Episodes 20
Avg. Duration 26m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (3)
Since Jul 2022
Latest Episode Dec 2025

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Months
Format
Episodic
Hosting
rss.buzzsprout.com

About This Podcast

Welcome to Vaughn College's Futureproof Focus Podcast. Here, we discuss the latest news, career opportunities and insights in the exciting fields of engineering, technology, management and aviation. Through unscripted, honest conversations with prominent industry leaders, students, faculty and alumni, we explore diversity, equity and inclusion in education and employment, and the forces that drive personal and career growth.

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Recent Episodes

S1E21 Episode 21: Building the Next Generation of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians

Dec 22, 2025 27m

Join us for a conversation with Brian Bermudez, Vaughn alumnus, aviation maintenance professor and director of the airframe and powerplant (A&P) curriculum at Vaughn College. Brian discusses his…

S1E20 Episode 20: Talon Air CEO James Chitty on Charter Aviation Careers

Sep 25, 2025 12m

Vaughn College President Sharon DeVivo speaks with Talon Air CEO James Chitty about career opportunities in charter aviation. They discuss the aviation workforce shortage, Talon Air’s partnership…

S1E19 Episode 19: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures in Aviation with Samantha Mitchell

Apr 16, 2025 29m

In this inspiring episode of Futureproof Focus, Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo sits down with trailblazer and Vaughn alumna Samantha Mitchell—founder and president of Black Women in…

S1E18 Episode 18: Futureproof Engineering Careers: Vaughn’s Partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory

Feb 07, 2025 33m

In this episode of Futureproof Focus, Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo sits down with Shari Lindner, learning and development manager at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), and Jason Becker, a Vaughn graduate…

S1E17 Episode 17: Unlocking Career Opportunities with Vaughn's Robotic Automation and Engineering Certification Programs

Nov 25, 2024 20m

In episode 17, Sharon DeVivo, Vaughn College president and CEO, sits down with Doug Jahnke, assistant professor of engineering and technology, to discuss the new cutting-edge programmable logic…

S1E16 Episode 16: An Alumna's Journey to the Right Seat of the Flight Deck

Oct 03, 2024 32m

Tune in to to hear Xylene DeCoteau's '20 journey to becoming a first officer at Mesa Airlines, and how you, too, can start on your path to becoming a pilot at Vaughn College. She discusses her flight…

S1E15 Episode 15: PSA Airlines Brings Coaching and Expertise to Vaughn’s Aerospace Maintenance Competition Team

Jul 01, 2024 33m

Richard Ugarte, vice president of maintenance and engineering at PSA Airlines discusses the unique partnership with Vaughn where his staff coached the Aviation Maintenance Team to complete in the MRO…

S1E14 Episode 14: Empowering Women to Fly Drones: Insights from the Founder of Women Who Drone

May 31, 2024 26m

Elena Buenrostro discusses how her company, Women Who Drone, is connecting people, especially young women from underrepresented communities, who love drones through shared stories, education and…

S1E13 Episode 13: Making an Impact with Engineering: Building the Supply Chain for Offshore Wind

Mar 11, 2024 16m

In this episode, we speak to Vaughn mechanical engineering alum Okera Bullen '22 about his job at a pure electrification company called Nexans working in supply chain management. He speaks about his…

S1E12 Episode 12: Tips to Help Finance Your College Education

Jan 31, 2024 29m

We know that the cost of attending college can sometimes seem insurmountable, and many students and families worry about affordability. But the evidence is clear—students with bachelor’s degrees earn…

S1E11 Episode 11: Drone Careers: Navigating the Present and Future Skies

Jan 08, 2024 32m

Embark on a journey into the dynamic world of drone careers with Vaughn adjunct professor and aviation attorney Loretta Alkalay in the latest episode of Futureproof Focus. Uncover the diverse career…

S1E10 Episode 10: Supporting an Energy Efficient Future: Offshore Wind and Composites

Dec 01, 2023 33m

In episode 10, Phil Rugile, Executive Director of the Institute for Workforce Advancement and the OSW Supply Chain delves into the world of composites and offshore wind careers. Rugile outlines…

S1E9 Episode 9: Sustainability and Female Empowerment in Engineering

Sep 18, 2023 21m

In episode 9, Suraiya Nawaz '24 discusses how her several internship experiences (at LaGuardia, the Port Authority, Tesla and Whirlpool) helped to realize the type of work she wants to do with her…

S1E8 Episode 8: Mechanical Engineering Graduate Lands Position at Power Company

Jul 06, 2023 20m

In episode 8, learn how Philip Bredu '22 came all the way from Ghana at age 18 to attend college in the US and pursue his passion for science, math and physics. He quickly transferred to Vaughn and…

S1E6 Episode 6: An Inside Look at an Aircraft Mechanic's Role at Delta Air Lines

Feb 14, 2023 24m

Tune into episode 6 of our podcast where we speak to Eric Santos-Silva '21 about how his love for aviation maintenance started in the military working on fighter planes in the Air Force and grew into…

S1E5 Episode 5: The Journey to Becoming a Pilot at a Legacy Carrier

Jan 23, 2023 33m

Gagandeep Munder’s ’14 story of becoming a pilot is a unique one. Growing up in India, no one took his passion for aviation seriously. After moving to the US, he knew he could make his dream come…

S1E4 Episode 4: A Look Inside the Air Cargo Industry with Atlas Air: Demand, Trends, Diversity, the Workforce and the Future

Nov 03, 2022 18m

Check out this insightful conversation with Patricia Goodwin-Peters, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Atlas Air Worldwide. She discusses the pivotal role the air cargo industry played…

S1E3 Episode 3: The In-Demand Career Fields of Engineering, Technology, Management and Aviation

Oct 18, 2022 29m

We speak with Chaundra Daniels, Director of Career Services at Vaughn to learn about the in-demand career fields in engineering, technology, management and aviation, and how students should begin…

S1E2 Episode 2: Top Health and Wellness Tips for College Students

Aug 24, 2022 32m

In this podcast, we speak with Vaughn’s Director of Counseling and Wellness Dr. Stacey Dutil and Athletics Coordinator Omari Wrightabout all the mental health issues facing college students today and…

S1E1 Episode 1: Breaking Barriers in the Field of Engineering

Jul 21, 2022 31m

Hear how Kirei Watson ’18 is living her dream as a rotational program engineer at Collins Aerospace. She talks about how Vaughn helped land her career, her experience as a Black woman working in the…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Futureproof Focus have?

Futureproof Focus has published 20 episodes since July 2022, covering topics in Business, Careers.

Is Futureproof Focus still active?

Futureproof Focus is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 months. Average episode length is 26m.

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