WGU Alumni Podcast

Chicago public servant Brian Mueller went from digging water lines to leading the team that keeps the city running—and he did it while earning two WGU degrees late at night after his kids went to bed. He shares how a career-altering injury pushed him toward education, how competency-based learning fit a union schedule, and how real-world field experience became the backbone of his leadership style.

Brian’s journey is proof that late-career pivots are possible: 50% higher pay, greater impact, and sons who watched him cross the stage twice. If you’re thinking about your own “not too late...

Michelle Mills joins us to share how she finished her WGU degree while living in an RV during deployments—and how that experience fueled her mission to fix underemployment for military spouses and veterans. She talks about building a firm that uses location-agnostic, role-based compensation, tripling pay for military-connected talent, and how returning to school helped her rebuild confidence, identity, and direction.

WGU Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Robert Sullivan joins the alumni podcast to explore what happens after graduation—how a WGU degree becomes real momentum through lifelong career support, community, and connection. He walks us through the services alumni can tap into at any stage, from resume reviews and interview prep to region-based events and local networks that help graduates stay relevant in a changing job market.

Robert also pulls back the curtain on WGU’s AI-powered Ask-a-Grad tool, which gives learners and alumni fast, practical insights from people who’ve walked the same path. He shares why co...

Nevada Chief Information Officer and Marine Corps veteran Tim Galluzi joins us to talk about his journey from combat tours to the cabinet table—and how a WGU MBA in IT Management helped him turn technology into a force for public good. He shares what it took to elevate IT to a cabinet-level department in Nevada, why that move matters for cybersecurity and collaboration, and how he’s building a culture where innovation actually sticks.

Tim also opens up about returning to school later in life, tackling imposter syndrome, and learning to break big modernization proj...

On the next episode of the WGU Alumni podcast, Ashley Emsweller Hungate —public servant, farm mom of four, and WGU alum—shares her journey of turning nonstop motion into focused momentum. From mini donkeys braying during proctored exams to leading culture and talent at Indiana’s Management Performance Hub, Ashley shows how purpose and practicality can thrive together.

She shares how earning an MBA amid family and farm life built confidence, opened new career lanes, and helped her turn data into public good. We also trace the roots of Indiana’s Statehouse Market, a farmers market t...

Staff Sergeant Destiny Hunter of the U.S. Army Reserves shares her journey as a WGU Distinguished Graduate and founder of Kuinua Tech, a company creating innovative technology solutions with military efficiency while supporting veterans and underserved populations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Christie Jandora, a 2024 Distinguished Graduate at WGU, is the Director of Emergency Trauma Services at Ascension, overseeing 500 associates across five Florida counties. She joins the WGU Alumni podcast to share her journey that has been marked by resilience, passion, and purpose. 

 On the latest episode, learn how Christie:

Anna and Chris Decker share their inspiring journey of completing WGU degrees together while raising two small children and working full-time jobs. Their competitive spirit, teamwork approach, and unwavering support for each other enabled them to achieve academic success despite numerous challenges.

On this episode you’ll learn how the Deckers:

• Balanced parenting duties while taking turns studying and sitting for exams
• Used late nights and time between infant duties to complete coursework
• Leveraged employer benefits to make education financially feasible
• Applied newly gained knowledge immediately to their professional roles that led to career...

3-time WGU graduate Juan Longoria shares his inspiring journey of education and mentorship, illustrating that it’s never too late to pursue one's dreams. His dedication to helping others through his nonprofit, REVJLO Charities, and the new Lo Nuestro Collective embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and community upliftment.

On this episode you'll hear about: 

• Juan’s educational achievements and commitment to WGU 
• The vital role of mentorship in career advancement 
• Balancing personal life and professional ambitions 
• The importance of lifelong learning and community support 
• That it’s never too late to pursue your dreams

Kristian Sevison’s journey reveals how pursuing education later in life can lead to personal growth and newfound opportunities. He shares his motivation for returning to school, overcoming personal fears, and the invaluable lessons he’s learned along the way.

