How did you decide to pursue your Public Service Degree at Pitt’s College of General Studies?
I started my degree process at Pitt after receiving my Associate’s Degree from Gannon University in 1982. Originally, I was pursuing a Bachelor’s in Communication, but took a 17-year ‘break’ after my second child was born. When he was a senior in high school, I knew it was time for me to complete my Bachelor’s. I began by looking at new degree programs Pitt was offering. With my background in fundraising for the University, Public Service with a certificate in Non-Profit Management resonated with me as I knew it would augment my skill set and provide me knowledge about the non-profit industry outside of higher education.
What was your impetus for returning to college/completing your education?
As the fourth out of six children in my family to go to college, I decided to pay for my education and worked for two years before starting at Gannon. At that time, I had enough money saved to pay for two years and completed my Associates in that time. During that time, I realized I could handle the rigors of college, but didn’t have the money to complete my Bachelor’s. However, I always wanted to complete my Bachelor’s at some point. After accepting a position at Pitt in the late 1980s, I went back to school in the early 1990s and had intended to take classes until I received my Communications Degree. However, my priority changed after getting married and having children. I quickly realized after my second child that I didn’t want to sacrifice time with my two boys and husband to continue in school. As they grew, so did my volunteer responsibilities in their schools and activities. It wasn’t until they were both out of after-school events that I knew I could devote time in the evenings to school. Before I knew it, 17 years had passed and I wondered if I could still do it. I’m very fortunate that my supervisors in Institutional Advancement believed in my capabilities as a fundraiser, but it was hard to raise money for higher education knowing I still hadn’t completed my degree. I wanted to not only raise money for Pitt, but be able to tell people first-hand about how a Pitt degree can make a difference. In other words, I didn’t want to just ‘talk the talk,’ I wanted to ‘walk the walk.’
Why was CGS the right choice for you?
CGS was absolutely the right choice for me. Not only are classes typically in the evenings and on weekends, but the professors understand that non-traditional students have responsibilities outside the classroom and those can sometimes affect getting to class or completing an assignment. Without exception, my professors were willing to work with me when I was traveling for work or I had a family commitment. The biggest challenge for me was completing College Algebra and Statistics. Having never taken either in high school, I was afraid to take those classes. My instructors, however, in both cases offered me every opportunity to succeed and were willing to provide me with assistance. I ended up with an A- in both classes!
How has your education prepared you for your current position?
I have always been in the Office of Institutional Advancement since my arrival at Pitt and they allowed me to take on as much responsibility as possible and provided me advancement into positions based solely on my performance. I knew that to continue to be considered for positions at this point, I would need to have my degree. Much to my delight, a job was posted this past winter that was of great interest. I applied for the position and with my degree and experience, I was offered and accepted the role of Director, Regional Major Gifts at Pitt. I started my new role at the beginning of June. The degree provided confidence in what I can offer and a necessary credential for my resume. I am now proud to say I am not only employed at this wonderful institution, but am also a Pitt graduate.
What advice would you offer those considering the College of General Studies as a possible academic home?
You can do more than you ever imagined with the help of the CGS staff, professors and fellow students. They are there to make sure you succeed. Also, get to know your instructors and professors. Be present in the classroom by fully participating in discussions, papers and group projects. Finally, get to know the traditional students in your classes. Some of my fondest memories will be the relationships I formed with students who were bright, dedicated and eager to learn.