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When Egbeichi Egwu Okoro enrolled in the MBA program at American National University, she was balancing more than just coursework—she was navigating the field of corporate law in both the United States and Nigeria. What she found in the program reshaped not only her professional path, but her confidence in what she could achieve. She happily paints in her free time and advises other creative people on their intellectual property rights. Her work in the corporate world inspired her to dive into the business side with her education. Egbeichi’s dedication has earned her the title of Term Trailblazer for Term 258!

Question: Why Did You Choose ANU for Your Education? How Did You Find Us?

Answer: I found ANU through a colleague and upon doing my research, I realized that ANU’s curriculum was exactly what I needed.

Q: Why Did You Choose Your Program?

A: While my legal background has given me a deep understanding of business law, I chose this MBA program to solidify my business acumen and bridge the gap between my current experience and long-term goals, ultimately allowing me to better drive organizational outcomes.

Q: Where Do You Work? What Are Your Daily Responsibilities?

A: I work full-time for consulting firms where my daily responsibilities span from advisory to strategic implementation. While I secured my current role through independent initiative, my experience at ANU has significantly expanded my professional toolkit, enabling me to deliver more impactful, data-driven results for my clients.

Q: Do You Think ANU is Preparing You for the Work of Your Program?

A: Absolutely! ANU’s curriculum focuses on cross-functional knowledge to help leaders solve complex, parodical problems, a daily reality in my field. Additionally, by systematically embedding research skills into every course, the program ensures output is always grounded in rigorous, data-driven frameworks.

Q: How is Your Overall Experience with ANU? Do Any Moments Stick Out That You Will Take with You When You Graduate?

A: A moment that sticks out is an intensive project in Financial Management where I had to lead a cross-functional team under tight deadlines. Coming from a legal background, I initially focused on risk mitigation. However, collaborating with peers from finance and tech challenged me to pivot toward value creation. That shift in mindset, from being a ‘protector’ of assets to a ‘driver’ of growth, is something I will carry into every client engagement.

Q: Are There Classes or Instructors Who Made Positive Impacts on You?

A: Two professors were particularly impactful. Dr. Racquel Thompson-Best in Business Research taught me to use data to buttress my professional recommendations, while Dr. Traci Dingle in Legal Environment of Business helped me reframe my legal background as a strategic tool for value creation. Their courses provided the foundation for shifting my mindset from a risk-focused advisor to a driver of organizational growth.

Q: What Do You Like Most About ANU?

A: What I appreciate most is the immediacy of the curriculum. I can take a framework from Monday’s exercises and apply it to a client project on Tuesday. It’s not just academic theory, it’s about functional expertise that I can use in real-time.

Q: What Are Your Future Goals? Where Do You See Yourself in 5-10 Years?

A: In the short term, I plan to move into senior strategic roles where I can apply the frameworks from my MBA to manage more complex business operations. Looking ahead 5 to 10 years, I see myself in an executive leadership position, using my combined legal and business expertise to drive large-scale organizational growth. My focus is simply to become a versatile leader capable of navigating both the commercial and regulatory sides of a major enterprise.

Q: Would You Recommend ANU to Others Looking to Earn Their Higher Education? If so, why?

A: I would definitely recommend the program to professionals who want a practical, practitioner-led education. What sets ANU apart is the immediate ROI; the curriculum is designed so that you can take a framework from the courses offered and apply it to your work the very next day. It’s an ideal environment for those looking to sharpen their existing expertise with functional business acumen.

Q: What Advice Do You Have for New ANU Students?

A: My biggest piece of advice is to engage with the faculty early. Professors like Dr. Racquel Thompson-Best and Dr. Traci Dingle bring immense real-world experience to the classroom, and their insights can help you reframe your perspective far beyond the textbook. Also, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone; the real value of the program comes when you stop thinking like a specialist and start thinking like an integrated business leader.

The post Looking Beyond the Law appeared first on American National University.

