Cindy Parker, vice president of Johnson & Wales University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS), sat down with the Providence Business News for a feature in its “Five Questions With” series. Parker spoke about the university’s online programming, its expansion, and the local economy’s appetite for online education.

Throughout 2021, managers and employees adapted to changing predictions, updated regulations, and restrictions, resulting in a much more challenging year than anyone could have anticipated. The "Great Resignation” took place and the number of people in the workforce declined swiftly. Employees quickly developed new ways to perform their roles efficiently, resulting in new expectations from their employers.

World-renowned, Microsoft Excel is one of the most popular and highly functional spreadsheet applications available. It has become a benchmark for students and professionals who need to organize, arrange, and manage critical data.

Johnson & Wales University prides itself on being a pioneer in online education and a premier provider of professional degree programs. We have always been committed to providing superior quality, purpose-driven service that helps our students reach their goals and achieve success.

When you head off to college, many people will ask, "What are you majoring in?" A major is the main focus of your college education, and many students spend a lot of time trying to figure out which one would be best for them. However, many students want to expand their educational horizons and don't want to be limited to just one subject area. That's where a minor comes in handy.

I remember the excitement of walking the aisles of notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, and calculators every September, school-supply list in hand. Preparing for the new school year by stocking up on fresh supplies was practical (last year’s notebooks were full and barely clinging to their wire spiral binding), a bit philosophical (every new Trapper Keeper represented a fresh start), and, at times, preposterous (two words: Lisa Frank; if you’re unfamiliar with her designs, imagine folders, erasers, lunchboxes, etc.

COVID-19 has impacted a lot of things—including how we restrict face-to-face interactions. Many interviews are now taking place virtually, especially in the early stages of the talent search.

In recent years, online job interviews have become more popular and many companies, including Hilton, are regularly using technology to conduct preliminary interviews. During the pandemic, job interviews for nearly every stage of the hiring process became the norm.

Last year, Johnson & Wales University unveiled a variety of new micro-certificate programs. These streamlined, online certificates are designed to give students the opportunity to earn industry-relevant credentials without committing to a full degree program.

Each Sunday when I was growing up, my mother would make what she referred to as, Sunday Supper. It was always served promptly at 1 p.m. providing ample time to still attend church in the morning and included her parents as the sole guests—Grandpa and Grandma. Prior to their arrival, my responsibility was to properly set the table while my mom would hurry to create a full-course dinner—perhaps corned beef and cabbage, or an eye of the round roast, maybe a pork loin, or ham—each entrée complete with all of the appropriate potatoes and vegetables.

If you are thinking about searching for a new career, you are not alone. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic changed the professional landscape in many ways in the U.S. and worldwide.