'What if We Go Back to School... Together?'

At every commencement ceremony, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) graduates speak about the importance of having someone in your corner while pursuing a degree. For some, that’s a parent. A partner. For others, it’s a friend — and for a select few, it’s a twin.

The bottom line? Having someone cheering them on is, for many SNHU students, what gets them to the finish line. These stories showcase the importance of going on that journey together.

Rodney Burford ’22 ’24MBA and Sherita Dawkins ’24MBA

Rodney Burford ’22 ’24MBA’s older cousin, Sherita Dawkins ’24MBA, had always been an inspiration to him. So when they decided to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the same time, it made the journey feel particularly special.

“I wasn’t planning on going back to school, ever. But my job called for me to step up to the plate and to push myself a little more. I needed a different skill set,” Dawkins said. “I reached out to Rodney and said, ‘What if we go back to school together?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it with you!’”

Burford, who also earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration from SNHU in 2022, said returning to SNHU for his MBA felt like a natural choice.

“Here at SNHU, I felt so loved by the staff,” he said.

Dawkins agreed, specifically pointing to her academic advisor as someone she could count on throughout her graduate program.

“They were so helpful and really made it simple,” she said.

So, why an MBA? For Burford, who works in hospitality management, an MBA in Leadership was about learning how to grow in his current role — and beyond it, too.

“The program really taught me the difference between a manager and a leader,” he said, noting that he’s already begun applying what he learned in his program to his day-to-day work.

After leading a large team for a Fortune 500 company, Dawkins moved into a director position. While this felt like a huge accomplishment, she said the role was demanding, and she felt an MBA would help her feel more equipped to handle those demands.

“The class scenarios are situations that you’ll encounter in your job,” she said. “SNHU helped enable us to be better people, better leaders, better trendsetters.”

The cousins said they were thrilled to share the experience of earning graduate degrees together, and would encourage others to do the same in a heartbeat.

“Go for it,” Dawkins said. “It puts you on a different platform. Nobody can take this from you.”

Orla Dundas and Elizabeth Shands ’23MEd

When they each began their Master of Education (MEd) in Educator Practices with a concentration in Mathematics, Orla Dundas and Elizabeth Shands ’23MEd hardly knew each other. They left their program as great friends.

“One of the first weekends we were in class together, we learned our husbands had been working together for the last 30 years,” Shands said. “It was the beginning of a great friendship that I think is going to continue for a long time.”

For Shands, having a friend through her graduate program proved to be more critically important than she had anticipated. She faced some personal challenges throughout her academic journey and, at times, questioned her ability to continue.

“I don’t think I would have made it through the program without Orla,” she said. “Every time I was going to quit, she said, ‘No, you can’t.’”

As a middle school math teacher, Dundas said having a flexible degree program was crucial.

“There was no other way that we could have possibly gone through a degree like this with families and working at the same time,” she said. “It was very doable.”

Dundas also spoke to the value found in the course material itself, and said much of what she learned applies directly to her goals. She’s working on a STEM-informed math program she hopes to develop into an outdoor education curriculum that focuses on sustainability and environmental issues.

Shands, who currently teaches 7th-grade math, taught science for many years first. She said this degree gave her a helpful foundation in math education.

“I learned a lot about enhancing my mathematics understanding and education practices,” she said. “I was really grateful to the instructors who helped me feel more confident.”

Both friends felt that the impact of their graduate program went beyond subject-specific skills, too. It focused not only on what to teach, but also on how to teach.

“It made us look at how we educate and taught us to bring a delight for learning into our students,” Dundas said.

Sydney and Ryan Leite ’24

Sydney and Ryan Leite ’24 have shared a lot of big life experiences. They both serve in the U.S. Army, they’re married — and now, they’re both bachelor’s degree holders. Sydney earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in General Studies at the same time Ryan earned his BS in Health Sciences, and the two celebrated their accomplishments at SNHU commencement. To achieve this together, they said, meant a lot.

“I’m very happy to walk across the stage with my husband,” Sydney said.

Ryan agreed, emphasizing the momentous feeling of sharing commencement day with Sydney.

"It’ll be a memory forever, so it’s special,” he said.