Long Beach, California, native Siedra Johnson built her life around caring for others—both professionally and personally. Working as a direct support professional, she assists elderly individuals with their daily activities, a role that reflects her natural compassion and dedication. Raised by her grandmother, she grew up with a strong sense of resilience and creativity, often finding joy in creative ventures. Surrounded by a supportive boyfriend, family, and her two stepchildren, she found fulfillment in caregiving careers like home health, where helping others brought her a deep sense of purpose. Although she excelled in school, she once stepped away from her education—until the memory of her grandmother, who always believed she had what it took to work in healthcare, inspired her to pursue that dream with renewed determination. She joined American National University’s online Medical Assisting program to pursue her passions. With her dedication, Siedra was named a Term Trailblazer for Term 258!

When she made the decision to return to school, she began researching programs online, determined to find the right fit for her goals. It didn’t take long for American National University to stand out. “ANU was just on it! They answered all my questions, everything was [sic] timely, everybody was nice and very helpful… I got a good vibe from everybody, it just felt right,” she shared. That positive first impression was only strengthened by her experience with her admissions representative, I’Kea, who played a key role in making the process feel manageable and personal. “I’Kea was very supportive and she understood little things I had going on, she would work around it, I would work around her schedule, it was very cool!”

Throughout her time in the program, Siedra found encouragement and support from her instructors, including Carrie Rodriguez, Dr. Stephanie Denton, and Andrew Halverson. However, one professor who made a particularly lasting impact was Abby Chelstowski, especially during a challenging term when balancing school, work, and life became overwhelming. “She worked with me for Term 258! It was hard! It was like – I wouldn’t say it was hard, it was just with work and the things I had to turn in – I was exhausted! I started procrastinating a lot. And most professors won’t get into depth… she was like, ‘hey, you didn’t turn this in, if you don’t turn in something, you’re gonna have to repeat all of this!’ I was probably like four or five weeks in [a term], she would open things back up for me… I would get it done,” she explained. In reflecting on her time in Professor Abby’s class, she smiled and said, “she was just like, ‘Sisi relax, you got this!’ She was just so supportive, it didn’t seem like she got irritated by my questions… She was always nice and prompt and I love her! She really got me here at this point.”

“I think they, for some positions, they probably overly prepare us for!”

Her future goals include working in a unit for children or within a clinic to give back to her community. “I would love to have an opportunity to work with babies!” She enthuses.

Would she recommend ANU to others? “I definitely would. Especially the busy person who [sic] can’t physically go into a school, that are working or busy with homelife… [With ANU], you can move how you want to, just make sure you get it done. I would definitely recommend it, it’s ten out of ten. And it’s a great online school!”

Her advice to new students: “Come to class, make time for your work, study but don’t overstudy, and just make sure you’re paying attention to all of the material the professors are posting. Check your emails to keep yourself on top of everything.”

The post Back to School, Forward in Purpose appeared first on American National University.

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Originally from Syria, Rama moved to the United States with her family in 2016, eager to build a better future. As a wife and mother, she wanted to earn a degree that would help her reach her career goals while balancing family life after having to put her education on pause during her pregnancy. Upon exploring different opportunities in the medical field, she came across American National University’s Medical Assisting associate degree program and knew it was the right fit for her. “One of [ANU’s] advisors really helped me. He directed me through the whole program… I told him about my situation that I have a baby, like my schedule is not always as I need it to be. He was like, ‘yeah, you can do morning classes! Or if that doesn’t work, you can do evening classes.’ And I was like, ‘okay, that’s amazing, that’s what I’m looking for!’” She explains. As Rama has always had her eyes on the medical field, this program allows her to get her foot into the door and earn more as she desires.

“I love the medical field. I’m so excited since I’m getting to the end of the degree because now we have hands-on stuff. We’re looking more into things in detail and I’m not just learning about the overall human body. We’re now doing blood pressure, we’re doing some injections – that gets me so excited! I always tell my husband, ‘oh my gosh, I have a lab kit coming! I’m so excited to see what’s in it!’”

