Rich Shares Her MOC Transforming Story

Jacqueline Rich of Norfolk, Virginia moved to North Carolina in 1999. She began attending University of Mount Olive at Wilmington in May of 2011, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in management and organizational development. Previously, it had taken her a little more than five years to earn her associate’s degree while juggling family and work responsibilities.

“I was adamant that I did not want to rely strictly on online classes, so when it came time to choose a college for my bachelor’s degree, I knew the one-night-a-week program at University of Mount Olive was a perfect fit for me,” she said.

Throughout her professional career Rich has always been fortunate to secure job positions that required a degree as a prerequisite, even though she did not have one; her work experience made up the difference. Yet, Rich knew she needed a college degree to remain competitive in the workforce. On May 4, she joined 360 other students from University of Mount Olive as they received their degrees at the College’s 59th spring commencement.

“I am proud to have a four-year degree to substantiate my years of professional experience,” she said. “I feel confident that this accomplishment will enable me to remain marketable in job searches moving forward.  I feel so much more secure about my future.”

Rich lives in Leland and works in Wilmington as the corporate training manager for Liberty Healthcare Management, Inc.  She has been employed with Liberty since 2003 and accepted her current position with the company in May, 2011.  “When I interviewed for my promotion, my enrollment at MOC was definitely taken into consideration,” she said.

Rich’s future plans include continuing her current job and pursuing her MBA once her son, Gabriel, graduates from high school in 2016.

University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.