“I love the pacing of the program. As a teacher, wife, mother and volunteer in numerous organizations my time is definitely valuable. We have one class at a time which makes it easier to focus and not be so overwhelmed.” – Courtnee Austin

Courtnee has been teaching for 20 years in a school division where she grew up and was well educated, and will soon be moving to a new position as a Title 1 Math Specialist in the upcoming school year. When not teaching and attending school, she likes to collect Barbie dolls in her spare time and currently has over 300 in their boxes.

She chose to attend ���Ĵ�ý Online due to classes being in an online setting, making them ideal for working professionals like Courtnee. “The online platform was a definite draw to the school. Also, having one, eight-week class at a time. I knew that I wouldn’t be as overwhelmed with all of the other obligations that I have.”

With a positive and encouraging mindset, we are sure that Courtnee is meant for great things and are proud to have her as a part of the ���Ĵ�ý family.

Click here to learn about ���Ĵ�ý Online’s M.Ed. programs!��

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“My favorite thing about ���Ĵ�ý has been the people I have met along the way including the faculty and staff. The professors and advisors truly care to see you succeed.” – Jessica Tate, MBA

Jessica has been an emergency nurse at Sovah Health in Martinsville, VA for over 12 years, where she is currently the clinical manager of emergency services. She met her husband, Aaron, of 23 years while serving in the United States Navy. The couple has two daughters, Lindsey and McKenzie. Jessica loves to travel with her family and takes advantage of doing so anytime they can, trying to travel to a new place each year. While not traveling, working or busy with schoolwork she likes to watch reality TV and read to de-stress.

She chose to attend ���Ĵ�ý Online to receive her MBA due to a friend recently graduating and highly recommending the program to her. Her favorite thing about the program was being given the opportunity to choose the amount and type of classes that she wanted to take each term.

Click here to learn more about ���Ĵ�ý Online’s MBA program!��

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“My favorite thing about the program is the level of open communication, the flexibility of classes and the help I received from the very 1st day I called and talked to the recruiter.” – Shiris Wyatt, BBA

Shiris is currently employed at Dominion Energy in Richmond, VA as a business process analyst and has been working with the company for over 13 years. She enjoys traveling and one of her goals is to fly somewhere every 60-90 days. However, the past two years have been challenging in the world of flight and vacation. Her travel bucket list consists of visiting Hawaii, Paris, Africa, Fiji and Dubai between 2023 and 2025. Shiris also likes to spend her free time with her fiancé and friends, as well as tailgating NFL/college football games.

She decided to attend ���Ĵ�ý Online due to a co-worker, Monica Davies, who attended and recommended the program to her. Monica spoke very highly of the school and said that Shiris would love the programs.

Before attending ���Ĵ�ý Online, she explained that she never really liked school as a child and when she enrolled at ���Ĵ�ý she vowed to do her very best. The outcome of that vow landed her a well-deserved spot on the Dean’s list for the 2021 spring semester. Her favorite thing about the program is the attentiveness of the advisors.

“…I’ve had the best advisors and student success coach. Mrs. Erma was fantastic before retiring, and since that time, Liz Cervantes has been a God-sent blessing.”

On the topic of those interested in attainting their degree, Shiris stated that she, “…would support their decision by encouraging them to enroll in the Business Administration program at ���Ĵ�ý Online. I have enjoyed the majority of my classes and learned a lot!”

Click here to learn more about ���Ĵ�ý Online’s business programs!

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“The professors are genuine and care about the students. The course work assignments and materials provided are enriching and intriguing.They align to real world situations that can be relatable to current working environment settings.” -Keith Burdette, M.Ed., 2021

Keith chose to obtain his degree at ���Ĵ�ý because of the flexibility the programs provided him with his busy work schedule. He was inspired by the ���Ĵ�ý faculty and staff and their commitment to providing students with the best educational experience possible.

