Talking with… Sandra Guerra-Kim

Interviews | May 07, 2020 | Jessica Edgar

Each “Talking with…” feature helps you learn about a different Gabelli School faculty member, administrator, or staff member. This week, we’re speaking with Sandra Guerra-Kim, Program Manager of Non-Degree Programs at the Gabelli School of Business.

As Program Manager of non-degree programs, what is the most rewarding part of your role?

As Program Manager of non-degree programs I find hosting visitors the most rewarding part of my work. We work hard at making sure they have a great impression of Fordham, and have a pleasant time in our city as well. It is satisfying to get positive feedback on evaluations at the end of a program. 

What are non-degree programs and, in your opinion, what is special about these programs for alumni and guests? 

Non-degree programs are all academic programs that aren’t part of a degree-granting program. For the most part our programs are graduate level. Our programs can be credit-granting (as will be the case with our advanced certificates), but for the most part they are taken to help you further your knowledge on a certain topic. What makes this special for alumni and guests is that they can have access to one or several of our wonderful Gabelli School professors and learn about very specific topics, in a more relaxed format.

What is your background at Fordham, and how has that shaped your experience here? 

I came in from the Graduate School of Social Service. First, I was a student at GSS and a year later I started working on consulting projects with GSS, which later on led to a full-time position. I was there for five years and came to Gabelli in July. Having this experience at GSS made for an easier transition into Gabelli.

How do you think non-degree programs will change in the coming year?

We will have online programming! We have been wanting to offer online programs and with the current COVID-19 situation we pushed to make this transition quickly. We also plan to offer advanced certificates. These certificates are 15-credit programs which can be completed in three terms. Both alumni and future Rams may be interested in our programs.

What do you see for the next 100 years of the Gabelli School of Business?

I can see Gabelli becoming more interdisciplinary and practical. We can never completely leave longstanding academic practices behind, but I have seen a transition in education (at least at Fordham) of borrowing best practices from other disciplines to become more effective out in the field. I think the Work 2040 conference was a great example of that.