Partner Spotlight
Bringing Learners Back: How Vanderbilt's Peabody College Online Programs Unlock New Possibilities
Years ago, a cancer diagnosis put Heather Wilson’s academic and career goals on pause. “For a long time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I grew up,” says Heather, who hails from northwest Arkansas.
Her story is unfortunately all too familiar. For generations, students have faced the same difficult choice to pause or abandon their education to address life’s challenges. Health demands, distance, work obligations, and family responsibilities have often stood in the way of a traditional education. High-quality education and flexibility have frequently been mutually exclusive.
Today, Heather is an online doctoral student at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, taking classes remotely from her home. And like her, many students who once stepped away from education are finding their way back, empowered by accessible, high-quality online programs.
“What began with nerves quickly turned into new friendships and a community I know we’re going to lean on for years to come,” she says, reflecting on the experience.
Through its partnership with 2U, Vanderbilt University is expanding access to career-advancing education online, bringing world-class learning opportunities to students far from campus.
Vanderbilt University notes that the Leadership and Learning in Organizations program that Heather is enrolled in “integrates with the busy lives of adult learners while engaging them in highly collaborative learning to develop competencies in leadership and organizational development, data analytics, and learning and design.”
Heather’s journey back to school is a testament to how online learning, by removing barriers of time and place, can transform lives, reignite ambitions, and make long-deferred dreams a reality.
Summing it all up, Heather concludes, “If you’re waiting for a sign, it’s never too late to dream a dream and make it come true.”
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