WGU Alumni Podcast

After nearly two decades in marketing, Steve Sandberg felt a quiet pull toward something more meaningful. What began as curiosity became action and that ultimately led him to a high school math classroom.

In this episode of the WGU Alumni podcast, Steve shares how he walked away from a comfortable career to earn his master’s in secondary math education at WGU, navigating licensure requirements, pandemic disruptions, and the uncertainty of a mid-career pivot. Within days of graduating, he landed a teaching role at an alternative high school, where smaller classes and one-to-one instruction give students a real second chance to finish strong.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to change direction, Steve’s inspiring story is a reminder that it’s never too late to choose purpose.

Two-time WGU grad Dax Rich was laid off, one day before his birthday. Suddenly, everything was on the line. Dax had to choose: spiral or level up.

In this episode, Dax shares how preparation before crisis, disciplined habits, and hands-on AI tools helped him rebuild confidence and land his next role in just 60 days. We talk career resilience, leadership clarity, and why systems beat motivation when everything feels uncertain.

If you’re facing a pivot, or want to be ready before one finds you, this episode offers practical steps, real tools, and the mindset to move forward with intention.

Chicago public servant Brian Mueller went from digging water lines to leading the team that keeps the city running—and he did it while earning two WGU degrees late at night after his kids went to bed. He shares how a career-altering injury pushed him toward education, how competency-based learning fit a union schedule, and how real-world field experience became the backbone of his leadership style.

Brian’s journey is proof that late-career pivots are possible: 50% higher pay, greater impact, and sons who watched him cross the stage twice. If you’re thinking about your own “not too late” moment, this episode will give you the questions, habits, and mindset to start.

Michelle Mills joins us to share how she finished her WGU degree while living in an RV during deployments—and how that experience fueled her mission to fix underemployment for military spouses and veterans. She talks about building a firm that uses location-agnostic, role-based compensation, tripling pay for military-connected talent, and how returning to school helped her rebuild confidence, identity, and direction.

WGU Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Robert Sullivan joins the alumni podcast to explore what happens after graduation—how a WGU degree becomes real momentum through lifelong career support, community, and connection. He walks us through the services alumni can tap into at any stage, from resume reviews and interview prep to region-based events and local networks that help graduates stay relevant in a changing job market.

Robert also pulls back the curtain on WGU’s AI-powered Ask-a-Grad tool, which gives learners and alumni fast, practical insights from people who’ve walked the same path. He shares why commencement remains such a powerful milestone, how community shapes resilience, and what it means to build an alumni ecosystem that supports every learner for life. His perspective is a reminder that the WGU journey doesn’t end at graduation—it expands.

Nevada Chief Information Officer and Marine Corps veteran Tim Galluzi joins us to talk about his journey from combat tours to the cabinet table—and how a WGU MBA in IT Management helped him turn technology into a force for public good. He shares what it took to elevate IT to a cabinet-level department in Nevada, why that move matters for cybersecurity and collaboration, and how he’s building a culture where innovation actually sticks.

Tim also opens up about returning to school later in life, tackling imposter syndrome, and learning to break big modernization projects into small, winnable steps. His story is a reminder that growth doesn’t have to follow a straight line—and that confidence, humility, and the right team can take you farther than you think.

On the next episode of the WGU Alumni podcast, Ashley Emsweller Hungate —public servant, farm mom of four, and WGU alum—shares her journey of turning nonstop motion into focused momentum. From mini donkeys braying during proctored exams to leading culture and talent at Indiana’s Management Performance Hub, Ashley shows how purpose and practicality can thrive together.

She shares how earning an MBA amid family and farm life built confidence, opened new career lanes, and helped her turn data into public good. We also trace the roots of Indiana’s Statehouse Market, a farmers market turned food ecosystem, and the simple advice from her grandfather that still fuels her drive: map the steps, begin, and keep moving.

Staff Sergeant Destiny Hunter of the U.S. Army Reserves shares her journey as a WGU Distinguished Graduate and founder of Kuinua Tech, a company creating innovative technology solutions with military efficiency while supporting veterans and underserved populations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Destiny completed her WGU master’s program while actively serving in the military
• The origin story behind Kuinua Tech and its mission to uplift overlooked communities
• Why she believes ethical AI must be driven by diverse teams and human accountability

Christie Jandora, a 2024 Distinguished Graduate at WGU, is the Director of Emergency Trauma Services at Ascension, overseeing 500 associates across five Florida counties. She joins the WGU Alumni podcast to share her journey that has been marked by resilience, passion, and purpose. 

 On the latest episode, learn how Christie:

• Plans to make an impact as the President-Elect of the Florida Emergency Nurses Association 
• Leads multiple ERs, including a Level 1 trauma center and freestanding emergency departments 
• Pursued nursing after losing both parents during her first semester of college 
• Rose through nursing ranks—from LPN to master’s degree—while raising her children as a single parent 
• Completed her master’s during COVID while working 50–60 hours a week 
• And much, much more. 

Anna and Chris Decker share their inspiring journey of completing WGU degrees together while raising two small children and working full-time jobs. Their competitive spirit, teamwork approach, and unwavering support for each other enabled them to achieve academic success despite numerous challenges.

On this episode you’ll learn how the Deckers:

• Balanced parenting duties while taking turns studying and sitting for exams
• Used late nights and time between infant duties to complete coursework
• Leveraged employer benefits to make education financially feasible
• Applied newly gained knowledge immediately to their professional roles that led to career promotion 
• Discovered new learning techniques that translated to workplace efficiency