• Unpacking the theme of it's never too late 
• Kris's motivation for returning to school
• Overcoming self-doubt and personal fears 
• Discovering the power of WGU's competency-based education 
• Importance of military experience in shaping his journey 
• The desire to mentor others   
• Importance of lifelong learning and education 

Join us as we explore Kris’s inspiring p...

From teenage mom to chief nursing officer, first-generation college graduate Shanell Murphy shares her inspiring story of resilience and success and how her commitment to nursing education has paved the way. 

On this podcast, we explore her growth from her early days in Charleston, South Carolina, to her healthcare leadership chapters in Cleveland, Ohio, including her involvement with the American Nursing Association. 

Shanell has earned three degrees from WGU – her bachelor’s of science in nursing, her master’s in business administration with concentration in healthcare management, and most recently her master’s in nursing leadership...

Discover the transformative power of education through the story of Skye Gilham, a WGU distinguished graduate who has dedicated herself to empowering her Blackfeet Native American community in Montana. 

As Skye reveals her journey from academia to serving her community at Blackfeet Community College and beyond, she highlights the breathtaking beauty and challenges of life in Northwest Montana. Her story is a testament to the impact of education, showcasing how integrating online learning and technology can uplift communities.

Join us as we celebrate the journey of distinguished graduate Kevin Phelps, Glendale's visionary CEO and city manager, as he transitioned from a successful entrepreneur to a public service leader. Discover how Kevin's return to education at Western Governors University, leveraging its unique competency-based model, played a role in his career evolution. His story is a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to pursue education and new opportunities, blending professional wisdom with academic growth to inspire others with his resilience and adaptability.

We explore the exciting future of Glendale, Arizona, under Kevin's leadership, to...

What if you could redefine success on your terms, no matter where you start from? Join us on the latest episode of the WGU Alumni Podcast as Linzie Starr III, an IT professional and recent WGU distinguished graduate honoree, who climbed the ranks without formal education, shares his inspiring journey and professional advice.

From an accidental foray into the tech world to becoming the Director of Program Management at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Linzie's story is a testament to resilience and the power of forging your own path. His experience in...

What does it mean to truly embrace the mantra "Never Too Late"? Hear the inspiring journey of Roxanne Thalman, a change maker, US Air Force veteran,   former elected official, and proud WGU alumna.  

A standout WGU distinguished graduate, Roxanne leads in the workforce as well as within the community, where she's the director and long time volunteer of the largest 4th of July Parade in Texas. 

On this episode of the WGU Alumni Podcast, you'll learn about her transformative work in change management and community service as well as her embodying the essence of pursuing dre...

What happens when a determined educator channels her passion into transformative advocacy? Meet Adriana Richard, a distinguished graduate from WGU, who has turned her life experiences into a force for change. 

On this episode of the WGU Alumni podcast, we explore Adriana's journey from shifting to an online education during the pandemic to founding a national organization, T1D to the Third, which supports children with Type 1 Diabetes. Her involvement with Girls on the Run showcases her dedication to mentoring young girls, encouraging them to believe in themselves and their resilience. 

Jessica Shelley, a soon to be four-time WGU graduate, rejoins the WGU Alumni Podcast following the recognition of being named a 2024 WGU Distinguished Graduate. The CEO and co-founder of Dailies, shares her journey as a passionate educator to a thriving entrepreneur. Her story is proof that it's never too late to chase your dreams.

We explore the motivations and challenges Jessica faced while pursuing multiple master's degrees, balancing family responsibilities, and transitioning from teaching to entrepreneurship. 

Imagine facing immense pressure in your job during a global pandemic and deciding it's time to make a bold career change. That's exactly what Dr. Brady McNulty did, transitioning from pharmacy to cybersecurity. In this episode of the WGU Alumni Podcast, we explore Brady's inspiring story of resilience and reinvention. Hear how his interest in hacking culture and his Navy background fueled his passion for a new career, all while receiving unwavering support from his wife.

This episode highlights Brady's personal growth proving that it's never too late to chase your dreams.

