Adult Student Services Blog

Nontraditional Week Spotlight: Graduate Assistant

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Adult Student Services is lucky to have a nontraditional student serving as our administrative graduate assistant. Jesica Boone took a few moments to share her experiences with us. 

Jesica is originally from Springfield, Missouri, but graduated from Paris High School. While it was initially a culture shock to live somewhere so rural, she ultimately made good friends and enjoyed her time there. She spent time with her family, particularly her sister and grandmother, who she shared strong relationships with. It was until much later in her life that Jesica realized what a strong impact her grandmother had made on her. Her grandmother was a gardener and very artistic. Jesica added, “She was eccentric, but she was content and lived by her own rules. She encouraged me to be curious and she let me explore and experiment and make mistakes. She was also kind. To everyone, all the time, without being judgmental or placing her expectations on them…”  

Jesica finds herself trying to do the same by caring for others, spending time outdoors with her husband, and working with stained-glass art. With her busy schedule, she wishes she had a bit more time for the latter. 

Jesica graduated with her undergraduate degree from Missouri State University this past spring. Currently, she’s in her first year of the Audiology doctorate program. She plans to graduate with her doctorate in 2027. 

Why Missouri State?

Prior to attending Missouri State, Jesica had taken classes at both Drury and Ozarks Technical College, where she ultimately earned her Associate’s degree. She struggled to commit to a degree path as she was interested in so many career options: architect, librarian, dietician. During COVID, it became clear that a change was necessary. Even though her job paid well, she was unable to take the time needed to care for family when facing significant health scares. MSU was a convenient option, affordable, and with the program Jesica decided she wanted to pursue – Communication Sciences and Disorders.  

This program helps to prepare students for graduate studies in either speech pathology or audiology. Jesica believes that communication is the most underused tool in helping people to live happier, more fulfilling lives. “Intervention for children who need it can change the course of their lives. Poor communication skills affect a person’s socioeconomic status, health, relationships, social status; every aspect of their life, in one way or another. ”  

This degree can lead to a broad range of career fields: education and literacy, healthcare, gender affirming care, entertainment, and more. And clients will range from young children to aging adults. “With so many career options, it’s important to keep an open mind,” she says, but is very interested in the medical aspects of the profession. Specifically, she’s drawn to working with ear/nose/throat teams or with cochlear implants. But at the moment, Jesica is taking advantage of the clinical trainings and externships and gaining hands-on experience within her doctoral program in the various emphasis areas. 

Highlights and Challenges

Jesica has particularly enjoyed being back in Springfield, where she feels anchored with her family and support base. She’s been able to dive into her studies and enjoy her time at Missouri State. When asked about some of her favorite aspects, she shared that her instructors and professors have made positive impressions. “I’ve had some amazing professors who have wonderful field experience to draw from while teaching, and who are so passionate about the field and making sure their students succeed,” she added.  

  

Final Thoughts

Jesica shares one last thought with us as she considered her full experiences at Missouri State, 

“Something I have learned since working as a GA in Adult Student Services is that there are so many resources available that a lot of people don’t know about or don’t know can be beneficial to them. I missed out on a lot of things that could have been beneficial because I didn’t utilize the resources, including funding, that are available. Even if you aren’t sure if something is applicable for you, it never hurts to ask. “ 

If you’d like help exploring resources, schedule a meeting with Jesica. 

Meet in person. 

Meet virtually. 

 

 

Jesica, thank you for being a Bear and for all the work you do in Adult Student Services! 

Nontraditional Student Week Spotlight: Sonja Blackburn

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While Sonja Blackburn currently resides in Lebanon, Missouri, she’s originally from Arkansas. Growing up in Fouke, Arkansas, she enjoyed a small-town, rural lifestyle. She learned to garden with her mother and learned to sew from her grandmother, a master seamstress. This time spent learning from her grandmother stayed with her into her adult life as she now enjoys quilting as a hobby.

