From left to right: Sherry Mercurio, John Gesner, Paula Dunn Jaeckel, Amanda Iman, Kara Brown
Sherry Mercurio, 50
Director of Communications at Franklin University
Mercurio works at Franklin, but also has a personal connection to the university. She earned her master’s degree there at 35. She credits the school’s adjunct program, which utilizes industry experts as professors. She felt nervous about attending classes again, she says, then “looked around the room and (saw) everyone was in the same boat as (her).”
John Gesner, 57, and Paula Dunn Jaeckel, 49
Business Majors at Ohio Dominican University
Gesner and Jaeckel have a lot in common. They were cohorts at Ohio Dominican while earning their degrees through night classes, meeting once a week for four hours. Both also work for OhioHealth and received stipends from the company to help continue their education.
Amanda Iman, 30
English Major at Otterbein University
Returning to university after a six-year hiatus, Iman finds she relates to her professors more than before. She has a new outlook, focusing more on academics than standard college experience. “I feel like I appreciate the education a lot more,” Iman says. “I appreciate what I’m paying for.”
Kara Brown, 38
Bachelor of Science in Nursing at The Ohio State University
Resuming school for her bachelor’s degree 12 years after earning her associate’s degree made Brown nervous. But with online courses, combined with tuition reimbursement from working at OSU, she says the things holding her back didn’t matter. Brown enjoys online courses so much she is now earning her master’s degree online, with plans to earn a doctorate.
Lindsey Capritta is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
