Maureen Erickson

Syracuse EOC – 1979
Accounting Program

From Needing Career Help to Helping Others Start Their Careers

When Maureen Erickson left high school at 16 to set out on her own, she didn’t realize how much she would be limiting her career options for the future. Even though she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after getting married, she knew she had to go back to school. In 1979, she took the first step by taking Business Administration courses in the Accounting Program at the Syracuse EOC.

Ms. Erickson recalls, “I learned at the EOC that you can work and still go to school. I really appreciated the encouragement of people saying, ‘You can do it!’ Beyond skills and knowledge, there was genuine caring and love in my time at the EOC.”

Her EOC experience prepared her to attend the Central City Business Institute (CCBI) in Syracuse, where she earned a degree as a Medical Secretary. She went on to earn an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Onondaga Community College. In 1995, she continued her education at Syracuse University – earning a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude). She also earned a Master's Degree from Syracuse University in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation.

Now, she is working full-time toward her PhD at Syracuse University in the School of Education's Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation Program. Throughout her education, Ms. Erickson has been involved in training, teaching and administrating. For two years, she even taught courses at the EOC where she was once a student. She also worked as the Director of Institutional Research and Assessment at Cazenovia College. This position gave her an opportunity to share in the promotion of high-quality service to students looking for a solid educational experience, leading to a professionally and personally satisfying career choice. She explains, “The greatest success is helping others get to where they want to be.”