside of my grandmother. He’s seen the
struggle and he has always been a part of helping me
get where I needed to go.”
A generation of role models
Earning the advanced degree was a tremendous
personal accomplishment for Guyton, and she’s
provided a strong role model for her children. “It was
a blessing to go through the program and allow them
to see the process and work ethic needed to succeed,”
she says. “My oldest son said, ‘Mom, you set the bar
high for us.’” Both boys are talking about becoming
physicians.
Guyton developed her strong work ethic from watching her grandmother
work the 3-11 p.m. shift as a hospital unit clerk. Every day after school,
Guyton went to the hospital and did her homework there because she wasn’t
allowed to be home alone. She remembers spending Christmas with the
hospital Santa. “I grew up in the hospital. It was all I really knew.”
That early exposure sparked Guyton’s interest in a health-care career. While
in high school, she took advanced science and math classes and decided on
nursing. After graduating at 17, she enrolled at Widener University while
working as a file clerk in a law firm and as a nursing assistant.
“Between me and my grandmother, we paid for school, but it wasn’t easy,”
she says.
Patient advocate
While in nursing school, Guyton excelled academically, but it wasn’t until
she worked as a student nurse in the hospital and treated a young man who
had sustained massive injuries in a car accident that she fully grasped the
humanitarian aspect of nursing. “He was literally in pieces—arms broken,
legs broken, neck broken. I was on that clinical (rotation) for about six
months and I watched him get better every day and walk out of
the hospital,” she says. “I knew then I wanted to be a part of that.
Being a patient advocate as a nurse really aligned with what I was
purposed to do.”
Guyton has always seen her role in life as one of an advocate. “My
purpose is to be a voice for the people,” she says. “I was the voice
for patients when I was a staff nurse. I was able to represent nurses
at the technology table. I’m a voice for my professional community
when I’m sitting at the table as a COO at 39,” she says.
Serving her community
But equally important to her is advocating for young women in
the African-American community. She serves as a mentor to
many through Widener University’s Black Student Union as well
as through her high school alma mater and local Boys and Girls
Clubs. “I speak to young ladies about developmental opportunities
and career pathways, getting their resumes together and getting
into college,” she says.
As she settles in to her new job at the Society of
Hospital Medicine, a nonprofit based in Philadelphia
that represents 14,000 hospitals in the United
States, Guyton says she’s been blessed to have many
opportunities in her career.
“The one thing I hold on to is my purpose and my
destiny. That is what propelled me where I am today
and wherever I will be going in the future.”
For information on this program, including on-time
completion rates, the median debt incurred by students
who completed the program and other important
information, please visit phoenix.edu/programs/gainfulemployment.html.
24 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 25

PHOENIX FOCUS | Anne Marie Lutrick
School of Nursing
A Top-Flight
Nurse
By Lori K. Baker
Photographs by David Zickl
Alumna Anne Marie Lutrick finds rich
reward in a challenging nursing career.
Anne Marie Lutrick relishes her high-flying nursing career aboard
a medical transport helicopter, where she’s a member of a threeperson
crew—a pilot, paramedic and flight nurse—who performs
missions when every minute counts to save a life.
Anne Marie Lutrick, MSN ’09
Nursing supervisor, Mayo Clinic
Phoenix, AZ
26 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 27

PHOENIX FOCUS | Anne Marie Lutrick
School of Nursing
“University of Phoenix made it convenient for me as
an adult learner—and not all institutions do that.”
Anne Marie Lutrick
The first time she heard the whop-whop-whop of a helicopter’s
spinning rotors as it touched down on an emergency helipad at
Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, her pulse quickened. She
thought, ‘Someday I’m going to do that.’
From dramatic helicopter rescues to delivering patients to
hospitals—and all the life-or-death decisions in between—flight
nursing appeals to the highly skilled registered nurse’s sense
of adventure. “This job forced me to move out of my comfort
zone,” says Lutrick, a 44-year-old single mother of two teenaged
daughters who lives in Glendale, Arizona.
Preparing to takeoff
Inspired by her mother, who worked as a nurse, Lutrick began
volunteering as a candy striper at a Phoenix nursing home at age
15. Wearing a pink-and-white striped uniform and white shoes, she
worked with the elderly during social activities. “I really enjoyed
the one-on-one interaction with the patients, even though it was
definitely not something I wanted to do long term,” she says.
