My Professional Edge - Alicia DeCardena-Rivera

Alicia DeCardona-Rivera
Human Resources Specialist/Recruitment Team Leader, Small Business Administration/Office of Disaster Assistance
Keller degree: Master of Public Administration (MPA)

My career

I joined the Small Business Administration in January 2007. In just 4 months, I was promoted and have been assigned as the Lead for the Recruitment Team. I recruit reservists to meet the agency's goals established after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

I process personnel actions; such as promotions, conversions, recruitment, resignations, terminations, and rate and rank applicants under Category Rating procedures. I coordinate training for Customer Service Representatives together with other Team Members. I have been acting Team Leader for the Disaster Reserve Department.

Flex for success

My choice of Keller Graduate School of Management was influenced by their status as an accredited school. In addition, Keller offered me the opportunity to complete a Master's degree program at the same time that I could continue my parental responsibilities and full time Federal governmental employment. I was able to attend classes in different campuses as well as online. The intensive/accelerated program was also a motivating factor, which helped me accomplish a goal in a shorter period of time while maintaining academic excellence.

Completing my master's degree with distinction was particularly challenging. Being a parent, and holding a full time job while attending school in itself was a challenge. Adding some complexity to the pursuit of my master's degree was the fact that my husband was deployed for long periods of time while assisting in the disaster recovery efforts after four hurricanes that struck Florida and later, after Hurricane Katrina.

Masters of motivation

While I have gained and increased my knowledge of all the subjects included in my curriculum, there is so much more that I have taken away from Keller. I can not emphasize enough how the relationships established with the faculty impacted my motivation to continue my studies.

Their input on the reality of the work environment and what is out there in corporate America is priceless. Keller's faculty go beyond a book, beyond the theory, they make every effort so that you as a graduate student will expand your horizons in the real world, not to mention how they care about you as an individual and motivate you to continue in the pursuit of excellence and success.

That emphasis on the "real world" is invaluable, when they, as practitioners of the particular field they teach, provide vivid examples of situations to which they have been exposed. The curriculum is broad and complements your career in so many ways. It enables you to understand the "big picture" as well as "what is inside the box", and expands your ability to analyze.

Something I really enjoyed was the interaction with other students from different places and backgrounds while participating in online discussions. Their views of the topics being discussed and the application of situations in such varied aspects, were perfect examples of very competitive approaches and the benefits of team building.

It changed my life

I discovered new fields of studies that I now enjoy doing. I changed my career to the Human Resources arena and I love it. Now I am doing something that I truly enjoy thanks to Keller exposing me to these classes. I'm also thinking of pursuing a certificate in Human Resources soon and continuing on for my Doctorate degree in the future. In addition, I am in the process of writing a book on my experiences as an adopted child, the challenges and benefits of adoption, and other related topics.