Southwest Virginia Higher Ed Center

Bethany Gillespie’s academic path wasn’t always a straight line. After obtaining her associate degree in business administration from Virginia Highlands Community College, Bethany planned to transfer to the University of Virginia’s College at Wise through the Higher Education Center to pursue her bachelor’s in business. The summer of her VHCC graduation, however, she volunteered at a local agency that provided mental health services to the community and realized that she had found her calling. "After seeing the career possibilities with psychology, I made the change," she said. Bethany was able to transfer over from VHCC to the Higher Education Center seamlessly, and enrolled in the psychology program through UVA Wise. She successfully balanced her studies, a full time job, and her personal life thanks to the Center's flexible learning environment. "I was initially drawn to the programs offered through the Higher Ed Center after learning that the flexibility of classes would also allow me to work a full-time job while obtaining my degree," she said. This flexibility allowed Bethany to pursue her passion for mental health while staying connected to her community, making the dream of earning a degree a reality without the need to leave home. After graduation, Bethany gained experience in the mental health field as a day treatment counselor, foster care worker, and worked on psychiatric units with a local healthcare provider. She is now an operations manager, overseeing the operations for several psychiatric units with a local healthcare facility. Bethany isn’t the only member of her family who has been positively impacted by the Center. She met her husband, Christopher, at VHCC before they both decided to continue their studies at the Center. Though they were in different academic programs, Bethany transitioning to psychology and Christopher staying in business, attending the same institution allowed them to support one another throughout their educational pursuits.

After completing his studies, Christopher went on to earn an MBA and now works as a software analyst. The couple, married for 10 years with a five-year-old son, Noah, is grateful for the opportunity to grow both academically and personally at the Center. Bethany’s time at the Higher Ed Center wasn’t just about academics, it was also about the connections she built with classmates, faculty, and staff. "What stands out the most to me from my time at the Higher Ed Center is primarily the relationships I formed with classmates, friends, and my site coordinators," she said. She also fondly remembers the professors who traveled from Wise to Abingdon, ensuring students received the same level of attention and expertise as those on the main campus. “What stands out the most to me from my time at the Higher Ed Center is primarily the relationships I formed with classmates, friends, and my site coordinators.” For Bethany, the Center wasn’t just a place to earn a degree – it was a community that provided the support and mentorship needed to thrive academically and professionally. As she continues her career and works toward completing her MBA, Bethany is thankful for the path the Higher Ed Center helped set her on and remains a proud advocate for the invaluable impact it has had on her life and the community.

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Great People, Greater Stories

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