Student Stories

I realized I needed more training. I already had a master’s degree in education, but I was teaching students that were deaf or had hearing impairments at a residential school. I needed more expertise to be a more effective teacher. I found a program at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln that pushed me to be the best teacher I could be. I received personal attention and my adviser gave me insight that would really benefit me long term. Now I am in a new city working with mainstreamed deaf students, and I'm so glad I had and adviser and a program that prepared me and set me apart from other teachers at my school.

I had gotten my undergraduate degree in engineering and went to work in the oil industry, when I realized that to contribute more to my team and move up in my career I would need a better understanding of the industry as a whole. That meant getting my MBA. I was living in my hometown of Kenai, Alaska, so I knew I would have to study online. With my degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I’m now in a new planning role that combines my passions for engineering, exploration and business.

My today started after working internationally for the past 25 years with Fortune 500 companies. Despite all of my experience, I knew I had to continue to find ways to be up to date with business trends and have credentials to be able to move forward in the marketplace. I needed to have skills to keep learning, to keep thinking and rethinking, because that’s the new business norm. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Masters of Business Administration program had the three components I was looking for: budget, flexibility and ranking. My education is not finished with my MBA, I guarantee it; but I definitely believe that with it I have the credentials to keep moving up the ladder.

My children were in school when I went back for my bachelor’s. I was busy with PTA, attending my sons’ activities and working full time. When I decided to earn my graduate degree, I centered by my research on my passion for online education. So when I decided to pursue my PhD online, the bar was set high.

What I found was incredible. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln made it possible for me to juggle a PhD program and the rest of my life. I wasn’t just going through the motions. My research made a difference and is being used across the United States and internationally.

Education has always been very important to me. I’m the first in my family to attend college as well as graduate school. For as long as I can remember education has been a priority for me. Higher education is also important for being able to do my job.

My degree was available completely online. I was active duty and never knew when I would be moving or away on training. I took classes while stationed overseas and was a mother of two children under the age of 5.

My degree coincided with my job so the information was pertinent and practical. One of my fears entering an online program was that it wouldn’t be as fulfilling as a traditional classroom setting, but I was pleasantly surprised when the lectures included PowerPoints with audio and video of the professor teaching, and student questions.

I have always enjoyed learning. I had heard that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln offered a Master of Entomology degree completely online through their distance learning, and I was sold.

Being in the Army did not always allow me to attend classes. Because I am frequently out of town, the flexibility of an online program was important.

My experience with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was tremendous. My professors, the VA coordinator and everyone who answered my questions at UNL were great. My degree advisor was truly an asset to the program and did a superb job managing the distance program.

My educational goal was to become more proficient with the entomology aspects of my job. Through the degree program, I learned a great deal about insects and their management, so it was invaluable. I was able to put into practice what I learned in my courses routinely.