Designed for Shift Work: Rethinking Higher Education for First Responders

About this episode

The episode discusses how flexible online education is tailored for first responders to help them advance their careers.

In this episode of the EMS World Podcast, host Mike McCabe talks with Sherry Twitty, Director of Corporate Outreach at Columbia Southern University, about how flexible, online education is helping fire, EMS, and nursing professionals advance their careers without disrupting their demanding schedules. Twitty shares how CSU’s life-paced learning model, affordable tuition, multiple start dates, and transfer credit options are designed specifically for first responders balancing shift work and multiple jobs. She also highlights CSU’s wide range of EMS, fire, nursing, and public service degree programs—and how industry feedback helps shape them.

People in this episode

Host: Mike McCabe

Guest: Sherry Twitty

Topics covered

• higher education
• first responders
• online education
• career advancement
• flexible learning

Keywords

• first responders
• online education
• shift work
• career advancement
• Columbia Southern University

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Columbia Southern University

More episodes of EMS World Podcasts

• A Talk With the Production Team of Into the Unknown · June 5, 2026 · 49 min
• Are You Ready for Impact? Protecting Lives in Motion. · June 2, 2026 · 20 min
• Happy EMS Education Day! To celebrate, Let’s Demystify the Myths Surrounding EMS Higher Ed. · May 18, 2026 · 20 min
• The Case for Standardization: Balancing Budget and Performance in Rural EMS · February 25, 2026 · 20 min
• Live From Expo 2025: Meet the Winners of the 2025 Nicholas Rosecrans Award. · February 24, 2026 · 16 min
• Live From Expo 2025: EMS World With Life and Sirens · February 9, 2026 · 27 min