A year later, the career-minded 16-year-old landed a position at
John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, where she received on-the-job
training as an electrocardiogram (EKG) technician.
She worked in this role on weekends and school breaks
for two years, until she graduated from high school.
Later, she worked in the telemetry unit at the hospital,
where she monitored patients for heart rate, rhythm
and breathing. During this time, she began her nursing
education at GateWay Community College, where she
earned an associate nursing degree.
A golden opportunity
In 1998, the acclaimed Mayo Clinic opened a hospital
in Phoenix, and Lutrick received a ground-floor
opportunity to work there two months before the
hospital opened. Widely regarded as one of the world’s
greatest hospitals, Mayo specializes in treating difficult
cases and spends more than $500 million a year on
groundbreaking research. For Lutrick, her job at Mayo
made it possible to work and advance her nursing
education under a tuition reimbursement plan. She
eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from
Grand Canyon University and later a Master of Science
in Nursing (MSN) from University of Phoenix.
“When I was in nursing school, I had two daughters under the age
of 5, and it was a very challenging time. As I worked through my
bachelor’s and master’s programs, it meant a lot of time at work or
behind a computer, away from my kids,” she recalls. Despite the
pangs of mother’s guilt, she says, “It showed my daughters how
important your education is—that you need to pursue your goals
and never stop.”
She credits the University of Phoenix MSN program and Mayo
Clinic Hospital for making it possible for her to earn an advanced
degree. “University of Phoenix made it convenient for me as an
adult learner—and not all institutions do that,” she says. “To be
with my peers here on the hospital’s campus made it a lot easier to
deal with the hardship of being away from my family.”
Flying high
Today, Lutrick does double duty as a per diem flight nurse with
Air Methods Native Air Ambulance and as a nursing supervisor at
Mayo Clinic Hospital’s Solid Organ Transplant Center in Phoenix,
where she oversees 30 registered nurse coordinators. She enjoys
being “a change agent to improve process and workflows.”
With transplant centers in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, Mayo
Clinic performs more transplants than any other medical center
in the world. “It’s a very rewarding profession because you get to
see patients who are not well receive an organ and start to feel
better and recover,” Lutrick says. “But it’s also a very challenging
profession because it doesn’t always go well. There are challenges
that arise before transplant and after transplant. But I
always like a challenge—and finding creative solutions
to problems. Working in transplant has all those pieces
of the puzzle.”
Off duty from Mayo, the sky is the limit for the per
diem flight nurse who works as part of an emergency
and critical care transport team aboard a helicopter.
She recalls one of her most rewarding missions, when
the team rescued a stroke victim in a rural region of
Arizona. They flew him to Mayo Clinic in time to deliver
a life-saving drug called tissue plasminogen activator
(tPA), which can dissolve blood clots and restore blood
flow to the brain if administered within three hours of
the onset of stroke symptoms. “He made a full recovery,
and his wife was very grateful that we were able to save
his life,” she says.
Looking back on her rewarding career, she offers this
advice to her daughters—or anyone following their
career path: “Don’t ever give up on your dreams and
goals, even if they seem impossible!”
For information on this program, including on-time
completion rates, the median debt incurred by students
who completed the program and other important
information, please visit phoenix.edu/programs/
gainful-employment.html.
28 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 29

PHOENIX FOCUS
| School of Business
A Passion for
Politics
By Jenny Jedeikin
Photographs by Fred Greaves
After receiving their education, four University
of Phoenix alumni find meaningful careers in
California State Legislature.
(Left to right)
Jim Cooper, BSM ’98
Isadore Hall, BSB ’99
Melissa Melendez, MBA ’08
Mike Gipson, BSB/M ’07
Sacramento, CA
How do you plan to make your mark on the world? For these four
University of Phoenix graduates, receiving an education was an
important factor into building a purposeful and meaningful career
in California state government.
30 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 31

PHOENIX FOCUS
| School of Business
“I think the best way to teach children how to be
leaders is to be the real-life example for them.”
Melissa Melendez, University of Phoenix alumna and California state assemblywoman
Although their backgrounds are diverse—including
the military, law enforcement and local campaign
advocacy—these alumni have one thing in common.
Each recognized the critical need to achieve a higher
education in order to reach their goals, and then went
on to win elected roles to serve their communities in
the California State Legislature.