Sonja, part of a graduating class of 28 students, began attending Texarkana Community College, but had to put her education on hold while she dealt with health issues. After moving to Missouri in the late 1990s, Sonja joined began attending the police academy in 1997. By 1998, Sonja embarked on her career in law enforcement.

Why Missouri State?

Missouri State University made sense for Sonja after transferring from Ozarks Technical Community College. She needed a University that was close to home and allowed for flexibility while working. Missouri State’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice fit the profile perfectly. And studying Criminology and Criminal Justice was the logical choice for Sonja, who had been a police officer for over a decade. She was able to pursue her passion – in both profession and education.

Even with her years of experience in the field, she says that learning different aspects of her criminology has been her favorite part about earning degree. “I always looked at crime through the lenses of a police officer instead of a normal person. This year in particular has been a real eye-opener for me.” Sonja is excited to further her career when she earns her diploma in the spring.

Looking back on her MSU journey, Sonja says her favorite aspect has been the encounters with her amazing professors. She states that they have been helpful and wonderful to learn from. Besides her criminology classes, Sonja found learning about the Dead Sea Scrolls in her religions elective class enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

When asked if she had any advice to pas on to future adult learners at MSU, Sonja shared,

“Keep your mind open. Be impressionable to learning new things and study hard.”

Overall, Sonja feels that attending Missouri State University has been a phenomenal experience. She’s thankful for the help and encouragement from her instructors and advisors making her dream of obtaining her bachelor’s degree a reality.

 

Thank you for choosing to be a Bear, Sonja! 

Nontraditional Student Week Spotlight: Alexis McCaslin

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Alexis McCaslin grew up not far from Springfield in Aurora, Missouri, where she enjoyed familiarity with her neighbors and tight-knit community. She recommends that anyone looking to experience a “Hallmark holiday experience” visit Aurora during Christmas time to enjoy a downtown stroll with hot coffee.  

Why Missouri State?

Alexis was able to keep the feeling of community and connectedness at Missouri State University. Even as an online student, Alexis found ways to get involved. She is a member of Alpha Phi Sigma- Sigma Mu Sigma, MSU’s honor society for Criminology majors. 

Being able to customize her schedule was an important aspect in choosing where to pursue her degree. As a wife and mother, Alexis needed flexibility. She was able to meet this need while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a psychology minor. Alexis takes advantage of both online and in-person classes, so she can take classes on her own schedule. When asked why she studies criminology, she answered, “I have always had a huge heart for people and the desire to understand what lies underneath human suffering and crime.” 

Alexis draws inspiration from her mother. Her mother had only completed the 8th grade but was still very accomplished. She spent 20 years serving in the military, obtaining her bachelor’s degree, and starting her own business as a blueberry farmer- all while raising four children. Alexis calls her mother a shining example of endurance, faith, and strength. These three attributes are important to Alexis, as she also spends time doing devotionals to develop her own faith.  

Highlights

The 3 Public Affairs Pillars have also been highly influential for Alexis.  

“Ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement. These are not just fluffy words but a real lining around everything that you do and learn here. I know I will go into my future job knowing how to lead a group, treat the people around me and be involved.” 

When reflecting on some of her favorite courses, Alexis noted two specifically: LLT 121, Classical Mythology, and CFD 562, Prevention of Childhood Abuse and Neglect. Classical Mythology had interesting content, and her instructor had high expectations. She was able to rise to the challenge and allowed it to set the tone for her freshman year. While LLT 121 was fun and engaging, she found that Prevention of Childhood and Abuse was the most impactful class she has taken. She feels this class changed the course of her career. This feeling came after reading Damaged: The Heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child by Cathy Glass. 

Alexis spends a lot of time with her family and finds great joy in doing so. She hopes to use her degree to aid families in the foster care system with reunification. “The idea would be to also bolster the support for foster families to create a healthier, more sustainable quality of life for all the parties involved.”  

She also wanted to give special thanks to faculty that made a positive impact during her time at MSU. “I want to give a shout out to both Katie Stinnett and Aida Hass for being professors that really give their time to be personal and dedicated to their students. I did not feel like just another face in a room – but a pupil worth teaching. Those are the educators that make the greatest difference!” 

