ASHFORD AROUND THE WORLD / AU Alumni ... - Ashford University

Ashford Around the World /AU Alumni Magazine/AU Alumni MagazineAshford Around the WorldAshfordAround theWorldA look at Ashford’s global communityAshford Around the World: Students and alumni with a global perspectiveOne of the many benefits of Ashford’s online format is its ability to transcendphysical locations. As a result, many of Ashford’s online students connect withtheir professors and fellow students thousands of miles away from each other,whether they’re residents of foreign countries or Americans who are deployed,traveling, or living abroad. Other students are new to the US and study onlinewhile working to achieve the American dream. Ashford’s campus in Clinton, IAboasts students from all over the world as well, who experience a quaint, idyllicpart of the US while earning a degree.In this issue, we’re taking a look at several students and alumni who fit into oneof the above scenarios – yet, much like Ashford’s community as a whole, theydefy categorization.A Sunny OutlookMost Americans think of the US Virgin Islands as a sunny and exotic vacationdestination, but for Okeisha James-Huertas and Sirdrina Isaac-Joseph(pictured above right), it’s home. These best friends met while earning theirAssociate’s degrees at a small community college on their island of St. Croix, butbemoaned how long the program took. After discovering Ashford’s acceleratedonline schedule, they both enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Early ChildhoodEducation program and completed it together in 2011.Meanwhile, further north, Tamika Wade-Trott earned her Bachelor of Arts inOrganizational Management, Human Resources Management specializationin 2011 from the beautiful island of Bermuda. This subtropical locale currentlyboasts Tamika as its lone Ashford graduate, but she hopes that will soon change.“I got a lot of questions in Bermuda about where I was getting my degree. A lot offolks there don’t know about Ashford, so I am promoting it 24/7!” she exclaims.“I’m just really, really happy with having chosen Ashford, and I believe that theopportunity is there for Bermudians who cannot actually study on campus to gettheir degrees online at Ashford.”All three women traveled to Iowa for the October 2011 commencement ceremony.Despite the adjustment from island weather to that of Iowa in the fall, they foundthe campus beautiful and its people welcoming. Back on their respective islands,they have experienced professional success as a result of earning their Ashforddegrees: Tamika was promoted only two weeks later, and Okeisha and Sirdrinaare each in the process of advancing from teacher’s assistants to teachers.Additionally, the former two women are both now enrolled in Ashford’s Master ofArts in Education program, Okeisha is adding a Reading Literacy specializationand Sirdrina is adding a Special Education specialization, and they are onceagain providing support for one another.Best friends Okeisha James-Huertas (left) and Sirdrina Isaac-Joseph (right) earnedtheir Bachelor’s degrees at Ashford online from the US Virgin Islands.Staying Connected OverseasAcross the Atlantic, Stephanie McHugh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Accountingonline in 2011 while living in Zurich, Switzerland and raising a brand new baby.Though originally from Virginia, her husband is Swiss and his job brought themto his home country. “At first, it was hard to manage my time, but with each newclass I felt that I gained better time management skills. Also, although there’s a9-hour time difference between Switzerland and US’s west coast, I was alwaysable to get in touch with faculty by email.”Students here are from alldifferent walks of life.Stephanie says that she encountered many other Americans living abroad inher online classes, including military members stationed overseas, and theyprovided perspectives of their own experiences. Her friends and family alsoencouraged her along the way. “They thought it was great that I chose to studyonline at Ashford from Switzerland, and were all so proud of my determinationto complete my degree.”Upon doing so, Stephanie traveled to Clinton for the October 2011 commencementceremony, where she was excited to meet fellow classmates and instructors beforereturning to Zurich. “Currently, I’m a stay-at-home mom to the most energetic,fun-loving toddler you could ever meet. I’d like to work in an accountingdepartment for a non-profit organization and ultimately do something to protecthuman rights.” Regardless of what direction she goes in, Stephanie relishes beingan Ashford alumni. “It empowers me, because the possibilities are endless. It’s agreat feeling.”Embracing Opportunity in the USIstvan “Steven” Lorincz is from Transylvania,Romania, where he earned his Bachelor’s degreebefore completing an internship program in theUS. He decided he could better flourish in America,so Steven settled in Los Angeles, CA and beganworking in the hospitality industry full time whileearning his Master of Business Administration,Global Management specialization from Ashford’sonline program.“Admittedly, it was a bit challenging and frighteningat the start trying not only to get used to an Americanstyle of education, but also the online format.”Nevertheless, Steven thrived in his new environmentand enjoyed interacting with his classmates – andwith one instructor in particular who had pickedup basic Hungarian while on sabbatical and wouldcomment on Steven’s papers in the language.However, Steven’s most significant guidance wasin his Global Management Strategies class. “Theinstructor led us to thoroughly understand thatour world has become so globally integrated thatneglecting global thinking would be a definitefailure for a manager. The course was invaluable forme,” says Steven, who graduated in January 2011.Also from Eastern Europe, Sylwia Stetz (picturedon cover) moved to the US from Poland, whereshe had worked hard to earn a degree herself – butunfortunately, it didn’t translate in America. Soshe started over with her education, earning anAssociate’s degree in New York before relocating toTexas and then San Diego, where her husband is nowstationed in the Navy. She began working at a hoteland was promoted from Guest Service Agent to Pre-Arrivals Coordinator after she enrolled in Ashford’sBachelor of Arts in Organizational Managementprogram, and now that she has completed herdegree, she takes pride in being an Ashford alumnusand has positively influenced her family, friends,and other military spouses in her community. “Ifeel fulfilled, accomplished, and more confident,”says Sylwia. “Nobody can tell me that I am onlyanother immigrant without basic knowledge.” Herprofessional goal is to earn a management position.Steven, now a hotel manager himself, is also proud tobe an Ashford alumnus. “Beyond the fact I possess aMaster’s degree from Ashford, I feel that I am part ofthe Ashford family.”Send in pictures of you wearing Ashfordgear during your own travels aroundthe world to be potentially included in afuture issue of Ashford Connections. Visitashford.edu/gear-shop before you pack!A Cultured CampusNate Billany (pictured below) hails from a village called Cottingham in East Yorkshire, England, and movedhalfway across the world to attend Ashford on campus in Iowa. When he first arrived, he was pleased to findthat he was not the only international student, commenting, “Students here are from all different walks of life. . . each semester seemed to bring with it another nationality!” Indeed, in 2011, Ashford’s campus saw a rise inits international student population, growing from 43 students in 2010 to 57 students from 24 countries in 2011.Nate thrived at Ashford’s campus. Not only was he an award-winning team captain for the men’s soccerteam, which he led to a conference championship and even a National Championship appearance, but hefounded the Ashford University Pre-Law Society and served as its president and was vice president of theStudent Government Association – all while double majoring in the Bachelor of Arts in Social Science andthe Bachelor of Arts in Social and Criminal Justice programs! A recipient of the James L. Mooney SocialScience award at commencement, Nate won’t be leaving Iowa just yet – he has been hired for a one-yearposition assisting veterans in returning to post-secondary education as a Tuition Assistance Specialist atAshford. Nate’s goal is to eventually work as a lawyer in the United States.Ashford’s diverse students and alumni bring a global perspective to our entire community. If you’d like toshare your own story of how Ashford has broadened your worldview, contact connections@ashford.edu. //Recent campus graduateNathan Billany is anEnglishman who hopes tobegin a law career here in theUnited States.6/ Ashford University / ashford.eduAshford Connections / Issue Four/7