Spring 2009

I retired as the Postmaster of Bowling Green, KY April 1, 2009 and after 6 months I was looking for something else to do. I started applying for jobs in Human Resources or operations (anything but management after 27 years). Soon it became very clear that even though I had served as the Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve responsible for 205,000 soldiers and managed the local Post Office with 146 employees and over $8,000,000.00 is salaries and benefits my Associates Degree was not getting it.  I already had 112 hours at Western Kentucky University (WKU) and Carla Bond at Western’s Real Estate department told me about the Finish Program. My previous degree program was in Business and when I looked at returning to get my Business Degree I was told that I need an additional 40 hours. I remembered that WKU use to have a degree in general studies and started looking on the web site for information. I then called back to the Finish Program office and they told me that it was now called “Interdisciplinary Studies”. I contacted the office and scheduled an appointment with Chonda White an Academic Advisor in the University College. We went over my degree program and realized that I could graduate with 20 additional hours. She also contacted Judy Byrd at the Registrar's Office to get me credit for the additional military credit that I had earned since the last time I was enrolled at the university through the American Council on Education (ACE) program. I am very excited about graduating with my Bachelors Degree after all I started attending WKU in the Spring of 1982!

Spring 2009

As a student at WKU, I chose teaching as my professional interest. The journey has been long and challenging. After exploring my options, I elected to pursue the BIS with an emphasis in education. With the BIS degree, I can pursue my goal to become a special education teacher. Much of my course work is from the college of education, which compliments my interest in exceptional education. Upon completing the BIS, I intend to pursue a graduate degree in exceptional education that allows me to teach in this field. The BIS also allows for other interests. Not only can I become a teacher, I can also explore careers such as pharmacy technician as well as many other opportunities.

Tiffany Boards is a senior BIS major, who is planning to graduate in August 2009.