SNHU Spotlight: Cheri Federico, Master of Business Administration Grad

For Cheri Federico '25MBA, her decision to earn her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) was inspired by change. While the business she worked for was in the process of reorganization, Federico said she decided to finish her master’s program in hopes of a promotion. And at the end of her journey, she said SNHU gave her the tools to navigate that change and leadership responsibilities.

After completing her bachelor’s program at a different college, Federico said she was looking for something different. When she moved to Hooksett, New Hampshire, she found SNHU.

“(I) said, ‘All right, let's give it a chance,’” said Federico. “And here I am. I'm so excited — so happy that I made that choice.”

She said she felt very supported by SNHU, especially by her advisor, Nicholas Schibly. He guided her along the way and made sure she was always ready for her next class, Federico said. When she needed to take a break, she said he helped her through that process but always encouraged her to reach the finish line.

“And he never gave up on me,” Federico said, “so I never give up on myself.”

Real-world Business Applications

When the business she worked for began reorganizing, the information Federico was learning in her classes aligned perfectly, she said.

“(M)y last two classes were all about change management, how to change, how to handle change with your teams and all of that,” said Federico. “So I was able to directly use that right at the time that, you know, that I was going through all of that at work.”

One of her managers, she said, recently asked her how her learning experience had changed her. After thinking it over, Federico said she’s learned to take a breath and consider the best course of action. By applying the tools she discovered in her courses, she said she’s able to take her team in a positive direction.

Celebrating Her Degree

As a U.S. Air National Guard veteran, Federico attended the 2025 SNHU Commencement ceremony donning a red, white and blue military cord to represent her service — something she said she was proud to do. She also said it was important for her to walk in the ceremony, to show her family how much their love, support and commitment meant to her.

“I have kids in master's programs right now, and I just wanted them to know there's light at the end of that tunnel,” she said.

For others considering earning their degree, Federico said to get out there, to keep going, and to show up every day — because it’s worth it.

“It’s the best thing I ever did,” she said. “You can earn your master's degree from SNHU because it's something that no one can ever take away from you. And it's something you can always be proud of.”

Abigayle Mahnken ’22 is an assistant content writer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and is currently earning a Master of Arts (MA) in English and Creative Writing. Passionate about storytelling and education, she enjoys learning from fellow students' experiences and sharing their stories. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, reading, and learning. She also really likes video games. Connect with her on LinkedIn.