With her excitement in her courses, Rama was also pleasantly surprised to learn that her lab kits were included in her tuition, and she didn’t have to pay out of pocket to obtain the material she needed to learn in her courses. “When I started the program, and the teacher told us. ‘yeah you have to send us the address and we’re sending [lab]kits.’ I was like, ‘are you sure I don’t have to pay anything?!’ And she was like, ‘no! This is through the program.’ I really appreciated that, it’s really helping me,” she describes with laughter. This is one of the main reasons she stayed with ANU, because she could get the hands-on training she wanted without having to leave her daughter or change her schedule.

Rama has really been grateful to learn from her professors’ previous work experiences. Because ANU has career trained professors and instructors leading their classes, students can benefit from real world experiences through instruction. “I love how they tell us these experiences, their experiences, because that’s what really sticks [in my] mind… if you heard it from someone else, then you’ll know how to react when it happens to you,” she says. In particular, Traci Dingle made an impact on Rama’s education through her engaging Zoom sessions in Ethics. “Her Zooms – I was always excited for it!” She smiles, “she made us all excited because we were all engaging in the [ethics] situation… I really, really enjoyed her class.” Additionally, Rama enjoyed Dr. Stephanie Denton in her Anatomy and Physiology course:

“She is super! I love her. She always tells us examples and made it so simple and easy to understand… She always tells us stories, she has a lot of experience that she shares with us.” She also explains that Stephanie made things easier for her as English isn’t her native language – “It’s sometimes hard to understand some grammar and some words that are new to [me], but she always makes it simple to understand.”

Within the next ten years, Rama hopes to spend as much time with her daughter as she can. She plans to stick with medical assisting for a while in order to evaluate her goals at every step of life. “I see myself working part-time and then continuing my education,” she explained.

Would she recommend ANU to others? She already has! “I recommended [ANU] to my sister… I was like ‘it’s 100% online and you can do things [hands-on]!’ That was like the most important things for me… The instructors are so, so, so good! They help out a lot.” She goes on to describe her experiences in other colleges before ANU. “I used to send an email and not get an answer. I used to send an email and get a late, late answer and that was when the due date was over… Whenever I text any of the instructors here [at ANU], they get back to me within 24 hours. I never get late, late replies or not helpful answers. I told [my sister] all of these things.” Her sister has since signed up for ANU and she’s “so happy and she’s excited for everything!”

Her advice to new ANU students: “Look at everything on Sundays. Sunday is the day where every [assignment] is there… I start early so I have time. I always get on Zoom [sessions], I never missed any Zoom. I ask questions if I didn’t understand the things going on – I can send a message privately if I don’t want the whole class knowing… Do your work on time, attend the Zoom, and go from there!” Rama emphasizes the importance of being active in Zoom sessions so that you can absorb all of the knowledge you need that may come up in later assignments, tests, and even within your career later on.

The post Excitement and Appreciation: Rama Alzamel’s Story with ANU appeared first on American National University.

Kaitlyn’s Journey with ANU

After moving away from home in Massachusetts to build a life with her husband states away, Kaitlyn Pennington set her sights on an education that would align with her dreams for a meaningful career. With her husband’s unwavering support, she embarked on a journey to find the perfect program at the right school. Her path at ANU began in the Medical Billing and Coding program and soon transitioned to Administrative Medical Assisting, demonstrating her determination to find the best fit for her goals. Now, Kaitlyn celebrates the completion of her MBA—a remarkable culmination of hard work and dedication—while returning to her Medical Billing and Coding program beginning to further enrich her healthcare-focused education. Inspired by the memory of her grandfather’s belief in her potential, Kaitlyn’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and the transformative power of education to build a brighter future.

