One UD Degree Wasn't Enough For Me

“I initially enrolled at the University of Delaware because it was perfect for me with a large enough campus – but small enough student body – far enough away from home so that I would be on my own, excellent classes and opportunities in my intended major, and at a price point that my parents and I could afford.

Following the completion of my bachelor’s degrees, I left UD to pursue a master’s at another university. After three semesters, it was clear that it was not a good fit for me, and UD was my home. I was excited to return to UD, where I knew I would be supported by the faculty and have access to unique opportunities.

The Summer Scholars and Semester-in-Residence programs in Lewes were the most beneficial, rewarding and fun experiences I had as an undergraduate. I'm happy to return to Lewes as a graduate student in the Hale Laboratory. My work focuses on tracking American shad, a diadromous fish, in the upper Delaware Bay using acoustic telemetry. I’ll also be using stable isotope analysis to investigate resource use and diet in the Delaware Bay. After I graduate and defend my thesis, I hope to do similar applied conservation research or work in fisheries management for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

College is what you make of it, but graduate school is more about faculty-student relations. UD has fantastic faculty who are extremely supportive and clearly communicate with students. The College of Earth, Ocean and Environment faculty members make UD feel like a warm community.”

“Although I was drawn to biology and very interested in undertaking multiple research projects, I also had an interest in business. Thanks to a dual degree program offered by the University of Delaware, I was able to pursue and earn an MBA and a Ph.D. in biological sciences at the same time. While conducting biomedical research that I hope will have a great impact, I was taking business classes that showed me how to apply theoretical knowledge to practical applications in the real world.

As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to participate in many extracurricular activities, which enabled me to develop strong leadership and problem-solving skills. I mentored undergraduate students, served as a graduate student representative for the Teaching and Technology Committee and as a career panelist at UD events, promoted STEM education to elementary and high school students, judged student poster competitions, and reviewed high school and undergraduate student grant applications. In my role of BioGSA officer, I helped graduate students network with the world inside and outside of academia.

I am currently an American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS] Science and Technology Policy Fellowship [STPF] fellow in the executive branch of the U.S. Department of Defense in the Office of the Secretary of Defense - Science and Technology Foundations Office. Though I get to work on the STEM education portfolio, defense labs portfolio and many other subject areas I dreamed of working on, I miss going to the UDairy Creamery with my friends for the great ice cream, especially the mango basil and Delaware River mud pie.”

“I came to the University of Delaware as an undergraduate because it was close to home and I was impressed by my tour when I first visited. After four years of making great connections with professors whom I wanted to continue working with, I was able to still stay near my family and continue to receive a great education by earning a master’s degree in data science. 

My successful experience in the data science graduate program, which was aided by the support of many outstanding professors, helped solidify my decision to enroll in the Ph.D. program in mathematics and pursue my third UD degree. I have a desire to keep learning about complex topics in my field and am very interested in continuing the research I have been doing in the data science program.

UD is preparing me for my future by allowing me to teach courses, engage in research and take classes suited to my career interests. I enjoy teaching and intend to keep doing so following my time as a student. I plan on keeping close ties to my colleagues in academia and continuing to do academic research after I graduate. Overall, I feel very prepared to land a great job in industry as a research scientist when I complete my education. The Ph.D. in mathematics allows me to continue building my research skills and knowledge about complex topics that I will need to produce useful results as a researcher.

My most memorable UD experience to date has been finding solutions to challenging computer science and mathematics problems in my data science research that I had been working on for over a year. I began this project after taking a mathematics course during my first year in graduate school. The professor of the course took interest in what I was doing and has become a great mentor to me who has very energetically supervised this research. The University of Delaware has amazing professors and students who strive for academic excellence and make up a wonderful community of people who will challenge you throughout your academic experience here.”

“I completed my undergraduate degree shortly after the COVID shutdown and was unsure about readjusting to a new school for my master’s. By staying at the University of Delaware, I have benefited from more consistency in my life and having less change to deal with.

As part of my master’s program in public administration, I am serving as a judicial fellow with the Administrative Office of the Courts, which is run by UD’s Institute for Public Administration. My work is policy-based in nature; I help the AOC in a variety of ways, which often include looking at administrative rules and procedures and finding methods to make them better understood by employees and the general public. I also get to jump in on additional projects, such as managing the digital platform and communications for a court-run conference with almost 500 attendees.

