Baker College Faculty & Alumni Spotlight with Stacey Bonet
Welcome to Baker College’s Spotlight feature, a series of brief interviews with notable BC students, faculty and alumni who are making news and reaching new heights in their educational and professional pursuits.
This edition of Spotlight features Baker College alumna and faculty member, Stacey Bonet, who has completed three degrees from Baker College, and is currently serving as an Adjunct Professor in the College of Business. She has taught Introduction to Business Management, Principles of Marketing, and this summer will be teaching Dynamics of Leadership. She is also a Program Coordinator for the Yale Program on Financial Stability and Yale School of Management.
“Finding Baker College was a life-changing experience for me. The flexibility and affordability of courses allowed me to accomplish more than I ever planned or expected.”
~ Stacey Bonet
Tell us a bit about your time at/degree from Baker College. How/why did you choose Baker College for completing your degree(s)?
I chose Baker College for my Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees because I was a single mom with a young daughter and a full-time job. Finding childcare outside of school hours, so I could work, was difficult, but I figured it would be near impossible to find childcare during night school hours if I couldn’t find an entirely online program. It was 2007, and credible online programs took some work to find. It took much research to identify quality options that worked for my schedule. Baker College was the answer that was the most affordable, credible, and accessible option for a single working mom. Years after graduating with my BBA and MBA, I returned to Baker College for my Doctorate in Business Administration because I was familiar with Baker’s supportive faculty, small class sizes, excellent library resources, and affordability.
What was your favorite part of your journey at Baker College? If you could have changed one thing about your educational journey, what would it have been?
My Baker College experience was excellent. I had great professors and classmates. If I could have changed anything it would have been the circumstances in my life, at the time, that made it more challenging to complete my coursework, but I muddled through and came out on the other side better.
What was your inspiration and/or what kept you going while you completed your degree(s)?
My primary motivation was my children and my desire to accomplish my goals, which include writing books about creating genuinely inclusive workplaces and breaking down the gender norms that prevent women from rising to executive and c-suite levels.
Tell us about your current career? Describe your “typical” workday…what are your roles and responsibilities?
Part-time, at night and on weekends, I teach for Baker College. Teaching others truly brings me joy. I love planning my classes and seeing how creative students can be on their assignments and the discussion board. I teach both synchronous and asynchronous courses and I enjoy both.
In my full-time position I work as the Program Coordinator for the Yale Program on Financial Stability and Yale School of Management. I support the faculty by helping them set up their courses in Canvas and assist them with updating program materials. I also directly support the program director with research, publishing, mentoring, and teaching. My typical workday varies. One day I could be in back-to-back meetings and come out with actionable items that I work on for the next couple of days, or my workday could be planning travel and accommodations for VIP guests from around the world to attend our Summer Institute Conference on Systemic Risk.
What do you like best about your work? Conversely, what do you find most challenging?
In my part-time work as an adjunct professor I love interacting with the students. I especially love that moment when you know a student has started to understand a concept that you are teaching. That is always exciting. The most challenging thing for me in teaching is figuring out how to explain or teach a concept or topic differently so students who learn differently can also grasp the concept. This is challenging, but in a good way. It makes me think deeply about ways I can teach the topic or concept differently. It stretches my limits and abilities.
In my full-time work the people I work with bring me joy. I work with a brilliant group of scholars. I only took required courses in finance, so I learn a great deal from daily interactions with the experts in systemic risk, who I am fortunate to work alongside.
What were your career goals/plans when you first enrolled at Baker College, and how do they compare to where you are today?
When I enrolled at Baker College, I imagined working in the private sector again and earning lots of money. Today, I cannot imagine working in the private sector. I plan to continue working in academia, write books, teach, research, and start a non-profit organization.
How do you feel your time at Baker College contributed to your professional opportunities/successes to date?
Baker College taught me to be ethical, professional, and competent. I learned to think critically about the benefits of teamwork. I also learned the fundamentals of leadership, project management, time management, and organization. The skills and knowledge I gained through my Baker College education are invaluable and make me excellent at work.
What advice would you give to future (or current) college students?
Education can be challenging but never underestimate the power of knowledge. The goals you can accomplish by learning critical thinking and analytical skills is priceless.Also, the collaborative skills you gain from working with classmates will help throughout your career, no matter your field. When it gets challenging (and it will), push through because the satisfaction and value of finishing your degree will make it all worthwhile.
What is the best advice you could give students transitioning into their careers after Baker College?
You should be proud (Baker Proud!) of your accomplishments, but never think learning stops when you graduate. There is always more to learn. I learn more every day. Be flexible and be curious to continue the learning adventure we call life.
What would you want people to know about Baker College?
Baker College was an excellent option for me. I was not a typical learner because of the circumstances of my life, but I have seen traditional students, straight out of high school, come to Baker and be successful. Baker College allows for our differences in experiences and circumstances to create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for all learners.
To learn more about Baker College’s business (BBA, MBA and DBA) programs, visit the College of Business.