Undergraduate degree, check.
Master’s degree, check.
Marriage, family, check and check.
At age 32, I had one more goal beyond being a happily married mother of five daughters under the age of seven (including a set of triplets). My desire was to attain a doctorate degree so that I could resume my career as a teacher and extend my work into the university arena. My husband and family were supportive, but they needed me to be around to help them grow up. I searched and searched for the right program to fit our needs. Ashland University’s “Accent on the Individual” and integral mentorship component to a doctoral program intrigued me so much that I excitedly chose Ashland’s Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies. My experience was wonderful! Almost all of the courses were provided during the summertime when my absence at home would least affect my family. My advisor, Howard Walters, mentored me through an extensive research project. His wealth of knowledge, coupled with the extremely supportive environment provided by Dr. Ann Shelley, allowed me to complete my dissertation and graduate with a doctorate degree in a mere two and a half years. They tell me that this is the fastest that anyone had progressed through the program, but I feel that my timely success can be directly attributed to the great professors who allowed for me to have a unique experience that catered to my needs as a learner. Since graduation in 2008, I have been promoted twice and am currently an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Tiffin University. Every day, I try to continue the foundational tenets and wisdom gained at Ashland to positively impact the lives of each of my students.