My goal is to work in management or management analysis, helping organizations find ways to increase efficiency, improve operations and better serve the public. I love how much impact I am able to have at the state and local government levels.

I was drawn to the University of Delaware by its offerings of extracurricular activities, especially the club sports. My most memorable experience at UD has been competing at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating National Intercollegiate Final, where our team finished second. I also represented the UD Figure Skating Club at the 2022 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships, hosted by the University of Delaware, by finishing first in the gold solo free dance event.”

“Ever since I was a young girl growing up in nearby Wilmington, the University of Delaware had been on my radar. My parents are alumni, and they always talked highly of their UD experiences. When it came time to tour colleges, I fell in love with the beautiful campus and The Green.

While I have always been impressed by the quality and value of the classes, the biggest factor that influenced me to stay at UD to pursue a graduate degree was the outstanding faculty. Over the course of my undergraduate career, I had many excellent professors who mentored and advised me. I am so lucky to get to continue to work with two huge influences on my undergraduate education, Sheng Lu and Katya Roelse, as a graduate student in fashion and apparel studies.

UD is helping me gain an in-depth understanding of my industry and how I can make a difference. It is providing me with valuable learning experiences outside the classroom and enabling me to network and make connections with others in my industry. I have been thrilled to find out that UD alumni are always willing to help out a fellow Blue Hen!

UD is a great place to become the person you want to be. It has countless opportunities to engage in educational experiences and drive your future career. As I am making many more lifelong friendships with other students, especially through my graduate program, I am continuing to fall in love with the University of Delaware, which is now my home.”

“Having finally found a graduate program that truly appealed to my interests and career path, I began the University of Delaware’s strategic communication program in the fall 2019 semester. Nearly two decades after having last been in school, the thought of applying for and — gulp — beginning the program was daunting. But I had been wanting to get my master’s degree for several years, and I began to get the nerdy itch to write papers; so, even with the challenge, I was also pretty pumped.

I was looking to move into a more dedicated communications role where both my skills and the lessons from the master’s program would be utilized to better the group with which I was working. I wanted to back my passion and self-taught talents with formal education to make myself doubly marketable for those kinds of career options. My master’s has been a direct contributor to my taking on a position at UD that is aligned with both my career goals and the curriculum of the program. I regularly utilize what I learned about reaching an audience and building effective campaigns when I write content, develop webpages and message strategy plans to other team members.

UD is a great school with many accomplished program offerings that feels pretty homey. It doesn’t take long for your blood to run blue and gold. As a graduate in the first class of the new millennium, and an employee, I could only imagine working toward a graduate degree at UD. I don’t know how I’d reconcile having to split my fealty between two schools if I had pursued my master’s at a different institution.”

"I remember visiting the campus as a high school student and feeling like I could really fit in here. I had an interest in psychology and liked that UD had a program in neuroscience, something that was a fairly new area of study in undergraduate colleges. Both degrees connected me to opportunities in undergraduate research and pointed me to work in school psychology, a career path that I hadn’t considered before I started these programs.

The valuable connections that I made through my courses and research as an undergraduate greatly influenced my decision to stay at UD, which has allowed me the space to really focus on what I want my professional life to be. I love that the school psychology graduate program connects me to practical work with young people but also involves me in research-focused work at an R1 institution. I’m excited to work in schools and have real expertise in what I’m doing for them.

It’s true that graduate school is hard, but the faculty and the other students in my department make things easier by being there for me and supporting the management of work and stress. I get so much outside of academics just from knowing and collaborating with such outstanding people."

“As an undergraduate, I came to the University of Delaware to prepare for veterinary school. I knew the pre-vet program at UD had great faculty and a high veterinary school acceptance rate.

When I started, I didn’t intend to get a Ph.D. at UD — my dad got his Ph.D. in chemistry here and my brother got his Ph.D. in computer engineering here as well, so I wanted to be different. But the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources drew me into its research community with multiple opportunities to work in research projects across the college. In this work, I gained versatile research skills, and I made friendships that continue today.

My undergraduate research advisor, Dr. Tanya Gressley, was one of the main factors in my staying at UD to pursue a Ph.D. in animal and food sciences. I really enjoyed working in her laboratory, and her teaching style was both inviting and supportive. 