When purchasing her first home in Kentucky with her husband, Kaitlyn was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare, influenced by her mother’s work in a nursing home. While working at Kentucky Medical Services Foundation, she met a coworker who was a professional medical coder, sparking her interest in the field. A quick Google search led her to ANU, where she began exploring opportunities in Medical Billing and Coding. However, after discovering her true calling, Kaitlyn’s student advisor guided her to transition into ANU’s Administrative Medical Assistant program. “I told my husband about [the program]. He was like, “oh my god, that sounds exactly like you… I ended up switching over and I really liked it,” she explains. Kaitlyn even took her finals and certification exams just days after having her first son with the flexibility of our online programs. “And that solidified it for me that I was like, ‘you know what? If I can do all that, then I can go ahead and get my bachelor’s. I can go ahead and get my master’s.’ So it just gave me the push to want to continue on!”

Going to school with two young children is no easy feat for any student, but Kaitlyn used her children as her motivators to keep going. What really helped her through it all was the understanding of her professors. While attending her MBA program, she had her second son while also caring for her oldest as a toddler. She was worried about having to go off camera or care for her children would affect her grades. However, “But Dr. Mary Tan was amazing throughout the whole time, even Dr. Dominika Falsey [too]. And I reached out to them just to let them know how appreciative I was of them, because having someone in your corner like that when you’re going through a difficult graduate degree is really important,” she says.

Even more so, Kaitlyn feels incredibly grateful for Professor Rhonda Brewer. Rhonda’s guidance throughout her education helped her get through the toughest parts of her degree path. “When I was doing my bachelor’s program, she was pretty much my go to person for everything,” she says with a smile, “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to remain in such good spirits, I think, if it weren’t for her guidance.” And with Rhonda’s encouragement, Kaitlyn knew she could earn her MBA.

“And then I just so happened to have these other excellent professors when I was in my master’s, and that’s what made me really appreciate the school… I made lifelong friends from the institution, and I had such good professors just throughout the whole process. [I feel] lucky to have been given all of the opportunities because they kind of all just fell into place for me and I just kind of branched out from there.”

Kaitlyn’s grandfather is the one who motivated her to earn her education as he is the only other person in her family who earned a graduate degree. Family has always been important to her – she moved back home to be closer to her parents and in-laws after her father had a health scare – and the inspiration from her grandfather kept her going. “I had just started going back to school and he was praising me so much. He was telling me, ‘you know what, kid? This is what I always told you. You just keep going.’ And the one phrase that he would always say is, ‘aim high and be all you can be.’” She reminds herself of his inspiration even after his passing by keeping a picture he kept of her on his desk with that same quote. This is the advice she would give any student looking to earn their education – from diploma to master’s.

Would she recommend ANU to others? “Yes, I would and yes, I already have!”

The post Aim High and Be All That You Can Be appeared first on American National University.

Kalin Boyers (left), like many adults, had long dreamed of pursuing higher education. However, life’s demands—marriage, children, and work—led her to put that dream on hold. As her children grew more independent, Kalin finally found the perfect time to focus on her goals. After caring for a family member at home, she discovered her true passion: providing care and support, much like a nurse. When she learned about ANU’s Medical Assisting associate degree program, she knew it was the ideal steppingstone to her dream career. Through hard work and dedication, Kalin earned the title of Term Trailblazer for term 242, nominated by her professor, Dr. Stephanie Denton!

In Kalin’s quest to find the education she needs to reach her dreams of becoming an RN, she explains a struggle to find a program that not only fit her schedule as a working mother but was also accredited. “I found a place, I’m gonna enroll, they’re accredited, which is a big deal, because lots of places online don’t actually carry the proper accreditations and then you’re just wasting your time,” she says of her journey to find the right school.

“So when I found ANU I was like, ‘this is perfect! I can do this online. And then if I choose to go back to school after graduating, then I can continue moving online.’” 

She explains that attending ANU gives her the opportunity to attend her Zoom sessions and finish her assignments during the week, while working overnight as a patient care technician at her local hospital on the weekends. She says she “just get[s] in that habit every day, open it, look at it. It doesn’t matter if you spend 10 minutes or an hour, you gotta do something. So that’s been the-the biggest factor that has enabled me to stay on top of everything.”

