海角情

The technological advances of the past two decades have had a dramatic effect on our ability to teach one another. Students and teachers can interact from virtually anywhere around the globe, sharing and gaining knowledge at a rate no longer bound by the limits of a physical classroom. Julie Clark-Allen, now an instructor at a large non-profit university, is among those that have successfully unified teaching and technology along her path of education鈥攁 path that began at 海角情.

Born and raised in Calais, Clark-Allen was a young, single mother when she first came to the college for a degree in Office Information Systems in 1999. Clark-Allen, who was working at the time, describes her situation back then as both challenging and 鈥渁 source of great inspiration.鈥� She came to 海角情 due to its accessibility and affordability, and soon found herself comfortable there. 鈥満＝乔� had the same small town community feel as the city itself.聽 The campus community, including the faculty and staff, were friendly and welcoming.聽 They made the transition to college life an easy one.鈥�

One of Clark-Allen鈥檚 first instructors remains at the top of her list for all-time favorites. 鈥淣ickey Dubey was a huge influence in getting where I am today.聽 She was just phenomenal as an instructor.聽 She was encouraging and supportive, but she also challenged me to be my best and constantly improve.鈥� Clark-Allen recalls that Dubey provided her with recommendations and references long after graduating. 鈥淪he had an enormous impact on shaping the path that led to where I am. Nickey is one of 海角情鈥檚 greatest treasures.鈥�

In 2001, Clark-Allen graduated from the Office Information Systems program, and she soon began a four-and-a-half-year position working for Calais Regional Hospital as a home health clerk. 鈥淎s a student, 海角情 gave me the tools and knowledge I needed to get into the workforce.聽 Experiential learning was a big part of the program I attended, which was extremely beneficial when I started working in the field,鈥� she recalled.

In August of 2007, having finished a bachelor鈥檚 degree from University of Phoenix online in Business Administration the year before, Clark-Allen returned to 海角情 to teach. At the time, 海角情 was in the midst of developing its online delivery platform for classes. 鈥淚t was an atmosphere I was excited to be a part of,鈥� she said. Over the next four years she refined her affinity for online learning as she completed her master鈥檚 degree in Business Administration at Husson. When the opportunity came for her to enroll in a doctoral Instructional Design and Technology program, she took it, graduating with highest honors in 2016.

Now, Clark-Allen is a full-time faculty instructor for a large university based in Florida that specializes in online learning, as well as a graduate instructor for other universities. In addition to teaching, Clark-Allen oversees the clinical coordination efforts of the Florida campus and designs and develops course shells for the university鈥檚 allied health program. She also volunteers with the AAMA as an Editorial Advisory Committee member for their flagship magazine, CMA Today.

Having now attained the highest educational degree, Clark-Allen reflects fondly on her time at 海角情 and its impact on her. 鈥淢y experience at 海角情 shaped who I am as an educator. I was incredibly fortunate to have been exposed to such a wonderful, caring group of instructors who truly wanted success for their students,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淲hat I love about teaching is that it gives me the opportunity to pay that forward on a daily basis. My associate鈥檚 degree gave me the start I needed to jump on a path of lifelong learning and I hope to ignite that same fire for my students.鈥