WGU Alumni Podcast
WGU’s alumni network now has more than 350,000 graduates living in all 50 states. The WGU alumni podcast highlights the incredible work that our alumni are doing in their local communities. We also share benefits, perks, resources and partner information to help our graduates stay engaged and get the most out of the alumni community.
Episodes
60 episodes
Introducing new season "It's Never Too Late"
On this new season of the WGU Alumni Podcast, we’re sharing the inspiring stories of our distinguished graduates who went back to school to pursue a degree and better their lives. Over the next few months, you’ll hear graduates who took cont...
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Season 2
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1:02
How education and inclusivity champion empowers others (Cole Frandsen-Smith)
On this episode of the WGU Alumni Podcast, learn how Cole Frandsen-Smith, a 2023 WGU graduate in Human Resource Management, has become a strong champion for education, inclusivity, and the power of community.Also, learn how Cole's life,...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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28:22
Empowering Healthcare Leader and Trailblazing Nurse at Cedars-Sinai (Ebony Gray)
Meet Ebony Gray, a WGU graduate and former president of WGU's Student Nurses Association, share her experiences. From her 13-year tenure at Cedars-Sinai to her leadership roles, Eb...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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26:00
Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur, Teacher, Mother, and 4x WGU Graduate (Jessica Shelley)
Meet Jessica Shelley, a WGU alumna who's revolutionizing education and entrepreneurship while balancing family life with five children and supporting her husband's academic journey at WGU. Explore her journey from elementary teacher to Forbes' ...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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26:39
Male postpartum nurse, half marathon enthusiast, and WGU graduate shares his zeal for life
Nontraditional graduate, Washington Native Eric Miller, joins the alumni podcast to share his motivation on his WGU journey, his passion for nursing, and his interesting hobbies such as cross-stitching and running half marathons, more than 100 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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29:59
Newest alumni team member walks the talk after graduating with two WGU degrees
Recent WGU graduate and current member of the alumni team, Ginny Ersery, joins the podcast to share her thoughts on her recent commencement experience in Chicago, and how things are going in her new role.
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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33:52
Bowling Hall of Fame Inductee talks "rolling turkeys" after WGU degree
Recent WGU Graduate, bowling coach, and two-time bowling hall-of-fame inductee Ronald Simms Jr. joins the podcast to share his thoughts on his WGU journey, his experience speaking at WGU's commencement last spring, and how his bowling team chal...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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32:55
Catching the Alumni Vision with WGU Leadership
As we kick off the new year, listen to the latest episode to hear WGU Senior Vice President of Regional Operations, Gene Hayes, and Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Development, Robert Sullivan, share their insights into exciting ...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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45:29
Serial Entrepreneur and WGU MBA Grad Corey Alexander
Serial entrepreneur, WGU MBA graduate, and Nashville resident Corey Alexander joins the alumni podcast to share how he manages to run six different business while balancing family and other commitments in the community. A form...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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30:36
Episode 51_WGU's Alumni Events Specialist Michael Daniel
We are talking alumni events with Michael Daniel from WGU's alumni team. Next up is WGU alumni's annual virtual 5K, the Night Owl Trot. Michael highlights the 5K and the Alumni Celebration, and recaps the Kindness Quest. Visit www.wgu.edu/event...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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14:35
Episode 50_WGU VP Paul Bingham and two-time WGU IT grad Chris Abbey talk new Cyber Security Web Series
WGU College of IT Vice President Paul Bingham and two-time WGU IT graduate Chris Abbey join the alumni podcast to highlight the new Cyber Security Web Series on LinkedIn. Learn about the series, why it's important, and watch the first episode e...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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21:30
Small Business Owner leverages capstone project to take ice cream business to the top
WGU Graduate and small business owner Nathan Todd joins the alumni podcast to share how his business capstone at WGU led him to purchase a local Iowa ice cream business and who he's successfully expanded into three locations.
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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36:04
Episode 48_WGU IT Graduate and Author Bill Burns
Two-time WGU graduate and recently published author Bill Burns joins the podcast to discuss his journey as a Senior Principal DevOps Engineer at a Fortune 50 company as well as his latest project: publishing his first book.
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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26:01
Episode 47_ Professional Soccer Player beats the competition with WGU's model
Professional Soccer star and WGU Graduate Samantha Johnson joins the alumni podcast to share her experience earning her degree while competing in the National Women's Soccer League and also how she's using her degree in education to impact kids...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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33:32
Episode 46_WGU's Senior Vice President of Regional Operations Gene Hayes
Gene Hayes joins the alumni podcast to share WGU’s focus on increasing access and outcomes in higher education. Gene joined WGU in 2020 as Senior Vice President of Regional Operations and is committed to advancing WGU’s mission. In addition to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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29:20
CEO of Professional Sports support network talks success after WGU journey
WGU grad Amanda Banks is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sports To Suits, LLC. She is also the host of the weekly live show "Sports To Suits", an enterprise sales leader, strategic partnerships creator, and joy enthusiast. She joins the alumni podcas...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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21:44
Episode 44_WGU Business Alum Devi Pariya
Raised in Nepal, WGU student Devi Pariyar is fueled with the desire to give back and help the next generation. She’s seen firsthand the importance of compassion, good leadership, and the power education has on changing lives. On this episode sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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25:32
Episode 43_ IT Grad Chad Welch and WGU Texas Chancellor Linda Battles
WGU Texas was created 10 years ago as a partnership between the state of Texas and WGU to expand access to more Texans. On this episode of the podcast, we visit with WGU's Regional Vice President and WGU Texas Chancellor Linda Battles about the...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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31:27
Episode 42_Diversity and inclusion advocate Carmen Kingston
Diversity and inclusion advocate Carmen Kingston, a leader from Sam’s Club and Walmart, Inc., spoke at WGU’s summer commencement and now joins the alumni podcast to share her impressions at commencement and how she continues to be inspired by l...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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33:36
Episode 41_WGU - Veteran Friendly and Military Focused
As WGU honors our veterans in the month of November, we are featuring some of the key figures at WGU who are moving the university from military friendly to military focused. Dave Ammons and Casey Byington from WGU's Veteran's Employee Resource...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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20:58
Episode 40_Microsoft leader and WGU grad Andre Alfred
A committed lifelong learner, Andre Alfred has leveraged educational opportunities to become a recognized leader in cybersecurity.Andre has held numerous leadership positions at some of the world’s most recognized organizations, includi...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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29:18
Episode 39_Colorado's 5,280th Graduate Mark Dimalanta
Two-time WGU business graduate Mark Dimalanta earned his first master's degree from WGU while stationed on a U.S. Air Base in South Korea and his second after relocating to Denver, Colorado. A huge advocate for WGU, Mark, who was the 5,280th gr...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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38:44
Episode 38_Award Winning IT professional and WGU Grad Anthony Utt
College of IT graduate and award-winning professional Anthony Utt, from Mount Airy, North Carolina, joins the alumni podcast to talk about his passion for software development, his work as an engineering lead at GR0, and his reaction to r...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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21:34
Episode 37_WGU Grad and HR Professional Claire Gravenhorst
Two-time WGU graduate Claire Gravenhorst from North Carolina joins the alumni podcast to talk about the lessons she's learned from her professional mentor and how her two business degrees have helped her thrive in the HR space while also keepin...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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28:51
Episode 36_WGU Teachers College Grad Marah Jordan
WGU graduate Marah Jordan joins the alumni podcast to share her excitement for entering her classroom as a first year teacher. She shares her journey as a community college transfer students and why she's re-enrolled at WGU in pursuit of her ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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20:19