Student Profile Archives

Catherine Zaranis
Discovering the secret to success!

Catherine Zaranis began her professional career as a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching English to high school students in Romania. Upon returning to the U.S., she worked in banking, business, education and athletics, but wanted something more. Passionate about both business and coaching, she sought for a way to further her career by combining the two. Discovering UMBC’s ISD – Training Systems Graduate Program, Zaranis knew she had found her match.

“The program director, Dr. Greg Williams, made my decision an easy one. Having a counseling background, Williams offers

tremendous support to adult learners. The program is the only one I have found that has a career coach exclusively for students of the ISD program.” Because the ISD program was more flexible, inclusive and affordable, the choice was simple, and Zaranis enrolled in the Program.

It wasn’t long before Zaranis knew she made the right decision. Halfway through her second course, she was offered an instructional design position. In this job, she would design and develop training plans, improve existing training materials, and create job aids for Management Concepts in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Zaranis used her analytical skills in interpreting student evaluations and shared lessons learned and best practices from the classes with co-workers. “The biggest benefit of the program is learning to embrace technology and transferring that to the workplace,” she said.

Zaranis’ program concentration is Instructional Systems Design, and she has found the class projects in her Adult Learning Theory course to be the most inclusive and supportive. In addition to academic projects, one of Zaranis’ most memorable class assignments was an evening of cultural enlightenment. “Apart from nibbling on a delicious meal that evening, we learned about the characteristics and values of these cultures and how they are carried into the classroom. A lesson that will stick with me for a long time,” she says.

Through all of the lessons learned and confidence gained, Zaranis finds it refreshing to be sought out for employment rather than be on the hunt herself. She remarked that the most significant benefit of education is the confidence it grants her. “There is a notable difference in attitude in those who have the professional education. The options are limitless.”

Zaranis began her career teaching and has found through UMBC’s ISD-Training Systems Program, success and credentials to continue on her path of training and consulting. Her next goal – human performance consultant!