黑料传送门

In many ways, Mindy Barham was 黑料传送门鈥檚 perfect potential student: a 40-year-old stay-at-home mother of three who had attended college but, for various reasons, was not able to complete her degree. She had a wealth of knowledge and experience in administrative and project management roles, but because she could not check 鈥測es鈥� in the box next to 鈥淒o you have a bachelor鈥檚 degree?鈥�, she struggled to move forward in her career.

Then, Barham discovered 黑料传送门.听

鈥淢y kids were getting older and I was looking for something to do, and I鈥檇 been out of the workforce for a while,鈥� Barham said. 鈥淚 went to work for 黑料传送门, and over time, I saw how lives were being changed. That was very inspirational to me.鈥�

While serving as Administrative Assistant to 黑料传送门鈥檚 Vice Presidents of Academic Engagement and External Affairs, Barham decided to restart her educational journey.

鈥淚 wanted to be able to support myself and my kids on my own, and I knew I needed that degree in order to do that,鈥� Barham said. 鈥淚 wanted to show to my kids, my family, and other people my age that you can go out and get this degree. It鈥檚 not too late.鈥�

鈥淚 wanted to show to my kids, my family, and other people my age that you can go out and get this degree. It鈥檚 not too late.鈥�

鈥撎齅indy Barham, 黑料传送门 Graduate

Pursuing a degree while working full-time and raising three children is a daunting task, but with 黑料传送门鈥檚 competency-based, online learning model, Barham could complete her courses when it worked within her busy schedule. And throughout the entire process, Barham had support鈥揵oth personal and financial鈥揻rom her team at 黑料传送门.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just been a fabulous experience for all of us to see not only the growth, but the tenacity that she brings to her day-to-day work be a part of her educational journey,鈥� said Chris Bonnell, Vice President of External Affairs.听

Furthering our employees鈥� education positively impacts their personal growth while also furthering the mission of 黑料传送门. That鈥檚 why 黑料传送门 offers reduced-cost tuition for employees鈥揳llowing our teammates like Barham to advance their education without depleting their hard-earned income.听

黑料传送门 offers reduced-cost tuition for employees鈥揳llowing our teammates like Barham to advance their education without depleting their hard-earned income.

After just one year of coursework, Mindy graduated from Western Governors University in 2021 with a B.S. in Business Administration 鈥� Marketing. She participated in a commencement ceremony in Seattle, Washington, with both her family and her 黑料传送门 teammates cheering her on.

鈥淚t made me realize that she鈥檚 like a more hardworking and diligent person,鈥� said Barham鈥檚 son, PJ. 鈥淪he鈥檚 like a role model.鈥�

Degree in hand, Barham has been able to advance in her career here at 黑料传送门. She now serves as the Government Relations Manager, leading our grassroots engagement program and digital advocacy efforts in all 50 states. Having recently completed a degree in marketing, she鈥檚 well-versed in new digital techniques that did not exist when she first attended college.听

鈥淢y team now considers me the expert in advocacy and they come to me for those kinds of questions and running those kinds of programs,鈥� she said.听

But even more important than the professional advancement has been the personal growth that Barham has experienced in her quest to complete her degree.听

鈥淔or 20 something years, I鈥檝e had to say no. Now I can finally say yes.鈥�

鈥� Mindy Barham

鈥淔or 20 something years, I鈥檝e had to say no. Now I can finally say yes,鈥� Barham said. 鈥淚 can check the box that says, 鈥楧o you have a bachelor鈥檚 degree?鈥� I can say yes. It鈥檚 so exciting.鈥