Defying the odds has been a hallmark of my life journey. When I was nineteen I was a single mother working two jobs to support myself and my child. There was a lot I didn’t know at that time and the future was uncertain at best. But there was one thing I did feel certain about: I did not want to become a “statistic”. I wanted more for myself and my son. So, I continued to work two jobs and when my son started kindergarten I took the first step toward the future and enrolled in college.

I attended school full time, worked full time and raised my son. It wasn’t easy and at times I wanted to give up, but I knew that as difficult as it was I needed to keep moving. Four years later, I walked across the stage to receive my B.A. with high honors in English. But I didn’t stop there.

After working in the corporate world for several years I was given the opportunity to pursue my MBA. I jumped on this right away and somehow between working full time and going to night school I was able to complete my MBA in 3 years and graduated again with high honors. I worked my way in business from an entry level sales analyst position all the way to a Director role in sales and marketing for a channel of business. I loved my career and am grateful for the opportunities I had to learn and grow. But something was still missing...this nagging feeling would lead me on a path that is beyond anything I could have dreamed of.

The “thing” that was missing was helping others. Sure, I was active in local charity work, but I wanted something more. Many of the professors and professional mentors I have had gave me so much and now it was my turn to be that source for others. I wanted to help the next generation realize their own dreams. So, last year, I left the corporate world for the academic world. I started by teaching a class at my local community college. This fall, I was lucky enough to find a full-time position as a Lecturer at University of Wisconsin in Whitewater. My goal is to build a career there and become a full professor in sales and marketing, so I can use my education and experience to help my students grow and thrive. I also co-founded a small marketing agency that focuses on small, women and minority owned businesses and non-profits.

The only thing holding me back from achieving this final dream is my Doctorate Degree. I was accepted into the DBA program at DePaul and will be starting this fall. My experience in earning both of my prior degrees while working full-time has prepared me well to succeed in the program and I also have the support of family and fellow faculty as I prepare for this next step. I am so close to achieving this final goal. Mensa’s support in the form of a scholarship would mean the world to me.