When it comes to her class experiences, Kalin has enjoyed every minute. “I feel like it’s down to earth, it’s, you know, it’s achievable, it’s something that you don’t have to feel like you can’t just apply to because you don’t already carry four different degrees,” she explains. “You can start from scratch, you can go from zero to having that degree. You just have to want it, and I feel like they make it doable.” As she’s in our Medical Assisting associate degree program, Kalin thinks that her program is setting up a foundation for her that will last her whole career – even as she pursues her nursing degree later on. “I think that they’re setting up a really good learning foundation because if you don’t have even medical terminology walking into the hospital, that’s what they use… And so I think that they have done a really good job setting me up to make me feel comfortable around that environment.”

Her professors have been the shining stars for her in her education, however, bringing not only new knowledge for her to learn, but someone she can lean on for her education and beyond.

Dr. Stephanie Denton, the same professor who nominated her for her Term Trailblazer award, has been a professor she admires greatly. “She’s so smart. She knows so much stuff and she’s a jack of all trades. And so if there’s ever something that pops into my mind, she’s an open book to ask,” she says with a wide smile. “She had mentioned that later down the road looking for job opportunities, you can actually use your instructors as, professional referrals!”

Overall, she says that all of her professors “have truly been wonderful and really, that’s not just blowing smoke. That’s, that’s the, that’s the truth of it… I’ve been really happy with every single one of the professors and there has not been one where I’ve been like, ‘oh, I would not do that again’.”

Not only have her professors been wonderful, but Kalin feels immensely supported by the support staff she’s interacted with at ANU. She explains that student advisors always make sure to check in with their students. “If you are falling behind, they’ll reach out, they’ll call, they’ll email. So they’ve made themselves available… When I first was when I first started out, [my advisor] used to call me every week and she would check in just to make sure everything was ok if I had any questions or concerns.” Even in times of grief of losing someone close to her, her advisor was there to help her not only get the time she needed away, but to not fall behind in her classes. When she was in a heavy moment, she didn’t think she could handle being on camera during her Zoom session, and both her advisor and professors allowed her to sit it out without affecting her attendance grade. “And so they were like, ‘it’s ok, you don’t have to be on camera today’… reaching out to whoever needed to be reached out to so that way that I could be covered, and I wouldn’t miss anything. And that’s important with it being 40% of that grade.”

Her future goals include earning her nursing degree and becoming an RN. She explains that choosing her program now will help with that goal because “a lot of [classes] feed right into the nursing programs and it’s still relevant. It’s not just wasted credits and time.” Additionally, she hopes becoming a nurse will allow her to workday shifts rather than overnight shifts in her future, so she doesn’t have to sacrifice more time with her children and family.

Would she recommend ANU to other students? “Absolutely. And they make it easy!”

The post Support Every Step appeared first on American National University.

Kylie Jett-Brown

For Kylie Jett-Brown, caring for others has been intrinsic to what she has always wanted to do. As a mother of two and caregiver for her ill mother, she sought our online BSN program to help her fulfill her nursing dreams without disrupting her schedule. “I actually found [ANU] when I was in the hospital with [my mother], so it’s kind of cool. You know, you see nurses and then you find a nursing school that’s just like: ‘you can do this!’” Attending ANU is helping Kylie achieve a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

Something that drew Kylie to us was our flexibility. Not only do our classes cater to her schedule, but even more so, the instruction is compatible with her life.

“I started reading about [ANU] and I was like, ‘it’s accredited in Tennessee… what?’ And the virtual reality – that is so cool because I can’t do clinicals five days a week and classes. I have to work full time. I [saw] half your clinicals are virtual reality and I was like, ‘no way!’”

In her first and only term at ANU so far, Kylie has been impacted by Dr. Courtney Phoenix. “She’s very well rounded and knows a lot of things! She makes you think deeper – you’re kind of rewiring your brain… like in our discussion posts, she’ll ask you questions on your discussions. Just the way you have to think about it, like I want to think like her! She brings such great knowledge to the classroom.”