As a graduate student, I’ve also benefited from the opportunity to work in Worrilow Hall where collaborative research across disciplines is actively encouraged through state-of-the-art facilities, and Dr. Gressley has been a phenomenal advisor in my work on ruminant hindgut acidosis. Getting a Ph.D. is all about proving you can apply your mind to a problem and solve it, and my research at UD has developed that mindset for me.”

“I returned to UD for my second bachelor’s degree after a restart in the direction of my life. With encouragement from family, friends and co-workers, I wanted to move toward a career that was more aligned with my skills.

I ultimately came back to UD for my master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering because of the quality of the courses and the staff. I feel very comfortable at UD and also feel loyal to the University. That helped bring me back. I am looking forward to potential opportunities to work with the University in the future with the benefits of my graduate degree at my side. I already mentor various undergraduate students working through their programs and would love to do more.

UD helped me focus on the skills needed for my current job. I gained so much by working with electrical and computer engineering professor Andrew Novocin in the applied cryptography course for my master’s degree. There is a level of familiarity and working style that Dr. Novocin engages in with his students that is among the best I have had in my entire scholastic career. He challenged us all yet worked directly with us to push us and help us learn at the same time.

I definitely recommend UD for graduate studies. Almost everyone at the University is open and willing to help even if they don’t know the answers themselves. The environment is open and welcoming, and while it may be difficult at times, that is also what helps us to learn and grow.”

“I fell in love with the UD campus as soon as I visited in my senior year of high school. After the visit, I realized that UD was the place for me. Going to UD meant I could be close to the equestrian community in southeastern Chester County, Pennsylvania.

I returned to UD after five years out teaching full time in nearby Cecil County, Maryland. I selected the master of education in teacher leadership program because it fit my needs and was 100% online with an accelerated schedule. I could work full time teaching high school and complete the master’s program in two years without overloading myself.

Then, while completing the master's, I met the professor who would become my Ph.D. advisor. When it was time to start my Ph.D. studies, UD was the only school I applied to, because of that professor.

The network for researching and improving pedagogy at UD is amazing. The faculty in the School of Education are supportive and caring. The connections you make while at UD — both professional and personal — will last well beyond your years there. It has been incredibly fulfilling to achieve academic goals and also advance my career in meaningful ways.

My undergrad education prepared me exceptionally well for my first years of teaching. Then, my first round of graduate work transformed how I was teaching while still in the classroom full time. My Ph.D. advisor is still influencing my work as a mathematics chair and teacher leader. My second round of graduate work prepared me for professional academic work like grant writing, presenting, writing articles and coalition-building. My UD degrees and the connections I made with faculty have helped me find a very fulfilling career path, from classroom teacher to teacher leader to education researcher, to, now, a wonderful mix of all three.”

“As a Delaware native, I chose UD for my bachelor’s degree to take advantage of the financial benefits and the proximity to family and friends. I was originally on a path to medical school, but after serving as a resident assistant, I quickly realized that I preferred advocating on behalf of people rather than actual clinical care. The world has wonderful doctors but needs more people to advocate for patient care and well-being, especially in the field of geriatrics, which is what I want to pursue.

I stayed at UD for my graduate degree after getting a graduate assistantship in Residence Life and Housing (UDRLH). I just loved my UDRLH community so much I couldn’t picture not being involved. But the biggest benefit to staying at UD was the opportunity to continue my work at the Wilmington VA Medical Center and in UD's Department of Theatre and Dance, where I was a member of the Healthcare Theatre. I was also fortunate as an undergrad to take the Hospitality in Healthcare Management course, giving me the chance to attend clinical rotations at the VA Medical Center and dive deeper into the field of patient experience.

The Healthcare Theatre program reassured me that I was on the right path for my future, giving me a huge opportunity to learn about advocating for patient rights. It was truly one of the most influential programs that I have ever had the privilege of being part of. And as a graduate student at UD, I can stay involved with both Healthcare Theatre and the VA Medical Center. I’ve also been fortunate as a graduate student to have a wonderful advisor and the ability to independently study various courses that will better prepare me for my personal and career goals.

