Many of us have a dream to advance our careers. Getting a
better job with higher pay and greater responsibility can have such a positive
impact on so many aspects of our lives, from enhancing personal value and
self-esteem, to improving our lifestyle, to supporting our families, so they
can achieve all they desire from life.
The challenge then, is how does one formulate the goal for a
more successful career, prepare for opportunity, and make that goal a reality?
How does one find the right combination of inspiration and determination, and
acquire the training, tools, and support to develop a realistic action plan and
see it through to success? And, how does one do all this amidst a busy
life—working full time, supporting a family, maintaining a household, and
having a personal life and some fun along the way?
Career-minded professionals, Tia Hall and Timothy Roberts,
found their solution to this challenge here at Peirce College. Both Hall and
Roberts are preparing for new career opportunities by pursuing a Master of
Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Management (MSOLM), which
offers working adults a versatile set of real-world leadership and management
skills, while providing the convenience and flexibility to fit college into a
busy lifestyle.

Hall works full-time as the Program Manager, Philadelphia
Scholars Program, for the Philadelphia Education Fund. She is a single parent,
raising a family of three children. Roberts is a Budget Analyst and Program
Manager for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health. He is
married, with two children. Like many working adults with families, Hall and
Roberts had to weigh the time and commitment required to return to college
against current responsibilities. This made the decision to get started on a
master’s degree track a challenge of its own.
“For me, this started a while ago,” says Hall. “I’ve always
wanted to pursue a master’s degree, but life detoured me in a different
direction, and I wasn’t able to do it right after getting my bachelor’s degree
(from Indiana University of Pennsylvania). It took some time to realize that I
needed to make this a priority; things were not going to get less busy in my
life. I recognized that it was critical to advancing my career. I felt Peirce
could give me the push I needed … Peirce College is made for the working adult.”
Roberts, who earned his bachelor’s degree at Peirce, says
that his inspiration for returning to college came from seeing his wife’s
success with a graduate degree. “My wife has her master’s degree, and she
motivated me to do it too,” Roberts relates. “I saw new positions opening [at
work], with a lot of potential, and I knew I needed the right education to
achieve them. The Peirce College MSOLM program suited my needs.”
Today, there is a broad range of choices for individuals
planning for a graduate degree, or advanced career training. Convenience and
flexibility, backed by a practical, career-oriented curriculum and a supportive
staff, have made the Peirce Graduate Studies Program a standout choice in the
greater Philadelphia area.
“I looked at a lot of schools and a lot of programs. I went
to a lot of open houses before making the decision to come to Peirce,” says
Hall. “I maintain a full-time work schedule, and I’m a single mother of three.
I wanted something that was convenient for me. And that included being able to
take courses on campus, or online. A lot of schools I looked at offered online
courses exclusively, and that made me nervous.”
Hall explains that during her undergraduate studies she had
only taken on-campus courses, so she wanted to start where she was familiar and
then move to online classes. It was this flexibility that made Peirce a viable
and valuable choice for her.
Roberts says, “The flexibility [that Peirce offers] is
perfect for me with my job and family responsibilities. I use both options;
online and on-campus classes.”
While Peirce’s online classes offer extra convenience to
easily incorporate college courses into a busy lifestyle, both Hall and Roberts
have also found value in the Peirce on-campus experience.
“I was also looking for something small and intimate. I
didn’t want to go into a setting where I was being lost,” says Hall. “I can also take a lot of things that I do at
work into the classroom and that helps me process through the work I do
day-to-day. There are a lot of moments where you can really dig in and take
away information and skills you can apply immediately.”
Roberts finds similar benefits in the Peirce graduate
program courses. He talks about the value of diversity within the Peirce
College classes, in both learning environments: “We have people from marketing,
finance, human resources, and management. You learn a lot from people with
different perspectives.”
“In the Peirce MSOLM program, you are not just being taught
leadership; you are being groomed for leadership,” says Roberts. “Learning
about my leadership behaviors has helped me see clearly the things I was doing
wrong. It has helped me deal with change, and has improved my communications
and productivity on the job.”
Robert’s participation in the MSOLM program has already led
to a promotion at work. A position, he says, that would not have been available
to him had he not been on track for his master’s degree at Peirce.
“I would recommend the program to anyone who has a busy
life,” agrees Hall.
“Everyone I’ve met, from professors, to classmates, to
administrators and staff, has been helpful and willing to lend support.
Whenever I felt I couldn’t do it, there was someone there to say, you’ve got
this! You can do this!”
Tia and Timothy found a way to make their dreams reality and
advance their careers. How can Peirce College help you prepare for your next
opportunity?
To learn more about
Peirce College Graduate Studies and the Organizational Leadership and
Management Master’s Degree Program, Give us a call at 215-670-9325, or visit us
online at http://www.peirce.edu/MSOLM.