She has goals to be a light to her patients’ lives – to be able to save them even in their worst traumas.

She tells new students: “You need to be ready… Be confident in yourself, be confident in your work! Use your resources, [ANU] is so resourceful in what it gives you.”

Fun fact: Loves the outdoors, hiking, and being in nature.

Jimma Hall

As a mother to three, wife, and overall caretaker, Jimma Hall knew that nursing was the role she was destined to be in. Having experience in the healthcare field as a respiratory therapist, she knew she wanted to broaden her horizons and see patients through any stage of their care. Attending ANU’s associate degree in nursing at our Pikeville, Kentucky campus gives her the opportunity to do more within the field. When she was working in her previous career, one of her friends graduated from ANU – and that inspired her to join our ranks. “She is an excellent nurse… ANU is pretty awesome too. It’s really convenient, they make it convenient for people that have a life outside of school, too, so that’s really nice!”

“It’s been really great, I feel with ANU you’re really not just a number,” she explains about her time at ANU since the beginning. “I feel like it’s a tight knit group of people, and they make you feel really welcome, too! I went to a different college before, and it was bigger, and there’s a huge difference.”

Jimma specifically calls out professors Angie Coleman and Laverne Thacker as being instrumental in her education so far. “They have went above and beyond to make my experience at [ANU] over the top. And they want us to be great nurses, they want us to achieve our goals,” she says of the two, a wide smile on her face. She explains that all of her instructors understand that their students are not just students, but are parents, workers, and partners, “I think a lot of that has to do with them being mothers, too.”

She has goals to work in a hospital and one day become a Nurse Practitioner after putting work into her career to gain experience.

Her advice to new students: “Put your whole self into it. You can’t have one leg in, one leg out. You gotta go in hard! [ANU] lays the whole thing out for you, you just have to take it and run with it.”

Fun fact: Big into fitness, loves to work out

Amanda Bailey

After years of focusing on taking care of her children, Amanda Bailey turned to American National University to earn her associate degree in Nursing at our Pikeville, Kentucky campus. Despite having to put off her education, she has worked in the healthcare field all this time, waiting for the day to come to become the nurse she’s always dreamed of being. Even after surviving a car collision, Amanda has kept up with her education, pushing forward to make it to November when she will finish her education. Amanda has enjoyed her education to the point of recommending “it to several people – I do know there are three in the term behind me that have come [from my recommendation], and there’s one that I work with that’s getting ready to try to get in the next accepted date.” Not only that, but Amanda’s daughter has also been attending ANU along with her!

The reasons why she loves ANU and recommends it to so many are abundant. She describes how the professors have always been there for her during her educational career. “The instructors are awesome. You know, I’ve been to other schools and it’s like they were there for their jobs and nothing else. [At ANU], they want you to learn. If you don’t understand it, they try to help you better understand things…” Along with that, ANU has been the only school that accommodates her as a working parent.

“If you are trying to work and go to school, then it’s a great program for that. This is the only school that I actually found that would work with my work schedule… I hear a lot of moms say, ‘I would love to go back to school, but I have to work.’ And I go, ‘hey, listen to this school I go to!’”

Not only that, but ANU has become like a second home and family to her. She says, “the school in general is – you don’t feel like you’re overwhelmed and – it’s really hard to explain because you feel like you’re right at home whenever you come there.” When it comes to the connections she’s made, she explains, “in my class, we came in together so we’re all like one big family! We all want to see each other pass, we do not want to leave anyone behind… We come in together, we’re going out together.”

Amanda has goals to be on the front lines of the emergency department, helping those in their hardest times of need. She wants to stay local in a hospital for a while until her kids are grown and independent from her to do travel nursing. She wants to experience different parts of the country, different cultures, and people in travel nursing to learn new things.