I would definitely recommend UD to students looking for a great graduate program, 1,000% yes! If I had the opportunity to do it all over, I would. Roll Hens always and forever!”

“I chose UD for my bachelor’s degree because it offered more financial aid than any other institution I applied to, but it turned out to be a great choice for other reasons. With guidance from advisors, tutoring services and other student support services, I was able to switch my major to mathematics education. I am beyond lucky to have made the switch that ignited my passion for teaching mathematics. I am proud to say I am a fifth-year high school math educator in Delaware and absolutely love what I do.

The education course content was incredibly relevant to my role as a Delaware educator, and I found many of my undergraduate courses prepared me for success in my exceptional children and youth graduate degree program. During my time at UD, I established many relationships with faculty and staff who truly cared about my well-being and professional growth. UD taught me the newest research-based practices and really prepared me to navigate leadership roles, where I can share best practices with my colleagues and work toward positive student outcomes.

I was a 4+1 student, which lets you complete your bachelor's and master’s degrees in just five years. After completing my undergraduate student teaching placement, however, I was immediately offered a job for the following school year. Pivoting from a 4+1 program to teaching full time was a seemingly daunting conversation to begin with faculty. I was incredibly pleased to find that everyone was excited for my decision to enter the classroom and guided me in developing a plan that would allow me to continue my graduate education after I got my footing as a first-year educator.

I’ve found that the classes, assignments, readings and projects that I did in graduate school are still extremely relevant to my role as a high school math teacher. The materials I submitted for assignments then are still helping me teach my own students. From universally designed secondary math lesson plans to differentiated instructional materials, I still use many of these products in my classroom to this day.

My advice to other students is to take advantage of as many of the opportunities to learn from others as you can. This can be through enrolling in an elective you’re curious about, or simply attending a panel discussion on a topic of interest. There is so much we can learn from each other, and I wish I had taken more time to attend some of the events held on campus.”

“I am a Delaware native, so I always wanted to go to UD because it seemed so cool. It is one of the best universities in the country and has a small-college feel on a big-college campus. Main Street has a great vibe, and the sports teams are fun to root for. I always felt safe at UD and appreciate Delaware so much more now that I have moved away.

I had the best lab experience and made so many connections and friends. My undergraduate years were full of amazing memories, like being a part of the marching band — the last football game of my senior year was special to me because I knew that I would never be doing anything like that again.

I was drawn to the plant science program because it addressed my interests in environmental issues and nature, and it allowed me to get involved in research on plant pathology even as an undergraduate student. When it came time to choose my master’s program in plant and soil sciences, I received a great scholarship from UD and I had the chance to study the resistance of the American elm to Dutch elm disease, research that set me on a course for my current doctoral work.

I always appreciated that the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty and administration really cared about students and listened. And if a day was going badly, my friends and I were just a short walk from UDairy, which always made things better.”

“As an undergraduate, I was fortunate to find a great mentor, so the opportunity to sustain that strong relationship was a big reason I stayed for my graduate degree. Professor James Anderson truly took an interest in me as a musician and recognized my potential as a young conductor, giving me opportunities to stand in front of orchestras. I was even able to conduct one of the fall semester operas as a sophomore, an uncommon situation for sure. There have been so many memorable experiences: trips abroad to Israel, Greece, Malta, Germany, France and England, and even an orchestra tour to China and Dr. Anderson’s winter abroad in London.

For people considering a graduate degree at UD, I would say the opportunities here are unmatched. I received fabulous one-on-one attention and grew tremendously in my time as an undergraduate and as a master’s student. In most schools, classes are large and professors don’t get to make strong connections with students. That’s not the case in the UD School of Music. Because the program is smaller, professors such as Dr. Anderson take vested interest in getting to know students, as he did with me. The relationship we fostered made it so natural to return to UD for the master’s program.

Finding your 'voice’ on the podium is a lifelong journey for conductors, and understanding how to give feedback to an ensemble that elicits growth is a tall task. I was able to develop those skills with Dr. Anderson. He and the UD music program enabled my success. Now, I not only work full time as an orchestra director, but I am regularly asked to take on freelance engagements conducting operas and musicals, and even get to play as a collaborative pianist. I now serve as the director of orchestral activities for the Morris Hills Regional School District, the director of music ministries at Denville Community Church and am an active freelance music director and conductor.”