On this new season of the WGU Alumni Podcast, we’re sharing the inspiring stories of our distinguished graduates who went back to school to pursue a degree and better their lives. Over the next few months, you’ll hear graduates who took control of their future and decided it’s “never too late”.

We’re so excited for you to meet them. We have stories of pharmacists who became cybersecurity experts, teachers in Title 1 schools making a difference, entrepreneurs chasing their dreams, and so many graduates having a huge impact in their communities, and much much mo...

On this episode of the WGU Alumni Podcast, learn how Cole Frandsen-Smith, a 2023 WGU graduate in Human Resource Management, has become a strong champion for education, inclusivity, and the power of community.

Also, learn how Cole's life, and that of his family's, has been enriched by the example of his mother and how her referring Cole to WGU has had a ripple effect upon many others. 

Meet Ebony Gray, a WGU graduate and former president of WGU's Student Nurses Association, share her experiences. From her 13-year tenure at Cedars-Sinai to her leadership roles, Ebony's journey exemplifies the tenacity required to succeed in the dynamic field of healthcare.

Takeaways: 

Meet Jessica Shelley, a WGU alumna who's revolutionizing education and entrepreneurship while balancing family life with five children and supporting her husband's academic journey at WGU. Explore her journey from elementary teacher to Forbes' 30 under 30 powerhouse and discover her groundbreaking educational platform, Dailies, disrupting pre-K through 12th-grade learning. Delve into the integration of technology into education, where Jessica unveils Dailies' connection to WGU's competency-based learning model, emphasizing personalized educational pathways. This conversation offers insights into empowering learners and parents, reshaping education paradigms, and the joy of tech industry recognition.

Takeaways:

Nontraditional graduate, Washington Native Eric Miller, joins the alumni podcast to share his motivation on his WGU journey, his passion for nursing, and his interesting hobbies such as cross-stitching and running half marathons, more than 100 to date. 

Recent WGU graduate and current member of the alumni team, Ginny Ersery, joins the podcast to share her thoughts on her recent commencement experience in Chicago, and how things are going in her new role. 

Recent WGU Graduate, bowling coach, and two-time bowling hall-of-fame inductee Ronald Simms Jr. joins the podcast to share his thoughts on his WGU journey, his experience speaking at WGU's commencement last spring, and how his bowling team challenged him to go back to college thirty years after he quit the first time. 

As we kick off the new year,  listen to the latest episode to hear WGU Senior Vice President of Regional Operations, Gene Hayes, and Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Development, Robert Sullivan, share their insights into exciting alumni opportunities in 2024 and beyond. 

Serial entrepreneur, WGU MBA graduate, and  Nashville resident Corey Alexander joins the alumni podcast to share  how he manages to run six different business while balancing family and other commitments in the community.  A former cornerback with the University of Tennessee and a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, Alexander earned his degree from WGU back in 2018 before going on to earn his doctorate degree. 

We are talking alumni events with Michael Daniel from WGU's alumni team. Next up is WGU alumni's annual virtual 5K, the Night Owl Trot. Michael highlights the 5K and the Alumni Celebration, and recaps the Kindness Quest. Visit www.wgu.edu/events for all of the upcoming exciting alumni events. 

WGU College of IT Vice President Paul Bingham and two-time WGU IT graduate Chris Abbey join the alumni podcast to highlight the new Cyber Security Web Series on LinkedIn. Learn about the series, why it's important, and watch the first episode entitled "Risky Business" with Paul and Chris. You can watch the episode here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwqIyvFQH48

WGU Graduate and small business owner Nathan Todd joins the alumni podcast to share how his business capstone at WGU led him to purchase a local Iowa ice cream business and who he's successfully expanded into three locations.

Two-time WGU graduate and recently published author Bill Burns joins the podcast to discuss his journey as a Senior Principal DevOps Engineer at a Fortune 50 company as well as his latest project: publishing his first book. 