As part of the M.Ed. – Administration and Supervision program, Keith valued the flexibility offered in his coursework. He enjoyed the asynchronous classes within the program and how they provided him with the ability to work on his own schedule and complete his work at his own pace.

Outside of the classroom setting, Keith enjoys watching documentaries to learn new things. Also, Keith is a music guru and often partakes in listening to a variety of music genres.

When we asked Keith to provide advice for those thinking about pursing their educational journey, Keith said the following; “If you have a career in mind and what to achieve better for yourself, then pursue your degree. Don’t let fears or doubts discourage you from furthering your education.”

Click here to learn more about ���Ĵ�ý Online’s M.Ed. programs!

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“My degree helped me succeed and increase my skills in human services, criminal law and management. Every course meant something to me and led me to successfully complete my Bachelor of Science degree.”

-Wade Viar, BSCJ, ‘21

As a father, husband and full-time employee, Wade was eager to find a program with flexible options to make balancing his responsibilities more convenient. He chose ���Ĵ�ý Online based on their ability to offer programs that allow you to study anytime and anywhere.

Wade started his journey at ���Ĵ�ý in 2018 and graduated in Spring 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal Justice. He is currently a program manager for enCircle in Lynchburg, VA, where he manages the operations for group homes and provides support to those with mental and physical disabilities. Wade’s degree has helped him expand his knowledge in many areas, including human services and management and he hopes to develop more skills in the future through his employment with the company.

There are many things Wade loves about ���Ĵ�ý Online, but his favorite are the online accessibility, the effective communication from ���Ĵ�ý team members and the one-on-one support from professors.��Wade found that ���Ĵ�ý offered courses that were consistent with “everyday life” and he could relate to in terms of material and interactions. Overall, Wade’s time at ���Ĵ�ý was more than just an education, it led to a brighter future filled with beneficial life skills that led to success in his career.

Click here to learn more about ���Ĵ�ý’s Criminal Justice and Sociology programs!

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“I was able to receive my degree due to the flexible format and amazing faculty and staff at ���Ĵ�ý.”

–Barry Booth, MBA ‘21

Barry Booth is a retired police officer of 30 years and a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. In ���Ĵ�ý’s recent 2021 graduation, Booth received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. He is now planning to use his MBA to begin a new career in Columbia, SC.

When we asked why he chose this program, Barry told us it was to establish a building block for his career. Earning his MBA provided him with valuable lessons, experiences and information that he will need in his supervisory career.

As Barry completed his coursework, he was able to work a full-time job and take care of his family through the flexibility of ���Ĵ�ý Online.

When asked to provide advice to those considering starting or returning to school, Booth said “there is no time like the present to get started.” He also mentioned he believes it is important for students to look for a program that offers flexibility in their coursework, such as ���Ĵ�ý. This will allow you to easily and successfully manage family, school work and your career at the same time.

Click here to learn more about ���Ĵ�ý’s MBA program.��

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Jillian Perez wasn’t considering continuing her education until she learned about ���Ĵ�ý’s partnership with LifeSpire of Virginia. She currently works as a corporate recruiter for LifeSpire, a continuing care facility that operates four senior living communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 2019, ���Ĵ�ý and LifeSpire joined forces to launch an educational partnership that includes internship opportunities for ���Ĵ�ý students, college-level lectures for LifeSpire residents and scholarships for LifeSpire employees to attend ���Ĵ�ý.

Jillian was inspired by the opportunity to continue her education at ���Ĵ�ý and to receive scholarships along the way. She has been working in human resources for the last 5 years and is in the process of switching positions to a community human resource director position.�� She is incredibly passionate about human resources and business administration. ���Ĵ�ý has been the perfect fit for her.

Our flexible coursework has given Jillian the ability to continue her full time employment while also taking classes online. LifeSpire has encouraged and supported her along the way. She loves the way ���Ĵ�ý’s classes are structured and how she is able to see the course load ahead of time, allowing her to plan and prioritize her time efficiently.

