
The Career Accelerator is a comprehensive professional development program for over 400 F-1 and J-1 international students enrolled in the Global UCF Global Achievement Academy; a pathway program for ESL students at the University of Central Florida. The Career Accelerator Program consists of individualized and group professional development training, cultural events and programming, and experiential learning opportunities in the University of Central Florida.
I designed this international education career development program utilizing the ADDIE instructional design methodology. I utilized Gagne's 9 Events as the organizational strategy and I designed this program to include active learning activities as the delivery strategy. The development of the workshop series was created by using Mayers' 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning. I implemented and evaluated the program by using the Kirkpatrick Model: Four Levels of Learning. The curriculum was written by using the Universal Backwards Design (UbD) method; a goal-based framework for curriculum development. My final portfolio consists of the curriculum, learning outcomes, learning format, workshop and event series, certification requirements, assessment, and evaluation.
In the picture above, I am giving a warm welcome to over 100 new Global UCF international students during our Spring 2020 New Student Orientation. In this session, I taught students about the Career Accelerator Program benefits and requirements as I facilitated active-learning activities that fostered self-exploration and critical-thinking regarding their career choice and the pursuit of a college education in the United States.
The Global UCF Career Accelerator is my proudest accomplishment to date and my most honored opportunity within my career within higher education.

Here I am during our Orientation week providing the new international students with an introduction to the Career Accelerator Program. I provided my students with the foundational knowledge regarding the NACE Career Readiness Competencies, emphasizing Global/Intercultural Fluency and Student Success Strategies within Higher Education. I designed the Global UCF Career Accelerator curriculum and instructional methodologies to address the specific needs of culturally and linguistically diverse international students, attending UCF from over 65 countries.

The culmination of the Career Accelerator Program ends with a Progression Ceremony, an event marking our Global UCF pathway program students' transitions into the UCF community. Here I am with my students during their progression. It is always a great joy to see them arrive at this moment in their academic and professional journeys.

I awarded 132 students the Global Professional Certificate. It was a great honor creating this certificate program and teaching them the career and intercultural competencies within the Career Accelerator Program. Mentoring each of my students has been a true pleasure as they pursue their occupational aspirations.
The Global Professional Certificate is awarded to students that complete the Career Accelerator workshop sequence, including active-learning activities, academic assignments and individual sessions. This career-readiness and global competence certification is rooted in educational learning objectives that prepare university students for success in the global workforce.
It was great creating the Global Professional Certificate’s curriculum, student learning outcomes, and programming, ensuring Global Achievement Academy students incorporate NACE career-readiness competencies into their education. This credential demonstrates the attainment of traits employers seek in potential candidates such as Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration, Digital Technology, Leadership, Professionalism/Work Ethic, Career Management, and Global/Intercultural Fluency.
" I am glad to share my new certificate accomplishment as a graduate of the Global UCF Career Accelerator Program. This program has helped me a lot to build strong pillars in leadership by enhancing my skills in communication and collaboration with different groups of people. It better prepared me to have success in the global workforce by developing in my critical thinking, professionalism, and intercultural fluency through the activities, and the workshops that we had with the global students, and the Career Acceleration Program Manager."
~ Florian Alushi, Global UCF student
"I'm so excited!! It was an honor to receive a professional certification from Chrissy Cruz M.Ed., Ed.S. for my consistent participation in the Global Career Accelerator workshops. I highly recommend the program for anyone looking to advance their professional skills. I am definitely looking forward to being an integral part of an organization in the future where I can apply my acquired skills."
~ Kelechi Okpara, Global UCF student
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