We caught up with Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez,
Assemblyman Jim Cooper, State Senator Isadore
Hall and Assemblyman Mike Gipson to find out why
they got involved in politics, and how they view the
important work they’re doing every day.
Phoenix Focus: What led you to go into politics?
Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez: My five
children. It was never my dream to be a politician. But
I do think the best way to teach children how to be
leaders is to be the real-life example for them. The way
I see it, my job is to do what I can to improve the world
they live in, and their job is to keep it that way.
Assemblyman Jim Cooper: After I retired as a captain
with 30 years in the Sacramento County Sheriff’s
Department, I felt like I could make a difference.
Having worked for the sheriff, I was able to see how
decisions were made and how they impacted others.
Law enforcement gives you a tremendous amount of
experience because you deal with everything from
good to bad.
State Senator Isadore Hall: My mother always
pressed upon my five siblings and me to give back to
the community. I was always volunteering in a senior
center home or at the community center, and that
allowed me to look into the political component. When
my godfather became the first African-American
mayor in the city of Lynwood, California, I worked on
his campaign.
Assemblyman Mike Gipson: My cousin was killed
coming out of a liquor store in South Central Los
Angeles because he was at the wrong place at the
wrong time. When my family put up a $5,000
reward, we asked the city of Los Angeles, through a
city councilmember, to do likewise, and they did. I
started working for that city councilmember, Robert
Farrell, and that’s what caused me to get involved in
community action and activism.
PF: What’s the most important aspect of your role in
the legislature?
MM: Representing every constituent well, regardless of
his or her political party. I think everyone has the right
to be heard. I read every email and letter sent to me. I
think that’s the most important aspect, making sure
that I am connected with the people I represent.
JC: Improving the economy and creating jobs. The
middle class has been hurt quite a bit and they’re still
having a hard time with employment and the economy.
I want to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and
represented in the legislature.
IH: Being a consensus maker. You can’t do anything
when you have a polarized government. When
you’re able to bring both sides to the table, you move
government forward.
MG: Creating laws that help advance a better standard
of living for people in my community and outside
my community. Being able to stand up for those that
society has labeled invisible, and to let them know that
they have a strong advocate who is going to work on
their behalf.
PF: What makes you most proud?
MM: I’ve had 11 bills signed by the governor, which
is no small feat when you are in the minority party.
And they’re wide ranging—from helping our military
members to helping the kids in schools.
JC: Long before I got involved in politics, I spent a lot of
time mentoring youth. I coached youth sports, served
on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club,
(Left to right) Jim Cooper, Isadore Hall, Melissa Melendez, Mike Gipson, members of the California State Legislature
Big Brother and Big Sisters, and worked with homeless teens. Kids
have come up to me many times during my life and told me I had a
positive effect on their lives.
IH: Being able to step up to the challenge of making right some
social wrongs. Homelessness has grown to over 12 percent
in Los Angeles and the highest demographic is females with
children. Being able to address that by putting hundreds of
millions of dollars in our state budget to combat that issue, I
think that’s important.
MG: I wrote a law to close the state loophole when it comes to
vehicular manslaughter. My son was killed at the age of three
by vehicular manslaughter. Previously, there was a statute of
limitations of three years, so that if you killed someone with your
vehicle in a hit-and-run, you could get away with it after three
years passes. But since I wrote law AB835 and the governor of
California signed my bill, now individuals in California who kill
someone in a hit-and-run homicide will be brought to justice
whenever they are found.
PF: How did your education help you realize your goals?
MM: When I decided to get my MBA, I had just had my fifth child,
and it was a now or never moment. Go back to school, and do it
well, no matter how tired you are. That was really the beginning
of that epiphany that life is not going to wait for you to get a good
night sleep before you’re expected to live up to the potential that
God gave you.
JC: At the time I earned my degree, I was working full-time, had
kids, and I was the sheriff department spokesperson. Sometimes
I had to leave the classroom to take a call about a homicide, and
without the flexibility of University of Phoenix, I never would have
been able to complete my degree.
IH: I was working and taking care of my mother, so I didn’t have
the time to go through traditional education. University of
Phoenix not only gave me an opportunity to earn my degree, but
it also fast-tracked me into an environment where I was dealing
with professionals. I could sit at the table of the city council and
negotiate a budget, and know what a business plan is.
MG: Getting my degree increased my confidence level and
prepared me for the challenges that awaited me in terms of public
policy. It also allowed a door to be opened where I could be a model
for others who think they can’t get a four-year degree. Now I am
able to say, “I can and I have, because I did.”
