Tell us a little about your background. How did you end up at UNI?
I began my education at UNI in the fall of 1991 as a freshman and graduated with a BA in physical education-teaching in 1995. I returned to UNI in the Spring of 2000 to start a Masters in Special Education. After completing the coursework to add special education endorsements to my license, I paused my education to become a parent and homeschool mom. I returned to UNI in the Spring of 2025 after learning about the Return to Learn Program and the Masters of Arts in Education-Transformative Education degree. 

Why did you choose to pursue this degree at UNI?
I chose to pursue this degree because it fit every need I had. I wanted to complete my Masters with the possibility of utilizing my previous graduate coursework. I wanted to be able to complete my coursework without traveling to UNI. I also wanted to complete my coursework when it worked it my schedule.

What three adjectives describe yourself? 
energetic, social, giving

What does completing your degree mean to you?
I am completing this degree after starting down this path in 2000. I took a 22 year break to homeschool my three boys. I feel honored to have the opportunity to get to the finish line. I feel that UNI honored my previous coursework, valued what I did in the meantime and worked with me, listened to me, and helped me accomplish this goal.

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
Technology has changed dramatically over the 22 years I stepped away from UNI. I asked lots of questions, learned from my classmates and teachers, and tried new and foreign methods to complete my coursework. I am a digital immigrant and this is the first time I have participated in an asynchronous learning situation that was completely on-line. I learned to try new methods of completing assignments and grew to enjoy the process.

How did UNI help you achieve your goals?
UNI listened to my goal and how I wanted to complete my goal. UNI offered me an opportunity to learn  in the way I wanted to learn while valuing the coursework I had already completed. My teachers listened to me, encouraged me, valued what I had to share, and helped me step by step to complete each course.

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
My best memory of this 3rd time at UNI is my Zoom and in-person meetings with my classmates and teachers. While this was an asynchronous certificate to complete my degree, I was given the opportunity to talk to my teachers whenever I had the need.

We often say UNI is ... 1) student focused; 2) a place where professors care--and teach; 3) a place where learning happens in and out of the classroom;  and 4) is perfectly sized. Do you have an example or experience of how one or more of these statements rings true for you?
student focused: 1)From the very first interaction I had with a UNI worker, I felt like I mattered, I was listened to and offered options that met my needs. 2) My professors cared by encouraging me with valuable feedback that aloud me to continue to improve after each assignment.

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
I would encourage a future student to think about what they want and why they want to pursue more education. I would then encourage them to talk to someone at UNI and explain what they want and why. Finally, I would encourage them to decide if UNI is going to help them achieve their goals.

What's next? Do you have a position? Further studies?
I will continue in the teaching position I was in when I began this Masters of Arts in Education-Transformative Education. I am a supervising teaching at a homeschool assistance program in Iowa. I will use what I learned over the last 4 semesters to improve as a teacher and a leader. This coursework encouraged me to reflect on my practices and  continue to improve each day.