Teaching the You-Can-Do-It-Approach

By Melissa Hoyos, CityU Alumni Relations

She's an executive director, a private consultant, a doctoral student, wife and mother, and a college professor—at two universities.

If Cyndi Schaeffer's tightly organized life appears maxed out, she also sits on the board of directors of Senior Services of Snohomish County, the largest non-profit agency serving seniors in the county.

Schaeffer, a City University of Seattle adjunct for the Arts and Sciences division, says these eclectic roles help her build upon a professional network and develop ideas for a future lecture or consulting proposal.

Schaeffer has specialized in vocational social services for more than 23 years. She works as the Edmonds Community College executive director for its Business Training Center. She also teaches psychology courses once a week as an adjunct faculty at Western Washington University in Bellingham.

CityU of Seattle faculty and staff say Schaeffer excels at encouraging students to find their unique interpersonal skills to create a career network. Job hunters need solid connections as well as a great resume, she says.

"She has more energy than anybody I've ever met. It's like whirlwind when you're around her… it's exhausting and exhilarating at the same time," says Karen Langer, CityU's counseling center director.

Schaeffer joined CityU about five years ago to teach classes in the Master's of Arts in Counseling Psychology program (MACP). She's since added associate and bachelor degree level capstone classes to her course instruction list.

“Her positive outlook impacts the students tremendously. She is one of those people that everyone feels good around. She is always uplifting and supportive,” says Michael Theisen, senior faculty/MACP internship coordinator at CityU.

Schaeffer says she takes lessons from the classroom and applies it to her own educational experience at Antioch University where she’s earning her doctorate degree in leadership and change management through Antioch University.

"Teaching at CityU helps me become a better student at Antioch. It all works together," she says.

		Schaeffer offers the following advice to students on the job search: Research those associations that pertain to your future career path Join a community group and participate on the board of directors Keep in touch with fellow graduates Set up informational interviews with potential employers Attend community events - "There are important, critical people (who will be there). See them as opportunities," she says.

Schaeffer is giving networking tips this quarter to students in her Interviewing and Counseling (Psychology 421) course. Those enrolled are expected to conduct a fruitful interview on camera. They'll also learn to ask opened-ended questions and study psychological differences using the Myers-Briggs Type indicator. She also teaches several capstone courses.

"These are some of the best classes. (Students are) learning about other people's personality styles at the workplace. It's really critical to workplace productivity," she says.

Schaeffer says she passes along these same lessons to corporate, high-level executives in her professional career.

Langer says students should take advantage of Schaeffer’s experience.

"She kind of infuses that sense of excitement and you can do it (approach). She takes something like career counseling and makes it interesting. For a lot of people they can find it overwhelming," Langer says.

Schaeffer’s dedication to her students also inspires CityU of Seattle staff, says Anna Cholewinska, Division of Arts and Sciences online and undergraduate program director.

Cholewinska says Schaeffer phoned her once from a Florida airport after her plane had made an emergency landing. Schaeffer wasn’t sure if she’d make it back to Seattle in time to teach her classes the next day.

"I told her not to worry because I can cover for her. A few hours later she called me again and said that she will be in class as she was on a plane to Seattle. I can only imagine Cyndi using her personal charm while talking to people at the airport and making them understand that she needs to be in Seattle," she says.

Adds Cholewinska: “She’s always happy and ready to work against all odds.”

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