TESU alum Pawel Roszko, BSAST '08, was chosen to be the first mentor for the University's Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology degree program in Aviation Management.

Have questions about our aviation programs? Turn to Donald Cucuzzella, assistant director of the School of Applied Science and Technology, for answers.

Meet a Mentor: Pawel Roszko, BSAST ’08

Pawel Roszko takes his passion for flight, online.

"For as long as I can remember I've had passion for airplanes and global travel," said Roszko. "I knew I would make it a career when I started taking flight lessons in 1998."

Once he began flying at Phoenix East Aviation in Daytona Beach, Fla., that passion was confirmed.

Roszko went on to earn his commercial pilot license in 1999, followed by a certified flight instructor license in 2000. He instructed flights for the first three years of his career before spending the next nine years working for regional airlines. Most recently, he's been serving as an airbus pilot for American Airlines, flying east and west coast trips in the U.S. as well as destinations in the Caribbean and Central America. Roszko's hope is to transition to a wide-body aircraft and have the opportunity to fly to European destinations.

"I still hold all of my certified flight instructor ratings, and I enjoy teaching others to fly in my spare time," he said.

With an extensive aviation background and breadth of knowledge in the field, it's no wonder Roszko was chosen to be the first mentor for the University's Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology (BSAST) degree program in Aviation Management.

The program is designed for aviation professionals interested in advancing from a technical position to a management or leadership role and is limited to students who already hold Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications. The University will also consider appropriate and applicable military training.

Roszko is collaborating with the University as a subject matter expert to assist in developing courses in conjunction with Thomas Edison's course design team in the Center for Learning and Technology and serves as a mentor for both Airline Management (AVT-301) and Aviation Safety (AVF-303). He assisted in developing these courses by providing his expertise in course content, curriculum and assessment.

Roszko explained that students in the aviation field will benefit from the course content regardless of their specific profession.

"Students pursuing the various careers in the aviation field, regardless of the actual profession in which they will be employed, will find them very useful in understanding the overall dynamics of the industry," he said.

Academically, Roszko holds an associate degree in flight technology from Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey and earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology degree in Aviation Flight Technology from Thomas Edison in 2008 and an MBA degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). He intends to pursue a PhD in aviation management with ERAU in the next few years.

Upon completion of his master's degree at ERAU, Roszko approached Dr. John Aje, dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology, and Don Cucuzzella, assistant director of the School, about the prospect of mentoring for the University. With the development of the BSAST degree program in Aviation Management taking shape, his timing could not have been better.

"As a graduate of Thomas Edison, as well as an experienced pilot, Pawel Roszko has a great combination of skills that have really helped us in developing, implementing and executing our Aviation Management program at the University," said Cucuzzella. "He is a believer in our mission here at the University as well as a strong advocate for our school and our students."

Having earned his degrees largely through distance learning, Roszko is well positioned to relate to students in the program.

"Adult learners, particularly those I interact with in my courses, are unique in a way that most of them have some aviation background. As a result, this often leads to very productive discussions throughout the course as they do not mind sharing their work experience and, most importantly, correlating that to the concepts we study," Roszko explained.

In his downtime, Roszko spends time with his family and enjoys watching National Geographic and the Discovery channels on television. Additionally, he finds time to play tennis, volleyball and swim at his local athletic club.

Learn how your FAA certifications can earn you college credit and other ways to earn credit for what you already know.

Insights Home »