Her advice to new students: “Go in with a good attitude, don’t go in with ‘I can’t.” Because you can do it… Make friends, don’t just be a loner, because in nursing school you can’t be a loner – you need friends! Study hard and hang in there!”

Fun fact: about to marry her fiancé! Love hunting, fishing, and riding side-by-sides.

American National University – Be live, in class, from anywhere.

The post Student Spotlights: June 2024 appeared first on American National University.

In 2013, Cynthia Adams graduated from American National University, known as National Business College when she attended, with a degree in Medical Assisting Education has always been a cornerstone for Cynthia and her family as she credits feeling the spirit of her father, who was an educator himself, to being the push for her to earn her associate degree. When she saw an advertisement for National Business College in her local paper, Cynthia went to campus and began the admissions process. As quickly as she went in, she was enrolled. Now, Cynthia credits her degree for the success she has found in her career – and is returning to earn her bachelor’s degree to achieve even more.

When she found us, Cynthia was reading through her local newspaper. The striking purple of our school colors stood out to her – and she called the number on the page to learn more. She was able to go in that very same day and enroll. “I just said I’m going back to school. I was looking at the paper and I saw that, and I called… It wasn’t like I planned it!” And she started as soon as possible with how quickly National was able to get her through the doors. She explains. Cynthia always knew she wanted to be in the medical field, but she didn’t want to be a doctor. She found our medical assisting program to be the perfect start to the career she was looking for – “you learn a lot about [the medical field]!” She recalls.

“A lot of my friends [from the program] are now nurses, one of my friends, she’s going on to be a doctor. And she started at National Business College!”

Upon reflection of her time at National, Cynthia instantly recalls the feeling of how her professors treated her during her time in her program. The professors during her education left such an impact on her that it moved her to tears to recall them. “Ms. Williams, may she rest in peace,” she begins, before stopping to collect herself, “she was my academic advisor, and she was also head of the medical assistant program… she even developed a relationship with my mom. Where, if my mom didn’t hear from me, my mom would call her!” She smiles at that memory. “She was so loving, so kind, and so encouraging. And I had trouble with the phlebotomy part of the class, and she literally taught me on an orange,” she pauses again. “She told me I could do it. And she went the extra mile, because I’m a perfectionist, I didn’t want a B, I wanted the A – and she tutored me day in and day out so I could get that A,” this memory moves her to tears, emotion clouding her voice.

Cynthia goes on to talk about when she was nominated for the E.M Coulter Award, an award presented at graduation for high academic achievement to graduates of Nursing, Emergency Medical Technology – Health Information Management, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy programs. She explains that many instructors of her that nominated her for the award, her emotions getting the best of her during her explanation. Cynthia then goes on to name every instructor or faculty member that had a profound impact on her – Ms. Ackerson, Ms. Cather, Mr. George, as she names them.

She tearfully, with a smile, recalls interacting with ANU president, Frank Longaker, and how he shook her hand, “he said, ‘I don’t have many students like you. And I just want you to know I feel honored to have you in my college.”

Along with that, she emphasizes how she was treated like a person at National, not like a number or a face to lose in the crowd. “I wasn’t seen as this girl from New York, I wasn’t seen as this black girl, I wasn’t seen as this underprivileged black girl trying to do something with her life. It was personable – I just didn’t feel like whatever society deemed me as [at National]. And that gave me the courage to keep going… And whenever I felt like I couldn’t, the people that I named, including Mr. Longaker, gave me the push to keep going.”

Cynthia has no plans of stopping her educational pursuits.

“ANU, National Business College, is the reason I have excelled in my career as I have. Literally. And I mean literally!”

She explains, bright smile on her face. Because of that success, she is returning to ANU to earn her bachelor’s degree. And coming back to ANU was no brainer, “going back to American National University – I’m just going home.” After she earns her bachelor’s, she’d like to earn her master’s, even her doctorate if she can.

Her advice for students just beginning their higher education journey: “Be mindful of the people you surround yourself with. Try to be organized and determined and disciplined. Do it for yourself… at the end of the day, have fun with it!”

