Meet Mattie Lawson mother of 6, grandmother of 10, and Kaplan University graduate student extraordinaire.

This 50-something dynamo began her career working with disabled adults and the elderly in Detroit-area nursing homes. After moving to a small town in northwest Indiana, she found work in a local manufacturing facility. But when her employer outsourced her job to a foreign country, she was left wondering about her next step.

That is when she decided to go back to school to learn some new, more marketable skills. “After losing my job I went to a community college and received my Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology,” she recalls. “When I wasn’t able to get work, I decided to go for my bachelor’s instead of just sitting around.”

While researching online colleges and universities she discovered Kaplan University. “I really felt comfortable with what I read about Kaplan University and decided that was the school for me,” she says. “I liked the programs that were offered and the diversity.”

In 2007, Mattie began studying information technology, earning a bachelor of science in June of 2009 with a 3.4 GPA. When asked how her education has helped her career, she admits that she is still in the networking phase of her job search. Because she lives in a fairly remote area, there are not many job opportunities. Undeterred, she proclaims that this situation has nothing to do with her education. “I just need more time to decide whether I want to relocate again.”

Another reason Mattie’s career is on hold is that she has returned to Kaplan University to earn her Master of Science in Higher Education. And though she is as busy as ever, she still finds the time to tutor other Kaplan University students—including her own son.

Mattie has only good things to say about her experiences at Kaplan University. “Everything has been optimistic for me. You have control of where you want your education to go and Kaplan University is there to help you get there.”

Keep up the great work, Mattie. You are an inspiration to us all.

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