For information on this program, including on-time completion rates,
the median debt incurred by students who completed the program
and other important information, please visit phoenix.edu/programs/
gainful-employment.html.
32 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 33

PHOENIX FOCUS
| Alumni Business
Sweet
success
In the movie Forrest Gump, Gump’s mother
offers him this sage advice: “Life is like a box of
chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna
get.” In Leroy Reynolds’ case, that’s exactly
what life gave him.
By Keri Ruiz
Reynolds is the owner of Choicolate Artisan Chocolates in San
Antonio, Texas. He and his wife, Krastina, a Bulgarian native,
bought the established store in 2014 after researching new
business opportunities. A U.S. Army veteran who served 22 years,
Reynolds spent most of his military career in Europe, primarily
in Germany. He says that upon his military retirement, he and
Krastina explored the possibility of opening a small European café
in the states, similar to those they frequented overseas.
Perfect fit
“We settled in San Antonio, and I worked on the civilian side
as inspector general for the Army’s Southern Regional Medical
Command for a few years while we researched franchise and
licensing opportunities,” Reynolds says. “But, we decided that
wasn’t for us; we wanted more control over our business than a
franchise would give us. Then, this chocolate shop opportunity
presented itself, and we thought, ‘Why not?’ It seemed like a
perfect fit for us.”
The Reynolds bought the business from a South Korean couple.
Ironically, South Korea is where Leroy and Krastina met and
married several years before when Leroy was stationed there and
Krastina was working as an English tutor. The name, Choicolate
(pronounced Choy-co-LAHT) is a play on the former owner and
wife’s maiden name, Choi—a common Korean surname.
The Reynolds liked the name and kept it when they took over
the business.
Improved business acumen
Reynolds handles all aspects of business operations and
marketing. He says that while he already had a bachelor’s degree
in management and years of operations and marketing experience
from his time in the military, it was the University of Phoenix
MBA he earned in 2013 that improved his business acumen and
“gave me the science to enhance the art of experience.”
“I use the knowledge I gained through my MBA education every
single day—things like finance, process improvement, marketing
and correct pricing model development,” he says. “Krastina
handles the creative side of the business and has become the
chocolatier, mastering the handcrafting techniques, creating
recipes and designs and shaping the manufacturing operations.”
The business is thriving thanks to Reynolds’ due diligence and
early research into the San Antonio market for the product.
“We’re the only artisan chocolate shop in the San Antonio area,
and have found a niche among baby boomers—our primary buyers
because of their disposal income—for our high-end truffles, toffee
and other items made with natural ingredients and premium
European chocolate,” Reynolds notes.
Overcoming challenges
He adds that with any small business start-up, there are challenges
to be expected. The main challenges Reynolds faced when
launching the business operations were “regulatory entities
and taxes—those two things are always going to be the most
challenging for a small business because they vary by city and
state. You’re on a learning curve, so you have to decide how to
set up your business for what works best for you. We established
ourselves as an LLC—limited liability company.”
Pursue your dream
And while there are other complexities to becoming an
entrepreneur and owning your own business, Reynolds’ best
advice to others considering it comes down to one word, “Dream!”
“Dream it and you can do it,” he emphasizes. “Every little success
you have gives you confidence to take that next step. It shows you
that your dreams are important and achievable. Your desire for
success will lead you to success.”
Get noticed.
Alumni, promote your business in the 2016 Alumni Business Directory.
alumni.phoenix.edu/business-directory.html
34 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 35

YOUR CAREER | Careers 101
CAREERS 101
University of Phoenix
experts answer your questions.
How to overcome interview roadblocks:
Communicating your ability to learn
SKILLS
SHARPENER
How to improve the skills
employers need now
Analyze this: How to become a better thinker
“I think making analytical decisions when you can is
increasingly going to be a criterion for being hired in a
lot of different types of jobs,” says Davenport.
How do you get better at it?
Get yourself in the habit of approaching business
decisions analytically. Here’s how:
• Frame the problem. This involves identifying the
problem, asking questions, assessing the available
information and determining additional information
you need. This is also a good time for a history lesson.
“See how other people have solved this problem in
the past,” advises Davenport. “Most problems are not
unique.”