Professional Soccer star and WGU Graduate Samantha Johnson joins the alumni podcast to share her experience earning her degree while competing in the National Women's Soccer League and also how she's using her degree in education to impact kids, making them better and more resilient.

Gene Hayes joins the alumni podcast to share WGU’s focus on increasing access and outcomes in higher education. Gene joined WGU in 2020 as Senior Vice President of Regional Operations and is committed to advancing WGU’s mission. In addition to talking about the  success of WGU graduates, we talk inspiration, music, and we have a lot of fun with Gene and his “Southern” accent.

WGU grad Amanda Banks is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sports To Suits, LLC. She is also the host of the weekly live show "Sports To Suits", an enterprise sales leader, strategic partnerships creator, and joy enthusiast. She joins the alumni podcast to discuss her WGU journey and life as a successful entrepreneur. The episode also features a special guest. 

Raised in Nepal, WGU student Devi Pariyar is fueled with the desire to give back and help the next generation. She’s seen firsthand the importance of compassion, good leadership, and the power education has on changing lives. On this episode she shares her WGU journey  and her plans to return to Nepal with her husband to open a school that will help underprivileged kids.  

WGU Texas was created 10 years ago as a partnership between the state of Texas and WGU to expand access to more Texans. On this episode of the podcast, we visit with WGU's Regional Vice President and WGU Texas Chancellor Linda Battles about the growth in Texas as well as hear from IT grad and Texas resident Chad Welch. 

Diversity and inclusion advocate Carmen Kingston, a leader from Sam’s Club and Walmart, Inc., spoke at WGU’s summer commencement and now joins the alumni podcast to share her impressions at commencement and how she continues to be inspired by life-long learners and achievers, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented populations.

As WGU honors our veterans in the month of November, we are featuring some of the key figures at WGU who are moving the university from military friendly to military focused. Dave Ammons and Casey Byington from WGU's Veteran's Employee Resource Group (VERGE) join to share how this group helps employees who in turn helps military students and alumni. WGU's latest effort toward becoming military focused includes the work of our Military Outreach team, featuring Amanda Bayatpoor and Jeff Harley.

A committed lifelong learner, Andre Alfred has leveraged educational opportunities to become a recognized leader in cybersecurity.

Andre has held numerous leadership positions at some of the world’s most recognized organizations, including Oracle and Microsoft, and today runs cybersecurity governance of the cloud and AI division at Microsoft. 

He's currently pursuing his doctorate degree at George Washington University and remains active with WGU, serving on WGU Washington's Advisory Board. 

Two-time WGU business graduate Mark Dimalanta earned his first master's degree from WGU while stationed on a U.S. Air Base in South Korea and his second after relocating to Denver, Colorado. A huge advocate for WGU, Mark, who was the 5,280th graduate in the Mile High State, was recently promoted to Information System Security Manager for a Fortune 500 company. 

College of IT graduate and award-winning professional  Anthony Utt, from Mount Airy, North Carolina, joins the alumni podcast to talk about his passion for software development, his work as an engineering lead at GR0, and his reaction to receiving the 2021 Tech Innovator Award. 

Two-time WGU graduate Claire Gravenhorst from North Carolina joins the alumni podcast to talk about the lessons she's learned from her professional mentor and how her two business degrees have helped her thrive in the HR space while also keeping her creative dreams alive. 

WGU graduate Marah Jordan joins the alumni podcast to share her excitement for entering her classroom as a first year teacher. She shares her journey as a community college transfer students and why she's re-enrolled at WGU in pursuit of her master's degree in English Language Learning.

New York Times bestselling author, blogger, and TV host Jen Hatmaker recently spoke at WGU’s spring commencement and now joins the alumni podcast to recount her experience at commencement, sharing how she continues to be inspired by life-long learners and achievers.

Celebrating the incredible growth of WGU Indiana over the past 11 years, the alumni podcast speaks with Regional Vice President and WGU Indiana Chancellor Alison Bell and two-time WGU grad Valerie Wesley to hear how WGU is impacting the state's workforce as well as the incredible successes of Wesley and her team even and especially during the pandemic.