As for being a full time employee and student, Jillian says “Coming back as an adult student comes with a lot of anxiety – Do I have the time? Is it too late? What if I can’t finish…again? All of these fears have been put to rest at every turn as the ���Ĵ�ý administration, financial aid, and faculty have provided all of the support and tools I would need to really make sure I succeed”.

“If you are anything like me, working full time, not really sure if the effort and expense of going back to school is worth it, I’m here to tell you it is!”

Jillian is appreciative of the partnership between ���Ĵ�ý and LifeSpire. It encouraged her curiosity and from the moment she submitted her application, ���Ĵ�ý grabbed her by the hand and said let’s go!

Is your organization not a partner of ���Ĵ�ý, but wants to be? Please complete this form to request more info TODAY:

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I really liked the atmosphere with smaller class sizes and more individualized attention from the professors. ���Ĵ�ý’s faculty members wanted you to succeed. – Matthew Carter ’95

Matthew Carter retired from the Danville Police Department on Sept. 1, 2020 with 27 years of service. He attended Danville Community College from 1989 through 1992 and received an associate’s degree in both Liberal Arts and Administration of Justice.�� Then in 1992, he attended ���Ĵ�ý College (before it was ���Ĵ�ý) and received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology / Criminal Justice. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree he went on to purse his Master’s degree from Longwood University.

During his time at the Danville Police Department he worked as a Patrol Officer, Criminal Investigator, Lieutenant of Services, Captain of Community Police, Captain of Professional Standards, and Captain of Investigations. He also served as Public Information Officer at various times. He previously instructed Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals at Danville Community College, and has also instructed Police In America and Organized Crime at ���Ĵ�ý.

Matthew recently began a new role as Executive Director at Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy in Martinsville, VA this past February. The academy services 13 law enforcement and public safety agencies across Patrick County, Henry County, and Pittsylvania County.

His advice for someone debating on going back to school: “Although it can be challenging trying to find the time to balance everything, it is well worth it. If you are fortunate enough to have the time and resources to attend school full-time, do it. As life happens – marriage, children, etc., it becomes more difficult to balance everything.”

Click here to learn more about our criminal justice programs!

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I loved the benefits of going to a smaller university. The class sizes and cohorts are small allowing professors to create relationships with their students. Professors always answered questions and I even had one who checked in on how we were doing, weekly! – Austin Lynch ‘ 20

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Austin Lynch was able to walk across ���Ĵ�ý’s stage in December of 2020 to accept her diploma. After the ceremony, we asked Austin her favorite thing about ���Ĵ�ý, and how the pandemic affected her academic career.

Austin mentioned that even though graduating during the pandemic was not ideal, the online events ���Ĵ�ý provided for graduating seniors made the ceremony feel just as special!

Austin also said her favorite thing about ���Ĵ�ý was the benefits she obtained by going to a small university. During her academic career, her professors were always there to answer any questions she had. Because all of Austin’s classes were small, she was able to have relationships with classmates and professors.

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Through academically rigorous course offerings, outstanding instructors, and proactive support systems, ���Ĵ�ý empowers all students to be life-long learners. – Jeremy Clark, ’09 ’20

Jeremy Clark is a M.ED – Curriculum and Instruction and M.ED – Administration and Supervision graduate, who has worked for Norfolk Public Schools for over 20 years. Jeremy’s journey at ���Ĵ�ý allowed him to accelerate his career as he moved from an English teacher, department chairperson and most recently gaining a promotion to Dean of Students in his school division.

The M.ED programs Jeremy chose were perfect for his lifestyle, as they allowed him to continue his educational journey, while working fulltime. Each course Jeremy took gave him real-world experience and challenged him to think critically, so he would be able to make crucial decisions in his career.

Congratulations Jeremy! Keep up the good work!

Click here to read more about our M.ED programs.

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