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National American University (NAU) alumna Teresa H. earned her associate degree in Management in 2019. Since this interview, she has also completed her bachelor’s degree in Management. Teresa said that she woke up one day and told herself to go back to school like she had always wanted to do. At 53, she began classes at NAU.

National American University Alumni Spotlight:

Teresa H. – Associate Degree in Management, Class of 2019

Bachelor’s Degree in Management, Class of 2021

What is your current occupation?

I have worked at All-State for 23 years in Human Resources. Even with my new degrees, I will stay in human resources because there are different levels and aspects within the industry, such as compliance, recruiting, and being a business partner. This gives me a lot of opportunities.

What led you to choosing NAU?

When I first signed up for school, I felt support. However, this support didn’t end right after I signed the paperwork to enroll. In my first semester, everyone was awesome and really helped me.

How have you enjoyed online classes?

It’s a good thing I am an introverted person. At first it was nice because I could go to work in person, then come home and do my schoolwork at night. After the pandemic hit, everything was at home. I have had to create separate spots for work versus homework. With the pandemic, going to school online has really been a savior for me because it keeps me concentrated and focused.

Any advice for those hesitant to do online courses?

If you have siblings, families, or friends, tell them that you are going to school online. Once you tell them and you give them your schedule, they will keep you on it. I’ll be talking to my daughter, and she will ask me if my homework is done. Also, I recommend not doing everything in the same room. Keep work and homework in a separate zone so you are not sitting in one spot all day long. Advice I received when I first started was, “every semester, reach out to your professors and make contacts. Create some form of communication and relationship so that you don’t feel you are there by yourself.”

Were you able to build relationships with your professors?

I was – this last semester I had a professor that was really awesome. Even though I thought I was going to pull out all my hair during the math courses, Mike was great. He was tough, but he cared about what the students learned.

Would you recommend NAU to others?

Based on my experience, I absolutely will. I have had really good experiences overall. There were a couple of blips, but NAU helped me problem solve and get things fixed.

Will your NAU education help you in your career?

Yes, it already has. When I first started and let my team know I was going back to school, half of them asked me why since I was in my 50’s. The other half was excited for me, and that half started to view me a different way. They gave me different projects so I could focus on my degree. I had managers ask me to share what I learned in school and help educate my team. Since starting school, I have earned two promotions and will continue working for more.

Watch Teresa’s full alumni spotlight interview below!

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