Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies: Shannon Memory’s Return-to-School Story

Her family includes two children. Her son Morgan is a second-year student at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business studying finance and information systems. He has become one of her biggest cheerleaders, and they share the experience of being students at the same time. Her daughter’s soccer schedule keeps the household moving, yet both children and her husband have been steady supporters, along with coworkers and managers.

Memory came to the University of Cincinnati as an employee two years ago, starting as a program coordinator in the Center for Business Analytics at the College of Business. She has since moved to the College of Arts and Sciences, where she is program manager for community engagement—a role she loves. UC’s tuition remission made the degree possible for her and helps support Morgan’s education. The College of Arts and Sciences has covered her books through professional development funds, reinforcing that investing in employees matters. Her capstone project is itself a way of giving back: She is creating something for the College of Arts and Sciences that she can implement as an employee.

As a first-generation student returning after a long break, she felt the same intimidation she remembered from age 17. The first class—professional development foundations with Professor Brodie Theis—changed that. The assessments, his calm and approachable style, and quick responses put her at ease.

Professor Karen Klaus provided strong, detailed feedback on competency reports, helping Memory connect her professional experience to the program’s academic standards. She is now finishing her degree in Klaus’s professional studies capstone course, where she is developing a project for the College of Arts and Sciences that draws on both her coursework and her role as a UC employee.

Throughout, Amy Scuglik has been her biggest support, helping her explore minors, maximize electives, and map a realistic path. Memory set a goal of finishing in two years and sometimes took heavy loads, including 18 credit hours. Scuglik would note when a plan looked overzealous, then help her adjust—sometimes with half-semester classes that concentrated the work into a shorter window—so she could still meet her timeline without burning out.

“Shannon’s determination and motivation have been inspiring to witness,” Scuglik said. “It has been a joy to support her along the way, and I cannot wait to celebrate with her as she crosses the stage this December.”

Looking back on the 25-year gap, Memory is clear: The degree was always important. After a rocky freshman year at Morehead State, a short time at Cincinnati State and an early attempt at UC while working full time as a clothing-store manager, life moved forward—promotions, marriage, children. She never abandoned the goal. “I never gave up on that dream,” she said. That same persistence carried her through demanding weeks, challenging classes and the constant juggling of work, family and school.

She is set to graduate in December 2026. She is not stopping there. In January she begins a master of education program. To other working parents or adults returning to school, her advice is straightforward: Go for it. Prioritize yourself. Invest in yourself. Start with whatever fits your schedule—one class or several. Everyone’s path looks different, both in getting to the program and in shaping it once inside. The result is a rare kind of pride: “I did this. For myself.”

At UC, that pride is shared. The university’s support, the professional studies program’s recognition of professional experience, the flexibility of online learning and the guidance of people like Scuglik, Klaus, and Theis made it possible for a working mom and UC employee to complete the degree she had carried for a quarter century—and to keep moving forward.