The Leites met when they were stationed together in Germany, and they got married while overseas. Ryan called theirs a “classic Army love story.”

By the time they were moving from Germany back to the U.S., Sydney had already earned her associate degree, and the two began talking about going back to school. They chose SNHU because, amidst their college search, it stood out as particularly military-friendly.

“Knowing SNHU had such a robust online program, we knew it would be seamless,” Ryan said. “Everything — from applying to registering for classes — lined up so well.”

Between the two of them, they received credit for military experience and training, plus additional credit for previous college coursework. They were able to use their military Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits, too, making the transition even smoother.

Tackling their degree programs together, they said, was a big motivator to get to the finish line.

“We relied on each other a lot for support throughout our journey with SNHU,” Sydney said. “Knowing our deadlines, we were able to hold each other accountable — almost make it a competition. It’s been really nice to be in the same boat at the same school together.”

Both Ryan and Sydney are first-generation graduates, which they said made this achievement feel even more meaningful not only for them, but for their families, too.

“Joining the military was my route to a degree — it was the whole reason I joined. I’ve spent six years of my life to be sitting here today,” Sydney said.

She hopes to use her degree to go on and become a physical education teacher, and Ryan hopes an internship with a medical device company transitions into a full-time role.

“It’s the beginning of a new legacy for our family,” he said.

Sarai and Daniel Sylvester ’23

Twins Sarai and Daniel Sylvester ’23 graduated from both high school and college together, and Daniel said he saw it as continuing a legacy.

“It feels electric,” he said.

Sarai agreed, emphasizing her awareness that not everyone has access to a college education. This was a driving factor in her decision to earn her degree.

“So many people don’t get the opportunity,” she said. “I knew I could do it, so I wanted to push myself.”

Sarai’s college journey began with significant challenges. At the time, she was struggling with substance abuse and other obstacles that stood in the way of her successfully completing her degree — but she didn’t let them stop her. Coming to SNHU, she said, was a turning point.

“I’m a year sober and counting now,” she said on her commencement day.

Drawing from her own experiences, Sarai hopes to use her BA in Psychology to help others in some way: as a counselor for folks struggling with substance abuse, in the Peace Corps or in corrections. Service to those in need sits at the core of her goals.

“It is so important to help people,” she said. “Not everybody has a support system.”

Daniel was quick to add that his sister's desire to serve others isn't surprising to him.

“She’s had a strong sense of empathy from a very young age,” he said. “Always.”

Daniel had originally begun his degree at another college, but didn’t feel it was the right fit for him. When he transferred to SNHU, he said everything changed.

“I created a support system. I delved into my academics,” he said. “I’m very confident and sure of myself now.”

Daniel double-majored, earning a BS in Biology and a BS in Environmental Science. Like his twin sister, he has an array of passions and goals, and said that he felt earning both degrees would open up options for him professionally.

“I’ve always been interested in STEM,” he said. “Having these credentials will allow me to work both in a laboratory environment and an outdoor ecological environment, so earning both of these degrees was really important.”

Now, Daniel works full-time as a chemist in a laboratory making diagnostic tests. Specifically, his work focuses on tuberculosis and HIV.

Sheila and Sharla Barnes '23

Sheila and Sharla Barnes ’23 are twins, too. On a trip to Hawaii, they chatted casually with a friend about potentially going back to school. That conversation was the catalyst for earning the same degree — a BS in Criminal Justice — from SNHU at the same time.

“We both decided we needed to continue our education,” said Sheila. “We said, ‘Let’s just do it.’ It’s online, it’s very convenient. Why not?”

The twins said that going on the journey together, even down to the same program, felt like a natural choice. Sharla, who’s 11 minutes older than Sheila, emphasized the special bond they’ve shared their whole lives.

“We’re very close,” she said. “We always look out for each other.”

When they began their programs at SNHU, both Sheila and Sharla were online learning first-timers. They described that initial feeling as trepidation, and said that taking the leap felt intimidating at first. But once they started their first course — with the same social sciences professor — they fell into a groove quickly.

“It was an amazing experience having the same classes, studying together, brainstorming, helping each other along the way,” Sheila said.