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Dickson Samuel Lutanjuka, an international student hailing from Tanzania, brings a global perspective to his studies while residing in Houston, Texas. Currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Information Technology at American National University, Dickson’s journey into higher education was sparked by the enthusiastic recommendation of a friend. His experience at ANU showcases the transformative power of education across borders and the pursuit of excellence in the field of technology. With his hard work and dedication to his studies, he earned himself the title of Term Trailblazer for term 240!

His decision to join us was influenced by his friend’s glowing descriptions of our innovative approach to online education, which includes a unique four-day residency to meet visa obligations. Not only that, but “the school fee was not too expensive compared to other colleges.” When he applied, Dickson learned how helpful our staff was to his application process.

“[My admissions representative] was helping me a lot, the process, every stage, every step. It was very easy, to be honest, on my side… the process was good,” he explains.

He goes on to describe how easy it was to submit all of his required documents. When he was approved and got his acceptance letter, he began to pay his tuition, and “that was it!” While he is not currently using Curriculum Practicum Training (CPT) as part of his international student benefits, he is thankful he has the opportunity to with ANU. “Once you have your job letter, everything goes so smooth,” he says of working with the international team.

Dickson enjoys being able to travel to campus for his residency days. For four days, he gets to sit with other international ANU students and get to know his peers, all while fulfilling his visa requirements. “To be honest, I do enjoy [it] – it’s special when we travel to attend our residency class. It’s one of the best experience[s] with other students,” he says.

“When I know I am coming to Virginia, I am always prepared and excited. The atmosphere of meeting other students, it’s exchanging different ideas because they are coming from different parts of the world.”

He encourages other international students to apply because he and other students are having “the best experience.” He also explains that the staff on campus are great in what they do. “They support us. Sometimes we are late, and we explain – they are so friendly. They work as a team, they make sure everything we want is there. So I want to appreciate them too.”

In regard to his program, Dickson thinks it is setting him up success in his career. “The program is very good, you know when you’re taking master’s, it’s advanced levels. It gives me time to [learn] my materials because an instructor is not breaking down everything. They give you the assignments, which gives you an opportunity to read stuff in detail and get more understanding,” he explains. He says he can see himself working in the field once he graduates. “Sometimes it’s up to the student, if you want to change, then you to go. It’s very fair. You follow the rules, you follow the [course pace], then you get the mastery parts.”

He enjoys his program especially because of the way his professors challenge him. “I do like our instructors, they have shaped me in the way you have to follow the formats, like APA style. The advancements, when they begin, it was a little bit challenging, but thank God, because I use that as an opportunity. And I keep improving, so I could tell, right now, I am doing better. Maybe this is one of the reasons I scored high,” he laughs. Dr. Shardul Pandya, who nominated Dickson for his Term Trailblazer title, impresses Dickson every day, “he’s very fair.” Overall, all of his professors “did a good job” in his eyes. “Every time they put corrections on my assignments, I do [those] corrections and work on it. And I see the results.”

After he graduates, he wants to jump into his career field. He wants to “apply all the knowledge I have acquired from this college.” He said he is ready to jump in, but he is flexible in keeping his options open to his career and education.

“I don’t see myself going to other colleges… this is my home.”

Would he recommend ANU to others? “Yes… actually I am recommending and am working with one of my relatives. I am trying to help them get to this college!” He would recommend ANU because of our scheduling. “The way that the education is being provided to us, it’s flexible. It gives you time to do other stuff as well… like if you wanted to work, you could still work and still have time to accomplish your tasks.” Another reason he recommends ANU to anyone else is because of our tuition rates, “it’s very fair!”

His advice to new ANU students: “Try to arrange your schedule, your timetable. Give enough time before due dates. And that’s it! It’s not something that’s too much, it’s just the matter of arranging your schedule. Set time to do your assignments and set time to do your own activities.”  He also says it is important to “just enjoy it!”

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