Janet G. Robinson

Catonsville, Maryland

...distance education enabled her to keep a promise she made to herself 50 years ago.

Janet quit high school at age sixteen to get married. She made a promise to herself to continue her education but that was delayed by the sudden and unexpected responsibility of two small step-children and then a new baby. Over the next 45 years Janet managed to obtain an associate nursing degree taking classes in five colleges in three states in pursuit of her degree in an effort to keep her promise to herself. Her work and family schedule made attending traditional classes difficult and over the years her educational pursuit was interrupted multiple times.

In 2010 a coworker told her about UMT. Thanks to UMT's flexible schedule she was able to complete her Bachelor's in Health Administration in 2013 and immediately enroll in the master's program. The MHA program provided a broader view of healthcare and enabled her to enrich her leadership skills. Her enhanced abilities were recognized by her company as she was promoted to vice president during the time of her studies. Janet planned to retire in October 2015, however in further recognition of her leadership, she was asked to take on the program oversight of the last year of a troubled contract, delaying her retirement until early 2016. She retired and completed the Master of Health Administration program with a 3.74 GPA the same week in February 2016. Janet hopes to use her degree to consult and teach, helping others to fulfill their own degree goals as she moves into the next phase of her life.

"It is never too late to pursue a goal to its successful conclusion if you want it badly enough. The supportive faculty and the flexibility of the University of Management and Technology allowed me to keep a life-long promise of earning my degree – a promise I had made to myself as a sixteen-year-old girl."