Learn Why One UD Degree Wasn't Enough for Sarah Ashley

“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.”

- Sarah Ashley