By Kathryn Scahill
Q: I was recently in a job interview and was told that I did not
have enough relevant experience. I was really interested in the
position, but at that point I felt very discouraged. I don’t have
much experience in my field, so would like to know how to address
this concern in future interviews.
A: It is important not to overlook the point of the interview, which
is to market yourself as a potential employee. This will require a
bit of a sales pitch on your part. Job seekers are often discouraged
when asked difficult questions. It’s very common for an employer
to point out a lack of skills, education or experience during an
interview. This does not, however, mean you are not a viable
candidate.
After all, the employer requested an interview with you. He or she
saw your resumé, read your qualifications, before speaking with
you. It is highly unlikely the employer assumed you had skills
that were not listed on your resumé. When you are told during
an interview that you don’t seem to have the qualifications or
experience the company is looking for, you should convey that you
can learn what it takes to succeed in the role. A lack of relevant
experience does not signal the end of the interview.
Employers are looking for you to articulate that you
are ready for the challenge. It’s important to be honest
about your skills and experience; don’t exaggerate or
embellish in an attempt to meet their needs. Instead,
focus on what you do have to offer, and convey the
reasons they should hire you. Here are a few talking
points:
• Although I do not have a lot of experience in
marketing, I’m a very fast learner. I have already
begun research on your products and target
markets, and I know I can hit the ground running.
• I excelled in my finance and accounting classes,
and am ready to put that knowledge to use.
• I believe that my past jobs in sales will translate
really well to this position, and I will be able to
catch up quickly so I can be an asset to your team.
The key is to focus on your strengths and your desire
to learn and succeed. If you are truly interested in
the job, it is essential that you make that interest clear
to the employer. Remember, you are your own best
advocate, so use the interview to market yourself as
the best candidate.
By Julie Wilson
What is it?
Thomas H. Davenport, who teaches analytics and big data in
executive programs at Babson College, Harvard Business School,
MIT Sloan School and Boston University, explains analytical
thinking this way: “It’s critical thinking using data and analysis to
inform and hopefully support better decisions.”
That is, when you approach a challenge from the framework of
analytical thinking, you collect data related to the issue so you can
assess it and formulate a plan of action based on fact.
Davenport, who is the author of Keeping Up with the Quants: Your
Guide to Understanding and Using Analytics, says, “Analytical
decisions are more likely to be accurate and precise” when
compared with those based on experience and intuition alone.
Why is it important?
Analytical skills are valued in the business world where
information is coming in a mile a minute. Analytical thinking
skills enable employees to process critical information, organize
it and then draw conclusions in order to make better decisions
efficiently and quickly. Not everyone is going to be a datacrunching
expert, but it’s important to have a basic understanding
of the process.
• Solve the problem. This is where data comes
in. Collect it and then create a model in order to
analyze it and understand the issues. Then use
that analysis to develop a solution. If you work in
a larger organization, there’s a good chance one of
your colleagues can crunch the numbers. “You can
find experts to help you do that,” assures Davenport.
“That’s what hardcore quantitative analysts do.”
• Communicate the results and their implications.
Don’t be dry about it, though. You have to be able to
engage leaders and help them understand the data
in a meaningful way. “Most people are not very good
telling stories with data,” says Davenport, “but it’s an
important skill, as well.” It’s worth taking the time to
learn how to do it right.
Learn more
Continue to sharpen your creative problem-solving
skills with these resources:
• Read: Keeping Up with the Quants: Your Guide to
Understanding and Using Analytics by Thomas H.
Davenport
• Watch: Analytical Thinking by GRASP the Solution
• Attend: The American Management Association’s
range of analytical thinking workshops.
36 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 37

PHOENIX FOCUS | Industry spotlight
Industry spotlight
Information Systems
and Technology
Chances are that the latest advances in your
industry—whatever it is—have something to do
with technology.
“Data will be one of the biggest
pushes in the next three to
five years.”
Kirsten E. Hoyt, Ed.D.
careers should make it their business to be prepared. Most hot
technology jobs in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational
Outlook Handbook require a bachelor’s degree-level education or
higher, and many specialized roles require industry certifications
and continuing education so candidates stay up-to-date on the
latest technology.
In addition to degree programs and IT certifications, good
old-fashioned soft skills are still necessary for success, too.
“Things like attention to detail and common courtesy often are
overlooked,” reminds Hoyt. “Communication, the ability to work
in teams—we hear employers asking for a lot of those skills.”
