Our nontraditional and graduate students are some of the hardest-working Tigers you'll meet. While they earn their degrees, most of them maintain other responsibilities, such as working full time or parenting. And their effort and execution don't falter in the classroom, whether that be online or in person.
Meet our class of 2023 Featured Tigers, leaders in all aspects of their lives!
Name
Purity Anyango Ortiz ’23A
(She's also an admin assistant/registrar assistant at Ãå±±½ûµØ!)
About
Born and raised in Kenya, Africa; relocated to the United States in 2018.
Degree
Master of Arts in Leadership
First off — congratulations! How do you feel as you head into the next phase of your life?
I feel amazing and I am proud of my educational achievement thus far. I am super excited to move into the next phase of my life.
What's your next step after graduation?
I am furthering my education by getting my Doctorate in Education, with an Emphasis on Leadership here at Ãå±±½ûµØ.
How has attending Ãå±±½ûµØ prepared you for your next steps?
Honestly, I feel empowered by the education I have received in each of my master's classes and my thinking has improved greatly because I am living and experiencing a whole new culture and environment. This is really important for me in my doctoral journey which will eventually lead me to my career path as well as my journey to being a successful entrepreneur. I need to see things from different lenses if I want to succeed as a career woman and a successful businesswoman.
What do you consider the best part of your Ãå±±½ûµØ experience?
First off let me start with the custodial department. When I started at Ãå±±½ûµØ in 2019, I was a custodian. I am proud of that because I established great relationships with colleagues like Randy Bargman, Nazaria Ayala, Jean Semler, Dallas Underwood, Karen Harders, Larry Wood, and Curtis Poteet just to name a few. I will forever cherish the facilities department. Second, meeting Dr. Dana Miller in my first master's class (emotional intelligence) where she taught me the importance of being an emotionally intelligent leader/individual, and finally meeting my current boss Denise Ellis, Becky Hunke and Dr. Lorie Cook. As I was studying leadership, I saw how these women portray leadership using their own skills each with different personalities but with a goal of demonstrating true leadership.
What will you miss the most about being a Ãå±±½ûµØ student?
I am currently pursuing my Doctorate, I am still a Ãå±±½ûµØ student. When I complete my Doctorate I will provide you with an answer to this question. I will however miss my classmates. Luckily we can still connect via social media and one friend I met in class Jenei Skillet, is still here with me working at Ãå±±½ûµØ.
Who was a major influence for you during your education here, and how have they helped you?
Dr. Paulvince Otieno Obuon, my one and only brother, is a proud Ãå±±½ûµØ Alumni with a great track record that no one has beat yet. Coach Eddie Fye can attest to that statement. He helped me by bringing me to Ãå±±½ûµØ so that I can further my education. Finally, my mom, my greatest cheerleader kept telling me the importance of having an American education. That's how she frames it. Hehehe
What is something you're proud of achieving or accomplishing while at Ãå±±½ûµØ?
So far I am proud of earning my Master's degree in Leadership, I thank Ãå±±½ûµØ for the tuition benefit for employees. I am proud of my personal transformation, I am proud that I became a mom while pursuing my Master's education and finally I am proud of my professional achievement and this wouldn't have been possible without the guidance of my boss Denise Ellis.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
To incoming students, change is very difficult but know that you have a great support system via your professors even if your family is far away. Embrace the change and use it as your weapon to succeed.
Finishing a degree is tough to begin with, but especially so in recent years — what has helped you overcome challenges you've faced along the way?
I identified my saboteurs and I did not let them overpower me. I am an ambitious young lady, my ambition gave me the courage to keep on studying. I am also futuristic, I follow through with plans that I have set. Lastly, I have a great support system, and that's my family. They all kept cheering me on.
Finally — what are you most excited about for your future?
I am excited because I now have a bright future thanks to my education. I am going to be a successful career woman and a successful entrepreneur.