Former NFL Star Marques Ogden recently spoke at WGU's virtual commencement. On this podcast episode, we catch up with Marques to hear more about his experience participating at commencement and what advice he has for WGU graduates.

WGU business grad Donna Law joins the alumni podcast to share how she's giving back in her community as well as excelling in her professional career. A strong advocate for adult learners, particularly women, Donna shares her inspiring journey of beating cancer, finishing her degree, and going on to become the Executive Director of Development and Government Relations at Southern Utah University. 

Special episode celebrating WGU Washington and their 10th anniversary on the Alumni podcast. WGU's Regional Vice President and Chancellor of WGU Washington, Dr. Tonya Drake, shares insights into the growth and success of the university in the state of Washington as well as the tremendous impact WGU students and grads are making in the state's workforce. Current student Nitasha Lewis shares her story of overcoming challenges and barriers and how she's making a difference to encourage the next generation to successfully pursue a college degree.

WGU MBA IT grad Jonathan Soriano joins the alumni podcast to talk about landing his dream job at Nintendo, how he's mentoring others, and his experience at WGU's last commencement in Seattle.

WGU Grad Winnie Obilor knows that no matter where one lives in the world, education has a transformative power. And Winnie plans to use her capstone project to provide underprivileged women in her home country DR Congo with the education and skills they need to improve their lives when she returns home this fall. 

WGU College of IT Grad Rashaan Green has overcome a lot of adversities to earn not one but two college degrees from WGU. From high school dropout to IT leader, today Rashaan works at Microsoft as a Principal Security Service Engineering Manager. 

Two-time WGU graduate Marqus Hutchinson joins the podcast to discuss his career success in the IT field as well why he's referred so many to WGU, including his mother, his brother, several friends, and many professional colleagues. 

WGU alumna and continuing grad Christine Granado joins the alumni podcast to share her extraordinary journey of completing her bachelor's degree while battling cancer. Leaning on her support system, Christine adopted the mantra to do or die trying. Not only did she complete her degree and start a new job, she recently re-enrolled at WGU in pursuit of master's degree. 

Aimee Edwards, WGU’s Director of Community Affairs, joins the Alumni Podcast to share details about WGU’s commitment to increase access to education by making it possible for individuals to improve their lives. Aimee discusses the looming digital divide and how WGU alumni can get involved to make a difference.

WGU Alumna and fifth grade teacher Jillian Hernandez is a top five finalist for the 2021 Arizona Educational Foundation Teacher of the Year. Jillian joins the podcast to share her platform and reflect on her journey into the classroom and the changes she's made over the years. 

Accomplished health care executive and WGU MBA alum Robert Cross joins the podcast to share insights into his work at the renowned University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School. The Texas native reflects on the Value Institute of Health and Care as well as sharing his being named to the Texas Music Legends Hall of Fame. 

WGU Alumnus Chris Mumford, who works with the WGU Refer-a-Friend Team, joins the podcast to share with our alumni the many benefits available to those who refer friends and family to the university. 

WGU Continuing Grad Specialist Mary Pugmire joins the podcast to discuss the benefits available to alumni who are continuing at WGU for an additional degree. 

Dr. Eric Weaver and Daniel Chipping from the Accountable Care Learning Collaborative, which is housed at WGU, join the podcast to share the mission of the ACLC and how the organization is a healthcare industry leader focused on delivering value-based care.

WGU IT alum and Philadelphia native Shayne Moore joins the alumni podcast to share his IT career journey, his community involvement, and insights into the IT field. 

WGU Course Instructor Dave Ammons and Program Faculty Manager Natalie Hoover join the alumni podcast to talk about their service in the U.S. Military, the first ever employee resource group at WGU dedicated to veterans, and WGU’s support for veteran students and graduates.  

WGU's Chief Operating Officer, David Grow, joins the alumni podcast to talk about the university's growth over the years. He shares insights about WGU's founding and also gives advice to students and alumni.