Roller agrees. “You can’t have a straight IT mentality,” she says,
affirming that soft skills are crucial moving forward.
By Julie Wilson
What’s new in your job? Chances are that the latest advances
in your industry—whatever it is—have something to do with
technology. Just as innovations in technology impact the way jobs
are done, the way employees should prepare for those jobs has
changed.
There are plenty of opportunities for job candidates who make it
their business to stay even or ahead of the technology curve. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in computer
and information technology occupations is projected to grow 12
percent from 2014 to 2024. That’s faster than the average for all
occupations. Here’s a look at the trends behind these jobs and how
to prepare for them.
A little thing called big data
You’d be hard-pressed to find a corner of the world that hasn’t
become reliant upon technology—and the data these tools amass.
Those smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearable devices we’ve
become so dependent upon spend their lives collecting byte-sized
pieces of information. According to tech-giant IBM, 2.5 quintillion
bytes of data are collected each day, with 90 percent of the world’s
data coming into existence over the course of the last few years
alone.
This jaw-dropping statistic raises the question, just what do we do
with all this information?
Forward-thinking organizations are strategizing how to use
it. A forecast by market research company International Data
Corporation (IDC) shows that the market for big data technology
and services will grow at a 26.4 percent compound annual growth
rate to $41.5 billion by the end of 2018. That’s six times faster than
the overall information technology market.
According to Kirsten E. Hoyt, Ed.D., academic dean for University
of Phoenix’s College of Information Systems and Technology,
“Data will be one of the biggest pushes in the next three to five
years.”
Where there’s growth, there are opportunities for individuals
and organizations willing and able to create solutions to meet the
demand. The anticipated boom in data-related jobs will include
data operations managers, database administrators, data analysts,
software engineers, computer and information research scientists
and chief data officers.
Under lock and key
In the modern age, there’s a trail of zeros and ones that leads
back to just about every individual on the planet. Whenever we
click “purchase” on a retail website, check our bank balance on a
smartphone or pre-register online for a doctor’s appointment, we
leave behind identifying information about ourselves.
New innovations have created a standard of click-of-the-mouse
convenience that consumers are growing to expect from
businesses great and small. The problem is that modern-day
crooks also are tech-savvy, and the price of their crimes is steep.
According to the 2014 McAfee Report on the Global Cost of
Cybercrime, cybercrime costs the global economy more than $445
billion each year.
Dawn M. Roller, MBA, vice president of University of Phoenix’s
College of Information Systems & Technology’s strategic
partnerships, has met with leading cyber companies who predict
that two sectors will be hit especially hard by cyber crime in the
coming year: hospitals and education. Many of those organizations
have adopted electronic records management technologies, but
some of those are ancient technology systems, while others have a
technology system with cyber security tools in place.
Additionally, the devices consumers rely on to conduct their
day-to-day business, such as smartphones and tablets, leave
consumers even more vulnerable to identity theft than before, as
does readily available code-it-yourself software. “If an average Joe
can make your smartphone app, then an average Joe can hack your
smartphone app,” cautions Roller.
Jobs in cybersecurity include information security analysts,
computer systems analysts, computer systems engineers and
systems software developers. The study by Burning Glass
Technologies revealed that there is a demand for cybersecurity
professionals with a background in finance, health care and retail
trade, too.
Coding knowledge
With strong job growth expected in the field of information
systems and technology, job seekers who are serious about their
The ability to code is no longer enough. The most eligible
job candidates have a broad skill set that includes emotional
intelligence coupled with an array of technical capabilities and
strategic insight. “The people who are really successful in the IT
industry are those who can put the technology in your hands,
protect it and advance it,” Roller asserts.
A college degree in Information Systems & Technology can
help professionals hone specialized expertise, as can certificate
programs like the University of Phoenix Advanced Networking
Certificate. “We stay very close with industry experts,” says Hoyt
of the University’s program and certificate offerings. “It’s the best
way to keep our curriculum current and relevant.”
For more information on the University of Phoenix information
systems and technology-related certificates, visit phoenix.edu/
programs/continuing-education/certificate-programs.html. Learn
more about IT industry certifications at http://www.phoenix.edu/
colleges_divisions/technology/it-certifications.html.
Hoyt sums up the appeal of the IT field for individuals looking
for open-ended career opportunities. “Whether you’re working
the register at a fast food restaurant or have a corporate job,
technology is prevalent everywhere. It needs to be serviced,
operated, managed, maintained and supported. For me, IS&T is a
great place to be.”