Parting Advice 

When asked what advice she would share with other adult learners, Alexis said, 

“Even if you must take one or two classes at a time, don’t be afraid to jump into this. There are so many people who are going to help you navigate getting your degree and so much more!” 

After graduating, Alexis plans to take the summer to celebrate her accomplishment while enjoying time with her husband and children. Afterwards, she plans on securing employment and embarking on the journey to earn her master’s degree.  

Alexis, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors! 

 

Nontraditional Student Week: Alumni Spotlight

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Jaime Ross, Director of Adult Student Services, recently spoke with Missouri State University alumna Melvi Cifuentes Paul about her experiences at the University and what she’s doing post-graduation. Melvi graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Spanish.

Early Days

Melvi grew up in Noel, Missouri, and was heavily involved in sports and extracurriculars. She was part of the basketball and softball teams, and participated in both track and cheer. She also helped to form the Missouri Conservation Club chapter at her school. In high school, Melvi continued to cheer under the coaching of Tracy Allman. Under Allman, Melvi and her fellow cheerleaders participated in many cheer championships. In 2011, her team placed fifth at the UCA National Championship. These awards provided the potential for partial scholarships to cheer in college, which Melvi states, “is something I did not think possible before joining the team.” She began the recruitment process in her junior year of high school and decided to attend an out-of-state college, but life had other plans for Melvi.

Why Missouri State?

At 23 years of age, Melvi was a “nontraditional student” and was looking for a college or university that would help her through the admissions and enrollment processes. Admissions departments were also treating her as an international student, despite being a Missouri resident for tuition purposes. That’s when she came across MSU’s Adult Student Services. She scheduled an in-person meeting with a counselor who took the time to discuss enrollment, tuition, financial aid, and helped Melvi through the admissions process step-by-step. In the fall of 2015, Melvi attended her first semester at Missouri State.

Working three (sometimes four) jobs to get through college was no easy feat. Melvi says that the first year was the hardest, but found people and resources available to help.

“I am forever grateful for everyone involved in the Adult Student Services department. I am grateful for a university that fostered so much personal and professional growth.”

Melvi chose political science to learn more about the US and international political systems. “I thought that perhaps a political science degree would lend itself to a future law degree. I found the program fascinating and challenging.” In taking advantage of elective hours, Melvi enjoyed courses in religion, anthropology, and African American studies. “There were a few times when the content was so intriguing that I wondered what it would take to change my major,” she adds.

What was Your Favorite Part?

Melvi fondly remembers her time as an administrative student worker for Adult Student Services. She worked directly alongside the department she credits for helping her to begin her pursuit of higher education, but also assisted her in achieving her goal of graduating in three years. This work-study arrangement created an environment that allowed Melvi to focus on academics and establish transferable work skills at the same time. “Missouri State gave me the tools to thrive – beginning with having a department specifically dedicated to students who did not enroll right after graduating from high school.”

All Missouri State undergraduates are required to complete a public affairs capstone experience. Melvi’s favorite aspect of her degree was satisfying this capstone requirement with the volunteer work she did at the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAISES) in San Antonio, Texas. Melvi says, “I witnessed firsthand how politics and policies in place drastically affected local communities and people migrating into the U.S. I was able to put into practice both the knowledge from my major and minor to assist this NGO (nongovernmental agency) in achieving its mission.”

What’s Happened Since Graduation?

A common question for students is how they will use their degrees after graduation. After graduating from MSU in 2018, she pursued a law degree at the University of Lousiville Brandeis School of Law. She completed her degree in May 2021. Melvi found that embracing MSU’s Public Affairs Mission benefitted her as a student and a professional. By learning about the political atmosphere in the US and other countries, she’s able to understand the laws that impact us daily.

