Dr. Maxine Lubner is a Professor and Chair of the Management and, formerly, Aviation, Departments at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, New York City. Previously, Dr. Lubner was appointed Executive Director of the City University of New York (CUNY) Aviation Institute at York College and a faculty member at New York University’s Graduate School of Social Work.
She has conducted research in the areas of aviation safety, human factors, and aviation education. She holds an FAA Private Pilot Certificate. She obtained an undergraduate B.A. and a graduate B.A. (Hons) in Counseling Psychology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She earned her M. Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University, New York.
Was working in the aviation industry or at airports your first choice for your career path?
Maxine Lubner: My first choice for my career path was in public health and mental health. Obtaining my FAA Private Pilot Certificate while in graduate school helped me to realize that the social science and public health fields had a great deal to contribute to advancing aviation safety and aviation education. I also found that the rapid development of aviation, the allure of its global reach, and the fascinating people in the field were bound to keep me enthusiastic about this field for many years.
I wrote a dissertation on “Rates and Risks for Accidents, Incidents, and Violations Among U.S. Pilots” while also working for the FAA researching and evaluating pilot decision-making programs. Vaughn College hired me because of these qualifications.
How are the insights of women in leadership roles important in fostering innovation and the commitment to sustainability and inclusivity?
Maxine Lubner: Having role models who have forged new paths in aviation, friendships, and the support of other women in similar circumstances is always a source of camaraderie and instruction. I am grateful for their willingness to share their experiences. It has also been exciting to me to notice the change from being one of very few at an aviation conference to one of many.
Did you have a mentor at the beginning of your career? Can you tell us about them and how they impacted your career?
Maxine Lubner: I have been fortunate to have more than one mentor, but Dr. Al Diehl, then at FAA, was instrumental in getting my early start in aviation safety research and education. Dr. Diehl was willing to sponsor me while I was finishing my doctoral degree by having me work on developing and evaluating decision-making training programs for pilots for the FAA. The results of some of this work were ultimately included in the current preparation and testing of candidates for the FAA Private Pilot Certificate.
What are the top skills a new airport worker should have to succeed?
Maxine Lubner: We teach aviation students to develop transferable and soft skills as well as technical knowledge related to aviation and airport management.
The transferable and general skills include communication, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning. The interest and ability to learn and have the integrity to be responsible members of society could help advance careers in the technologically sophisticated and ever-evolving aviation industry. Knowledge of aviation-specific content helps improve students’ motivation and desire to follow a career path and contribute to aviation.
Have you noticed any lasting changes in the workplace since the Pandemic?
Maxine Lubner: Students, faculty, and staff have learned to work remotely and continue to do so at the same or better level of productivity than it was pre-pandemic.
I have been involved in a research group that has tracked student progress from the pre-pandemic (2016) through the disruption to the current new normal phase. We have found that objectively evaluated student performance has steadily improved since the pre-pandemic phase.
What is the most memorable moment during your career in aviation or at the airports?
Maxine Lubner: My most memorable moment during my career was my first solo flight as a student pilot to secure my FAA Private Pilot Certificate. I came face to face with the realization that I was fully dependent on my own skills to survive.
Vaughn College
86-01 23rd Ave.,
New York, NY, 11369
www.vaughn.edu