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alumni.phoenix.edu 39

By the numbers:
Security and Cybercrime
PHOENIX FOCUS | Industry spotlight
YOUR CAREER | Career planning, simplified
79%
PwC’s 2015 State of
U.S. Cybercrime Survey
respondents who said they
detected a security incident in
the past 12 months
294
billion
Number of
emails sent
every day
$19 Billion
Amount of stimulus funds in the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
set aside to assist health-care providers to
purchase and implement Electronic Medical
Record (EMR) systems by 2015
Do you know
someone on
this list?
1.3 million
Number of
new global
cybersecurity
jobs between
2015 and 2019
$79,390
Median annual wage for computer
and information technology
occupations in May 2014
35%
Cybersecurity jobs that call
for an industry certification
800 Million
Individual personal
information records that
were reported stolen in 2013
Each month, approximately 8,000 dedicated
students earn their degrees and become proud
University of Phoenix graduates.
Phoenix Focus magazine celebrates the newest members of
the growing alumni community—now more than 878,000 strong—with
an online list of recent graduates.
To see the list of graduates from July 1–September 30, 2015,
visit the Phoenix Focus home page.
alumni.phoenix.edu/phoenix-focus
40 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 41

University news
PHOENIX FOCUS | Your University
University Marketplace
Shop the new University Marketplace
It’s official! The new University Marketplace is now live and better than ever at
shopuniversitymarketplace.com.
As a University Marketplace member, you’ll be able to:
• Shop online and earn cash back from thousands of stores
• Access special sales
• Access print-at-home grocery coupons—select the coupons you want, and print
• Whether you’re a University of Phoenix, Western International University or CFFP
student, alumnus, faculty or employee; Apollo Education Group employee; or more
than one of the above, now you can access all your Marketplace deals with just one
website and one login
• Redeem your cash-back reward by check or PayPal, or choose from a wide selection
of gift cards (Don’t worry—any unredeemed reward you’ve previously
earned through the Marketplace will transfer to the new site)
• Check the University Marketplace blog for interesting articles, retail insight, helpful
shopping tips, life hacks and more
To access the new website, sign in with your existing password or register as a new member at
shopuniversitymarketplace.com, and start shopping!
We Rise
Your unstoppable Phoenix spirit is evident every day in your
workplace and in your home. And now the world will see it too,
thanks to our new “We Rise” brand platform highlighting your
inspiring stories. This is just the beginning, and we’ll showcase this
new direction with several new videos and promotional materials.
You’ll see the following in traditional, digital and social media:
• A new TV spot airing nationwide (Watch at bit.ly/we-rise-tv)
• A video profile of Muriel Duncan, an inspiring member of
the University’s first graduating class in 1979
(Watch at bit.ly/uopx-duncan.)
• Alumni United videos, where our proud alums Bill Warren
(bit.ly/uopx-warren) and Suzanne Morse Buhrow
(bit.ly/uopx-suzanne) dispel some myths about the University
• A video about what it means to rise
(Watch at bit.ly/uopx-we-rise)
Scholarship opportunity
University of Phoenix is excited to announce the Forever
A Phoenix® Scholarship program. University of Phoenix
understands the importance of making higher education
accessible for students of all ages and backgrounds. As
the largest private university in North America, we take
very seriously our social responsibility to our students
and the communities we serve. University of Phoenix
is particularly adept at aiding nontraditional students
complete their education by providing programs around
their busy lives.
Together with the University of Phoenix Alumni
Association, University of Phoenix is providing a
scholarship opportunity to its alumni to continue
their education. Alumni who have graduated from any
University of Phoenix degree program, are eligible
to apply to receive a full-tuition scholarship toward
a bachelor’s or master’s degree program of their
choice. Through this program, forty (40) full-tuition
scholarships will be awarded. Recipients may choose to
attend a University of Phoenix on-ground campus or
may attend University of Phoenix online.
The scholarship application period opens Saturday, April
23 at 8 am Eastern Time and closes at 11:30 pm Eastern
Time. Only the first 250 qualified applications that meet
the defined eligibility criteria will be considered. For
scholarship details and eligibility, visit
alumni.phoenix.edu/benefits-discounts/scholarshipinformation/forever-a-phoenix.html
42 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
alumni.phoenix.edu 43