WGU Alumni Podcast

On this new season of the WGU Alumni Podcast, we’re sharing the inspiring stories of our distinguished graduates who went back to school to pursue a degree and better their lives. Over the next few months, you’ll hear graduates who took control of their future and decided it’s “never too late”.

We’re so excited for you to meet them. We have stories of pharmacists who became cybersecurity experts, teachers in Title 1 schools making a difference, entrepreneurs chasing their dreams, and so many graduates having a huge impact in their communities, and much much more.

As always, I’ll be joining you on this journey. I’m your host Jeff - a proud WGU graduate, leader of alumni engagement at WGU and I’m also a serial podcaster…

We hope the next several episodes will inspire you too to realize “it’s never too late” to go after your dreams.

On this episode of the WGU Alumni Podcast, learn how Cole Frandsen-Smith, a 2023 WGU graduate in Human Resource Management, has become a strong champion for education, inclusivity, and the power of community.

Also, learn how Cole's life, and that of his family's, has been enriched by the example of his mother and how her referring Cole to WGU has had a ripple effect upon many others. 

Meet Ebony Gray, a WGU graduate and former president of WGU's Student Nurses Association, share her experiences. From her 13-year tenure at Cedars-Sinai to her leadership roles, Ebony's journey exemplifies the tenacity required to succeed in the dynamic field of healthcare.

Takeaways: 

• How Ebony navigated the challenges of nursing with determination
• Why the Julie Aiken Hansen scholarship was more than just financial aid
• The influence of historical figures and personal mentors led to her to career success 

Meet Jessica Shelley, a WGU alumna who's revolutionizing education and entrepreneurship while balancing family life with five children and supporting her husband's academic journey at WGU. Explore her journey from elementary teacher to Forbes' 30 under 30 powerhouse and discover her groundbreaking educational platform, Dailies, disrupting pre-K through 12th-grade learning. Delve into the integration of technology into education, where Jessica unveils Dailies' connection to WGU's competency-based learning model, emphasizing personalized educational pathways. This conversation offers insights into empowering learners and parents, reshaping education paradigms, and the joy of tech industry recognition.

Takeaways:

• How Jessica's educational platform, Dailies, is reshaping pre-K through 12th-grade learning by integrating technology and personalized pathways.
• Ways the integration of technology into education offers opportunities for empowering both learners and parents.
• The transformative power of lifelong learning.

Jessica Shelley Bio:

Oregon Native Jessica Shelley is a wife, mother of five small children, a former elementary school teacher, a Forbes 30 under 30 lister, an entrepreneur and business owner, and three-time WGU graduate, about to be four.   

In 2020, Jessica co-founded and launched Dailies, an innovative educational platform that provides gamification and personalized learning for pre-K through 12th grade learners.

Nontraditional graduate, Washington Native Eric Miller, joins the alumni podcast to share his motivation on his WGU journey, his passion for nursing, and his interesting hobbies such as cross-stitching and running half marathons, more than 100 to date. 

Recent WGU graduate and current member of the alumni team, Ginny Ersery, joins the podcast to share her thoughts on her recent commencement experience in Chicago, and how things are going in her new role. 

Recent WGU Graduate, bowling coach, and two-time bowling hall-of-fame inductee Ronald Simms Jr. joins the podcast to share his thoughts on his WGU journey, his experience speaking at WGU's commencement last spring, and how his bowling team challenged him to go back to college thirty years after he quit the first time. 

As we kick off the new year,  listen to the latest episode to hear WGU Senior Vice President of Regional Operations, Gene Hayes, and Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Development, Robert Sullivan, share their insights into exciting alumni opportunities in 2024 and beyond. 

Serial entrepreneur, WGU MBA graduate, and  Nashville resident Corey Alexander joins the alumni podcast to share  how he manages to run six different business while balancing family and other commitments in the community.  A former cornerback with the University of Tennessee and a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, Alexander earned his degree from WGU back in 2018 before going on to earn his doctorate degree. 

We are talking alumni events with Michael Daniel from WGU's alumni team. Next up is WGU alumni's annual virtual 5K, the Night Owl Trot. Michael highlights the 5K and the Alumni Celebration, and recaps the Kindness Quest. Visit www.wgu.edu/events for all of the upcoming exciting alumni events.