WGU alumna Maureen Stover was recently named North Carolina Teacher of the Year. We are honored to have Maureen join the alumni podcast to share her successes as a teacher, her background as an intelligence officer with the U.S. Air Force, and how she’s drawing upon the WGU model in her own classroom today.

WGU's Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Jason Thompson is back on the podcast sharing more about his background as well as his important role at WGU. Hear Jason's struggle overcoming dyslexia, growing up in Japan, and winning a student body election in college which was plagued with controversy and contention due to race.

HR professional and WGU alum Todd Good joins the podcast to talk about his career success with IBM. Good, who has been promoted six times in eight years, shares his secret to advancing his career. Also, WGU Course Instructor from the College of Business, Jim Jividen, imparts some timely wisdom for WGU students and graduates. 

WGU IT grad Cintya Auld shares her transformative story of overcoming major life challenges to go on to become a leader in cybersecurity. Also get to know Alumni team members Natalie Carter and Scott Baker as they share their experiences of supporting WGU's growing alumni base. 

WGU IT grad and business owner Spencer Wade joins the podcast to talk about alumni ambassador opportunities as well as his successes in founding and running his business, Lift Conversions. Also get to know alumni team members Beau Jones and Wendi Gerardis as they join and share their experiences in supporting WGU's growing alumni base. 

Two-time WGU grad from the Show-Me State, Matt West, joins the podcast to talk about his career success as well as his recent appointment to the marketers nonprofit St. Louis board. Also, the first of a three-party series, we'll introduce you to the alumni team starting first with Krysten Gross and April Torres Chew and they'll share how they support our alumni throughout the country. 

Two-time WGU grad Doug Vigliano from Austin, Texas, joins the podcast to talk about his recent graduation experiences as well as his new promotion. Also, Bonnie Monteleone from WGU's Career & Professional Development team shares some great insights and resources available to our alumni.

WGU's new Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, Jason Thompson, joins the alumni podcast for an important conversation regarding the current racial climate. He's leading discussions on race relations among other topics internally at WGU and here we share these helpful insights with our alumni. 

IT grad, author, and founder of two companies David Rettig joins the podcast to share why he provides an edgy voice in the IT landscape and how’s he’s been able to create success in the industry.

Angie Keilhauer joins the WGU Alumni podcast and shares what it was like to earn a degree from WGU while being a contestant on NBC's The Voice. She shares how the degree has helped her music career and what she's up to now.

This podcast provides a behind-the-scenes look at WGU’s "Ambition Never Rests" national advertising campaign. WGU Director of Marketing, Sam Osselaer, will share this insight, and then we’ll hear from one of the inspiring WGU alumni featured in the national campaign, San Antonio Texas-native Jaqueline Becerra. Becerra will share all that she’s overcome to become a healthcare and nonprofit leader in her community.

On episode 6, we catch up with husband-wife duo and Coloradoans Chris and Gina Abbey, who, between the two of them, have three degrees from WGU. The Abbeys share their successes in the nonprofit and cybersecurity industries, respectively.

Recent WGU grad and IT mover-and-shaker Gussie Hopkins joins the podcast to share how she is having great success as a woman in IT. Also, President of WGU Advancement, Annalisa Holcombe, joins and gives us an update on how students, alumni, and foundations are making a great impact by paying it forward.

Jordan Barta, WGU MBA grad, joins the podcast and shares his business success and why he’s referred more than 20 individuals to WGU. Chris Mumford and Bret Smith from WGU’s Refer-a-Friend team talk about why referrals are so important to the university and how you can earn cool swag when you refer your friends and family.

WGU Teachers College graduate, Boise, Idaho, native, and national award-winning physics teacher Sean Boston joins the podcast. Also, learn more about the many scholarship opportunities available to alumni, family members, and others as we talk with WGU Scholarship Director Amanda Savage.

On our first episode of the WGU Alumni Podcast, we catch up with WGU Teachers College alumna, science teacher, and Texas native Rachael Black. We also talk all things WGU Commencement with Elizabeth Aranda, who oversees these events as the Manager of Commencement at WGU.