Q&A With CAEL Staff: Mary-Celeste Slusser

As vice president of operations, Mary-Celeste Slusser focuses on the continual improvement of the organization's processes, including accounting and finance, contract administration, and consultant/independent contractor management. Her experience and expertise include more than 18 years in higher ed and more than 25 years leading dedicated adult learner training and development strategies. Slusser has overseen  instructional and curriculum design, credit for prior learning programs and policies, training development and delivery, online course development and facilitation, and various roles within student affairs, faculty management, and academic administration. 

What's your favorite example of CAELs impact?
I've served in several capacities over the past 10 years, and designing the curricula for several of our professional development workshops has led to my favorite example of CAEL's impact at work. Working with clients as they find an "a-ha" moment connecting with content is really gratifying. When they come back later and tell you "we tried this" or "I used this method," it makes what we do feel very real.

What drew you to CAEL?
I attended and delivered workshops for several CAEL conferences for several years at my previous institution and always thought that CAEL would be a great fit for me. When a position became available with the LearningCounts team working with student portfolios, I jumped at the opportunity!

Be mindful that learning is not "one size fits all." I suffered a lot in my youth with thinking I wasn't smart enough or motivated enough because some subjects were so hard for me to grasp. I would attend lectures and read the textbooks, but had difficulty retaining the content. It wasn't until I was in my master's of education program that I learned about learning styles and that I am not an auditory learner. Written and spoken words are hard for me to process. I need to actively write things down and learn "on the job" by doing the concept in order for it to "click" for me. Once I embraced this, I finally recognized that I am smart and motivated and there is no topic beyond my reach. (Except maybe physics. Still can't master that one! lol.) After I mastered this concept for myself, I was able to complete my M.Ed., and I just finished my M.B.A., so I'm proof that it CAN BE DONE!  My advice to learners and those who support them is to give yourself, and your learners, permission to embrace their learning differences and provide opportunities to explore content in multiple ways.    

What is the last book/movie you read/watched?
I've just finished rereading Doris Kearns Goodwin's Leadership in Turbulent Times. I'm a huge fan of her work as a presidential scholar, and this book examines the lives and leadership styles of four of our great Presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Moving beyond a basic biography, Kearns Goodwin examines key milestones in each of their lives that shaped the type of leaders they would later become and how those styles impacted some of the most challenging moments in American history. This book is not only a great history lesson for those unfamiliar with their presidencies, but also an excellent tool for self-reflection on what you believe makes a good leader great. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
When I'm not studying, I like to read and spend time exploring our national parks with my niece, Zoe. We've got a goal to visit all 63 of them and we've hit 16 so far. We have a long way to go, so I'm busy planning our next adventure.