You are here
Cryspin Goytia
BA in Communication and Culture (now BA in Communication and Media)
Class of 2009
A native of New York City, Crispin Goytia knew from an early age that working in science was for her. Thanks to a suggestion from her high school physics professor, Crispin started her career as a lab technician at Einstein College of Medicine's neurology department. A senior in high school, she worked at the lab for about five months before beginning college at New York University, where she had earned a full scholarship.
During her sophomore year, Crispin had her first child and it was after this that she learned exactly what she was looking for out of her education. "I needed a program that would really invest in the student and not just in their money. I wanted a school that understood that life happens, with advisors that could address these things for their students."
Due to family circumstances, Crispin left NYU, her college career put on hold so that she could return to work. She first accepted a position at Columbia University, working with children with ADD/ADHD in the Bronx, followed by a position at Mount Sinai Medical Center where her work centered around research on hypertension and pre-diabetes. "After working at Columbia, I felt that I could change, and that I could offer more to both my community and my city."
Through working at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Crispin learned about the Cornell Off-Campus College program (now the Human Relations department at CUNY SPS) and took courses there for a few semesters before finding the BA in Communication and Culture online degree program in June of 2006. "I think I was just ready to finish," she says. "I thought to myself that if I wanted to excel, I needed my degree."
Her husband was supportive of her plans, she recalls, something that was essential for her to successfully balance her family, work and school responsibilities. "If I didn't have his support, it would have been impossible," she says.
Crispin served as a student representative on the CUNY SPS Governing Council, participating in decisions on curriculum and policy for the school. "This was a wonderful, trailblazing opportunity," she said. "I loved learning from the different people around the table, observing behaviors and understanding their positions on different topics." Her Governing Council service will undoubtedly come in handy as she moves on to the next phase of her professional and academic career, as she pursues a Masters degree in Organizational Behavior.
Just before the holidays, Crispin checked in to say that she had just received a large promotion as a result of her graduation, and is now working on new grant-funded program at Mount Sinai. We're confident that we'll continue to hear more great things from Crispin in the future!