Today we’d like to introduce you to Cissy Majebe And Rachel Nowakowski.
Hi Cissy and Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2003, four women started an acupuncutre college. Founders:
Mary Cissy Majebe – current President
Rachel Nowakowski – current Vice President
Emmylou ‘Junie’ Norfleet – serves on the Board of Directors
Patricia Bernarding – serves on the Board of Directors
We were inspired by the teachings of Jeffrey Yuen, a world renowned Chinese Medicine teacher, and we knew that we wanted to go beyond a standard Traditional Chinese Medicine education. We wanted to include the Daoist principles and practices that are foundational to this medicine. We created a program that helps students be well-equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to enter the profession and be successful.
When we started, we didn’t know anything about operating an accredited college! We had experience in education and Chinese Medicine but none of us had ever ran an educational program. Those first few years were full of learning curves, but after 22 years, hundreds of graduates, invaluable staff and faculty, expanding our programs to include doctorates, we feel great about where we are today and our dedication to Chinese medicine education.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Cissy had her share of challenges starting out as an acupuncturist in NC. Obviously opening an acupuncture clinic in the South in the 80s had its own challenges but in 1985, her office was raided by the State Bureau of Investigation for practicing medicine without a license. At that time, NC did not have acupuncture licensing laws so she fought that and won. As a result, the NC Acupuncture Licensing Board was formed and she was appointed president of the board. Since then, she has worked to shape the Chinese Medicine profession in the state.
As a college, we have not met an obstacle we couldn’t get over! Whether it was achieving accreditation, licensure, adding new programs, and all the smaller challenges that come with running a school, we always find a solution. We owe so much of that to our incredible administrative staff and faculty.
COVID was a major challenge. We had to find a way to operate a hands-on program while keeping our students safe. We were able to quickly pivot to online classes, install HEPA filtration systems in our buildings, and implement safety policies so we could resume classes and reopen our clinic. And of course the hurricane was extremely difficult. Shifting to completely online classes was a challenge with the poor internet connections but and we did this for 7 weeks. Our students, faculty, and staff were amazingly resilient and carried on despite the challenges and stress. It certainly was stressful to restart classes while also dealing with the aftermath of the storm, but we all managed to stay on track and our Class of 2025 graduated on time. Seeing how everyone showed up to help each other was truly incredible.
We’ve been impressed with Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are the only acupuncture college in NC that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture and Herbal Medine and licensed by the Board of Governors of the University of NC to confer masters and doctoral degrees. We are also the only acupuncture school in NC that is approved by the California Acupuncture Licensing Board so graduates can sit for the licensing exam in that state.
Our masters program offers a comprehensive immersion in acupuncutre, herbal medicine, relevant biomedicine, and adjuct modalities like essential oils, Chinese food therapy, and tuina massage. Students can complete their masters and doctoral studies at the same time and graduate with two degrees. Our doctoral professional track, certificate in Chinese herbal medicine, and CEU courses offer practitioners opportunities to further their studies.
Our graduates practice all over the US, and also in Canada and Europe.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Cissy has always been a risk-taker! She started acupuncture school without ever having an acupuncture treatment! She never shies away from a challenge.
Starting a college without any prior experience in higher education adminstration was a risk! When we began, we asked practitioners we knew to join us and teach in those beginning years. They took the risk with us and we’re so glad they did!
We think taking risks is all about believing in your abilities and going for it, even when you’re unsure of the outcome. Our approach is to just go step-by-step and keep going!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://daoisttraditions.edu
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daoisttraditions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaoistTraditionsCollegeOfChineseMedicinalArts
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/daoist-traditions-college-of-chinese-medical-arts
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/daoisttraditionsclinic
