When students need direction, Navigators lead the way
Pearson Pathways is a dynamic new online marketplace where people can connect with the online higher education they want and need to get ahead. A key component of Pathways is the support of Pearson's Navigators, dedicated subject matter experts who guide and counsel learners to help them achieve their goals. The Navigator service is free of charge to all Pathways users, and these counselors have a long track-record of success. Keep reading to meet one and see why they’re such an important part of this new online experience.
What makes you excited to get up and go to work every day?
For me, my success is based on the success of the people I serve. It’s so rewarding when a student tells me they’ve graduated from a program and thanks me for the role I played (pushing them to take that next step). So, making a difference and inspiring others to follow their dreams is what excites me to go to work every day.
How does your role as a Navigator impact learners in online programs?
One of my most memorable interactions was speaking with a student who expressed interest in a library science program. She was informed that the librarian where she worked would be retiring in a few years and they would be looking for someone to replace her. This student had to have a Master of Management in Library and Information Science (MMLIS) to fill the position. So, she reached out to me.
The student shared her background, her struggles of running a business during the pandemic, and her experiences doing mission work. She spoke about going to different developing countries with a nonprofit organization delivering food and water, educating women in the villages on basic health, and assisting in administering vaccinations. She had participated in several missions with a friend, and I could hear the passion in her voice when she told the stories.
Although she called about the library program, I told her that as her advisor I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t share information on another program that she might be interested in. I informed her of the Master of Public Health Program with a Global Health concentration. I shared the curriculum, examples of practicum work other students had done, as well as career opportunities.