“Working in immigration law, cultural competence comes into play with every conversation you have with a client or prospective client. The world we live in and the experiences we have are vastly different so one has to be cognizant that their lived experiences carry equal value and truth. Ethical leadership involves a host of characteristics, but integrity and accountability to those you serve are some of the most important. You must be honest with people, even if it’s not the result they hoped for. Lastly, community engagement: whether that’s speaking to youth about their goals, or being involved and attending community events – showing up for your community matters.”

Final Thoughts

Melvi shared parting advice for future adult learners at Missouri State and those who feel that pursuing college after a break is daunting:

“No matter the amount of time that’s passed between your high school graduation and your enrollment in higher education, KEEP GOING. It may be tough and a bit discouraging, but you must believe in yourself. Time will continue to pass by so why not take action today towards accomplishing your goals.”

 

A special thank you to Melvi Cifuentes Paul for taking the time to talk about her experiences. We’re so proud of her and the work she’s done, and wish her the best! 

October News for Adult Students

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Important Dates this Month

  • October 9- Deadline for voter registration in Missouri for the November 2024 election (Paws to the Polls can help you get registered)

  • October 10 and 11- Fall Break (No classes, Offices open)

  • October 11- Return to Learn Scholarship application deadline

  • October 14- Second block classes begin

  • October 19- Homecoming vs. Indiana State Sycamores

  • October 29- MSU Bears Basketball vs. SBU Bearcats

  • October 31- Spring 2025 registration begins*

*Find your earliest registration date and advisor contact info through your Registration Status link on your My Missouri State, or view the Spring Registration Sequence 

It is always a good idea to check in with your advisor before selecting classes for the next semester. Making an appointment ahead of time will ensure you can plan ahead and get the classes you need.

Exciting News!

We are expanding our Adult Student Services Community on Brightspace! We have added an Ask Adult Student Services forum in the Discussion area. You can use this forum to ask us questions and share information with your fellow students. Let us know what you would like to see and how we can help!

If you do not have access to the Adult Student Services Community on Brightspace but would like join, contact HannahSmith@MissouriState.edu.

Resource Spotlight: Dean of Students

The Dean of Students Office can provide practical support for students when the unexpected happens by offering multiple programs and services.

Andrea Weber, Assistant VP for Student Affairs/Dean of Students shared this note:

“Happy Fall and welcome from the Dean of Students Office. My name is Andrea Weber, and I serve as the Dean of Students. I am excited you chose to be a bear! The mission of the Dean of Students Office is to assist students in personal and educational goals by removing barriers and providing essential support. Our office lives this mission by the services and resources that we provide. I hope, if you ever need it, you will utilize our services. We are always happy to help.”

Things to Do

  • Join the Fall Walking Challenge October 1-28 and you will have the chance to win a gift card to the MSU Bookstore.

  • The Voting Fair at Plaster Student Union provides voter resources and information.

  • Hospitality Showcase on Tuesday, October 22nd in PSU Grand Ballroom, 1:00pm-3:00pm. Join in the festivities and network!

  • Whether you want to get crafty, see a live performance, enjoy the weather, or make your way down the Cashew Chicken Trail, Springfield is not lacking in October events. Check out the Springfield calendar of events to find your next adventure.

Successful Study Tips

  1. Midterms are around the corner. These tips will help prep you for success!

  2. Spend a  little time each day with material instead of trying to cram before an exam.

  3. Teach what you have learned to someone else. Talking through something can help organize your ideas about a topic.

  4. Draw it out. Whether it’s a graph, flowchart, or silly cartoon, finding different ways to view concepts can help you recall information.

  5. Keep a reading journal Read a section at a time, then write a summary about what you’ve read. This gives your brain a moment to process the information instead of going on autopilot.

  6. Schedule breaks. Set a time and settle in fora focused study with a built-in break. Experts recommend 30-45 minutes of studying with a 10-15 minute break. Knowing there is an end in sight helps you stay focused and avoid distractions.

  7. Don’t forget the resources at MSU! Make an appointment with your instructor to review material, request to meet with a success coach, or utilize the services offered by the BearCLAW. For more tips on successful study habits, visit the Center for Academic Success and Transition.

Go Bears! You’ve got this!