A Life Sciences Coach continues to hit the ground running, succeeding in a new role, preparing Purdue Global students for the future.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Rebecca Zolotor has known she wanted to pursue a career in a health-related field since she was in high school.

“I got a place in a program offered by the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) where I collaborated with a pharmaceutical company,” Zolotor said. “I was placed in the cardiovascular research department, where I had a patient and a consultant who encouraged me. I really liked the research. ”

Zolotor, who was named vice president and provost of the Purdue Global School of Health Sciences in October 2023, remains passionate about the health sciences — and wants more students to have a positive experience in the field. which is growing.

Health experiences open doors around the world

After the NYAS program, Zolotor attended Emory University. He also wrote his first research paper, which appeared in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation. After some reflection, he realized through his research on heart disease that proper nutrition plays a major role in health and quality of life and decided to focus his studies on nutrition.

Zolotor earned her Master of Science in nutritional sciences from the University of Connecticut, where she gained teaching experience, which sparked her interest in academia.

Working on his nutrition degree gave Zolotor opportunities to travel the world, gaining valuable experience that included studying and teaching at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he led tours of supermarkets and cooking nights and participating in working groups with athletes, among other things. .

“It’s amazing how life can come full circle,” Zolotor said. Early in my career, I gained valuable post-graduate work experience at the Australian Institute of Sport prior to the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. Purdue Global is now a preferred online university and provider of the Association and Team USA Learning Network. “

Zolotor’s work in Australia led to an opportunity in New Zealand, followed by a stint in Mexico at a university where he taught biology, nutrition, business English and English for healthcare professionals.

“It was fun, and I think I did a good job because I was promoted to the position of head of the department,” said Zolotor.

After leaving Mexico, Zolotor wanted to examine the influence that elite athletes have with drugs on performance and recovery, a subject related to his original research. While earning a Doctor of Pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University, he worked at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center conducting clinical trials, developing a passion for serving the military and veterans.

Finding the right fit

As a pharmacist, Zolotor held key management positions in the pharmaceutical industry and practiced pharmacy in hospitals, pharmacies and insurance companies. Despite the success and valuable experience he gained, Zolotor knew he still hadn’t achieved his career aspirations.

“I miss that part of making a positive contribution to the lives of individuals and seeing the impact of change as they leverage their new skills within their respective communities,” said Zolotor. “Their contributions to the health care sector significantly affect our collective future, creating a better future for all.”

That desire led to a position to join Purdue Global, Purdue’s online university for working adults. Another thing that attracted Zolotor to Purdue Global was the commitment to the military community.

“My uncle is a soldier, and my aunt worked at the VA medical center,” said Zolotor. “Working at the VA is when I became passionate about supporting that community, recognizing the depth of their service and all of their transferable skills.”

Zolotor believes Purdue Global’s mission — especially working with military families, older students, caregivers and flexibility — is what makes the university unique.

“That mission inspires me every day,” Zolotor said. “One way that we at the School of Health Sciences are living our mission is that we have several military-only programs, which use the skills and knowledge gained in the military, that provide structured pathways to to convert their training into academic credits.”

Another part of Zolotor’s favorite part of his job is the collaboration, both within his department and with others.

“We are fortunate to have an exceptional team that truly enjoys working together,” he said. “A dynamic healthcare system requires us to continue to adapt and evolve. We specialize in saving money and relevance to our content, ensuring it remains relevant in today’s environment. Furthermore, we aim to provide students with the necessary skills to cope with the inevitable changes in the industry. ”

Zolotor began working at Purdue Global as an associate faculty member and academic leader in 2008 before becoming department chair and vice provost, a role he held for more than a decade. He was first named interim dean of the school, then promoted to dean in October 2023.

Taking on a continuing administrative position in the School of Health Sciences was an opportunity to help make an already successful department even better.

“One of the great things about my promotion was developing my skills and being able to provide a vision for the School of Health Sciences that fits the vision of our campus. , collaborating with my team, developing and creating programs that help shape the future of health care,” said Zolotor.

Zolotor’s area of ​​expertise is new program development, integration of health industry trends and standards, and cross-departmental performance and project coordination.

In addition to his role as dean, he serves as a book and multimedia reviewer for several major publishing companies and is a peer reviewer for medical journals as well as a peer reviewer for the Education Commission. High. He also holds an honorary fellowship in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus.

Changing the future

Now that Zolotor has been at the helm for nearly a year, his goals are becoming more clear, including combining degrees and certifications with a unique focus. He wants to grow the program through collaboration and health care expansion.

“We have a holistic approach to supporting our students by leveraging our past successes and implementing innovations in online education,” Zolotor said.

Zolotor understands the importance of staying ahead of the changes in higher education and the ongoing changes in technology.

The Purdue Global School of Life Sciences serves more than 6,000 students across its 16 programs. The school has 251 full-time and adjunct faculty members.

Zolotor says that the constant communication and collaboration with the faculty and students that he enjoys is the key to success not only for the department but also especially for the benefit of the students.

“We do everything, starting with background research that I like, analyzing data work patterns, employer data and future thinking, thinking creatively about how we can promote How can we continue this process, not just for those who will graduate this year, but five years from now?

When it comes to student success, Zolotor said helping students on their way to whatever goals they have is paramount.

“For some students, it is to be promoted to the army; others are an opportunity to earn more money to support their families,” Zolotor said. “We are proud to be a part of their comebacks to help them achieve that goal and be successful.”

Zolotor often shares his comeback story with students to help motivate them to continue on their journey to success, reminding them where they are and not needing to stop them from where they want to be.

“I tell them that every change I made in my career was a little self-study,” Zolotor said. “I share with them that their current situation is part of their life experience and that it will help them on their way to success. I emphasize not letting where they are now define them, but accepting to continue to learn and grow as a person on their journey. And that path, although difficult at times, will be important, leading to their small improvements, their return. ”

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often have college credits. Provides flexible pathways for students to earn an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, regardless of whether they where in their journey of life. Purdue Global is a non-profit university, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and sponsored by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.