Jimmy Edwards knows how to turn challenge into opportunity.

His collegiate endeavors began 14 years ago but ended after several attempts to stick with his plan. 

“I was very indecisive and dropped out of three different colleges,” he recalls.

Ultimately, he put college aside and worked in retail and real estate. He held several management positions and eventually earned his real estate licenses in New York and Connecticut. 

As a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, Chris Lorenz Marcelo has had a fulfilling career that has allowed him to travel 1000s of miles, yet he wasn’t sure where he was headed professionally. He had already earned a bachelor’s degree, but five years into his role with the airline, Chris realized he was ready to take on new challenges, further excel in his position at Southwest, and explore new opportunities that involved educating others on the importance of organizational leadership. That, however, would require another degree.

Even some of life’s most difficult challenges couldn’t deter Beth Peter from fulfilling her goal of earning a college degree. 

She had been working for 28 years at her job but continually was overlooked for opportunities and promotions because she did not have a college education. Frustrated at her inability to advance in her career, at age 44, she became determined to change that and enrolled at Ashford University* using her employer’s benefits package which included a partnership with Ashford. 

Over the course of 20 years, Pamela Edwards was able to build a successful career. But she came to a point where she realized she wanted more out of life. She made some changes and embarked on a new path with a little help from Ashford University*.

Matthew Hughes is a man with many titles.

Professionally, he is the North American task force specialist for global plastic conglomerate ALPLA. In school, he holds the title of student at the University of Arizona Global Campus. But most importantly, at home, he holds the titles of husband and father to three children.

It’s the latter two titles that are motivating Matthew every day as he works to finish his Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management. 

When Richmond, California, native George Hanshaw graduated from high school in the mid-1980s, he was convinced he couldn’t get away from the world of education and learning fast enough. In fact, he ran screaming from it. 

“I couldn’t stand high school, hated it, didn’t like teachers, none of it,” he says. “As I left, I used so many expletives about how I would never ever go back to school,” George chuckles as he explains his decision to join the Air Force upon graduation.