Support, for both of them, was a key piece of their SNHU experience, and part of what made online learning work for them.

“The advisors, the teachers — they really helped us,” Sharla said.

They also used online tutoring resources, particularly with a challenging statistics course, and said that type of academic support made all the difference. They emphasized the importance of leveraging your resources as an online student, encouraging others to do the same.

On graduation day, Sheila and Sharla credited lots of people for helping them get to the finish line: their families, including those who have passed on. Their support system at SNHU. Most of all, though, they looked to each other as their largest source of encouragement.

“I look up to you,” Sheila said to Sharla on commencement day. “I appreciate everything you do.”

“We made it,” said Sharla.

David and Angel Perez ’24

Father and son, David and Angel Perez ’24, never thought they’d walk the stage at their college graduation together. And then, they did just that.

“It’s a very emotional feeling,” Angel said. “My dad has been my biggest role model forever. To graduate alongside him — it’s a very happy moment for us.”

“The plan was for me to graduate a long time ago,” David said. “Getting my son through college and, for myself, completing that milestone, is definitely fulfilling.”

After finishing high school, David earned some college credits and began a 35-year career in the fast food industry, working for KFC and Taco Bell. Over the years, he’s worn a lot of hats: he began as a cook in the kitchen, secured a position as General Manager, and then moved into IT. Now, he works at the corporate level in international relations.

The idea of going back to school arose when David learned his employer had a partnership with SNHU that would mean a reduced tuition rate. He took the opportunity, graduating with his BS in Business Administration.

“I finished what I started,” he said.

For Angel, serving others is both a personal and professional goal, and he feels his BA in Human Services will help him do just that.

“I just hope to help people around the world,” he said. “Whether it’s the elderly, people dealing with medical issues — I just want to be a support system for them and ensure they feel like they’re still human, they’re still loved.”

Holly and Cortlynn Danby ’23G

Mom and daughter Holly and Cortlynn Danby ’23G sported matching “Danby Duo” graduation caps for their commencement ceremony, where they both earned their master’s degrees. To share such an experience, they said, was unexpected and special.

“We didn’t plan to be sitting here at the same time, but it’s very exciting that we are. It’s a dream come true,” Holly said.

Holly’s daughter, Cortlynn, started her Master of Science (MS) in Marketing, and Holly followed soon after, beginning her MS in Data Analytics. They referred to themselves as “study buddies,” and spent many hours over the course of their graduate programs writing papers together, reviewing each other’s work and pushing forward side-by-side.

Both Holly and Cortlynn work full-time jobs, so SNHU’s online program, they said, made college fit seamlessly into their lives.

“I was starting a professional career, and it allowed me to create a schedule that worked perfectly for what I was doing,” Cortlynn said. “It was very customizable and flexible.”

For Cortlynn, achieving this milestone with Holly made it feel particularly meaningful.

“We’re very close,” she said. “My mom’s always been the smartest person I know. She always taught me to have a lot of resilience and work hard.”

Similarly, Holly said witnessing her daughter’s success feels just as wonderful as celebrating her own.

“I’m very, very proud of her,” she said. “She’s worked hard. She’s gotten through some difficult times and powered through. To share this love of learning with her is remarkable.”

Both Holly and Cortlynn finished their programs with 4.0 GPAs and were thrilled to have family cheering them on in the audience at commencement. Holly emphasized that anyone wanting to continue their education should seize the opportunity.

“You’re never too old to keep learning,” she said. “Continue to strive forward. Continue to be a lifelong learner. Don’t be afraid to pivot and try something new.”

Abigail (Abby) Mark ’23G is a copywriter and contributing content writer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Prior to her role in marketing, Abby spent four years on SNHU’s student experience team as an academic advisor and team lead of academic advising. In 2018, she graduated from Saint Anselm College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and went on to earn her Master of Arts in English & Creative Writing at SNHU in the spring of 2023.

She is also an adjunct faculty member at SNHU and is passionate about sharing her love for creative writing with online undergraduate students. Abby hopes her writing will help prospective students and employees alike see just how transformative SNHU could be for them (as it’s been pretty transformative for her). You can connect with her on LinkedIn.