SNHU Spotlight: Regina Dacruz Reis, BA in Psychology Grad

For Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) graduate Regina Dacruz Reis ’24, earning her degree was something she thought long and hard about. And then, she made it happen.

As a wife and full-time working mother of two young children, the idea of furthering her education felt daunting to Reis. But when she discovered SNHU’s online bachelor's in psychology program — which would allow her to complete her coursework on a schedule that worked for her — her goal finally felt possible.

“I wanted to show my children that anything can be done,” she said.

Reis traveled from her home in Miami, Florida, up to New Hampshire for SNHU’s 2024 fall Commencement ceremony, where she walked the stage and celebrated her achievements. When asked how she felt on her graduation day, she said it was difficult to sum up such a big moment in her life.

“It’s beyond my words,” she said. “I can’t express how great it is to be here, conquering my goal of getting a degree.”

Accomplishing that goal, Reis noted, didn’t come without its challenges. Balancing family life, work responsibilities and college classes is no easy feat — and after finishing her program in three years, Reis emphasized that slow and steady wins the race.

“You go little by little,” she said. “It takes time, but you’ll get there. It is hard — but good things are hard to get.”

Reis credits her academic advisor as a huge source of support along her journey, particularly when she was a brand new student finding her footing.

“He held my hand from day one,” she said. “It was scary and overwhelming at the beginning, and he helped me tremendously.”

When it came to deciding on a degree program, Reis landed on psychology. She was fascinated by the subject from her very first class, and her passion for the field has only grown. Now, she’s continuing on to earn her master’s degree from SNHU, too. Her ultimate goal, she said, is becoming a clinical psychologist.

When Reis was asked to reflect back on who she was before she began her program at SNHU and who she is now, she noted a marked difference.

“Confidence,” she said. “I can make anything happen.”

Her hope? To instill that same confidence — that same belief and determination — in her future clients.

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.