“As a first-generation student in the U.S., it sometimes feels impossible to navigate your way through the job scouting world. Joining the CSA was the best thing I could have done. Not only are you exposed to other individuals encountering the same struggles, but you also learn how to face them.”
— Nina Zadushlivy, CSA Alum ’22
Mission
The mission of the Career Skills Academy is to promote and advance equity in career success for CUNY School of Public Health students.
Strategies for Student Success
The public health workforce nationwide has become more recognized and understood as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The workforce lacks diversity at its highest ranks with 66% of all executives identifying as white, and CUNY is uniquely positioned to advance the careers of diverse professionals while disrupting poverty. Rebuilding public health infrastructure requires honed support through education and professional development for those new to the field or seeking advancement.
Career Skills Academy (CSA) students enroll as cohorts and are taught by a dedicated career services staff. CSA staff offer high-touch, high-impact career services to build soft skills, from individual and group career coaching to skill-share sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities with CSA alumni and peer mentors. Through our signature Public Health Masterclass series, the program offers exclusive opportunities for Academy students to engage with employers and industry leaders. The CSA team matches students and professionals for networking, informational interviews, and shadowing, and they work with the students to prepare them in advance of these connections.
BY THE NUMBERS
Of the 2023 Academy students that completed the program:
91%
had more confidence in themselves as professionals
96%
were satisfied with the Career Skills Academy program
91%
felt more prepared for job interviews
82%
acknowledged increased soft skills and professional development
52%
secured new positions, pay raises, promotions, or are awaiting response to their requests for career advancement
The Career Skills Academy is a remote program with select opportunities for in-person engagement.
