5 UMass Global Grads Who Prove a Career Change Is Possible

A career change can happen at any stage of life. For some people, it means moving into an entirely new field after years in the workforce. For others, it means returning to a long-held goal, building new skills, or preparing to lead in a larger way.

For working adults, parents, veterans, and returning students, taking that next step can feel complicated. Work, family responsibilities, and financial considerations do not pause when you decide to pursue a degree. But your experience does not have to hold you back. It can become the foundation for what comes next.

Career goals do not have an expiration date. In a 2026 assessment of more than 18,000 working adults who were already considering a career change, interest in pursuing a completely new career path remained substantial across every experience level. The report is not representative of all workers, but it reflects a reality many career changers recognize: the desire for a new direction can remain strong even as life becomes more complex.

Whether you are considering a midlife career change, preparing for a new professional direction, or growing in your current field, education can help you move forward. These five University of Massachusetts Global graduates found different ways to build on their experiences and pursue what was next.

1. James I. Manning: From police officer and army veteran to state senator

Before serving in the Oregon State Senate, James I. Manning worked as a police officer and spent more than 24 years in the U.S. Army. Manning originally planned to serve three years of active duty followed by three years in the Army Reserves. Instead, military service became a long-term career. During that time, he began to think differently about leadership and what it meant to serve others.

“I began thinking of how I could work for my soldiers instead of thinking about how they worked for me,” Manning said.

After retiring from the Army, Manning brought his leadership and organizational experience into higher education as an adjunct professor. He later earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from UMass Global.

“I would recommend UMass Global for a quality education to anyone,” Manning said. “I know the faculty is absolutely committed to a quality education. They’ll make sure you get what you’re coming for—the knowledge you need.”

Manning continued serving his community as a commissioner on the Eugene Water and Electric Board and as president of local foundations. Eventually, he found an opportunity to make an even broader impact when he successfully ran for the Oregon State Senate.

His path shows that a career change does not have to mean leaving service behind. Sometimes, it means finding a larger way to serve.

“It’s not about me,” Manning said. “It’s about serving the people.”

2. Liza Sanchez: Turning workplace advocacy into a legal career

For more than 25 years, Liza Sanchez built her career as a flight attendant. Along the way, she became involved in her union and helped coworkers navigate contract questions, workplace policies, and disciplinary hearings. The experience led her toward a new professional goal.

“After more than 25 years flying as a flight attendant, I’ve learned that the most powerful tool in any workplace isn’t just a policy manual, it’s about knowing your rights,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez earned a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies with a concentration in Paralegal Studies from UMass Global. Rather than starting over, she used the degree to build on the advocacy work she had already been doing.

“I found myself not just supporting people, but digging into the ‘why’ behind decisions,” she said. “That curiosity and drive to advocate more effectively led me to pursue a degree in Legal Studies.”

As a working mother with a demanding aviation job and a second role in security, Sanchez needed a program that could fit into a full life. She says fully online coursework gave her the flexibility to continue her education while working toward her goals.

Now, she is exploring legal career paths that include mediation, labor relations, and law school. Her long-term goal is to continue advocating for working people from a legal perspective.

“I want to be someone who helps bridge that gap, someone who not only understands the law but uses it to protect and empower others,” Sanchez said.

3. Beatriz Valdivia: Building a career in mental health

Beatriz “Bea” Valdivia knew graduate school would be a challenge. As a first-generation college graduate, she had already experienced the uncertainty that can come with pursuing higher education. Even after earning an undergraduate degree, the idea of graduate school initially felt out of reach.

“I had to believe in myself and build the confidence to take that step,” Valdivia said.

As a wife and mother of three, Valdivia looked for an educational experience that could fit alongside her family responsibilities. She chose UMass Global’s Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program because an online program gave her the flexibility to continue her education while managing a busy household. Valdivia says she found support not only from faculty and university resources, but also from classmates who were already working in the field. Their guidance helped her learn about professional opportunities and gain experience as she prepared for a new professional direction.

“The journey wasn’t always easy, but UMass Global provided the mentorship and resources that helped me navigate grad school, balance challenges, and grow both academically and personally,” she said.

What began as a leap of faith led Valdivia from being a stay-at-home mother to working as a crisis service worker. She is now pursuing a career as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. 

Her experience is a reminder that the next chapter can begin at any point. With determination, support, and a clear goal, a career path that once seemed distant can become possible.

4. Kelly Searcy: Returning to school for a new legal path

Kelly Searcy did not take a traditional path back to school. After earning an associate degree in her 20s, she left the United States and spent several years backpacking and living in South America. During that time, she learned Spanish, worked as an interpreter, and became a mother.

When the pandemic changed her circumstances, Searcy returned to the United States and began again. Encouraged by a friend, she settled in New England and decided to return to college.

Her time abroad had given her a firsthand view of the challenges immigrants and underserved communities can face when navigating language barriers and complex legal systems. She wanted to learn more about the law and develop the skills to advocate effectively. That goal led Searcy to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies with a concentration in Paralegal Studies from UMass Global.

Her journey required persistence. In the same week she was admitted to UMass Global, she became a single parent. During her first year, she balanced parenting, family illness, Lyme disease, and her work as a Spanish interpreter in special education while returning to school. Still, Searcy continued to show up. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA in her UMass Global courses.

For Searcy, the achievement represents much more than academic performance.

“It represents every late night after my child went to bed,” she said. “Every assignment written with an ice pack on my neck. Every discussion post typed in the car between appointments. Every moment I almost talked myself out of believing that I belonged here.”

Searcy plans to pursue paralegal certification and may eventually attend law school. Her story is a powerful reminder that growth does not have an expiration date.

“Sometimes the path you didn’t plan is the one that leads you exactly where you were meant to go,” Searcy said.

5. Aishwarya Sillodkar: Growing from technology expertise into leadership

Aishwarya Sillodkar began her professional journey in Maharashtra, India, with a background in engineering and a career in technology. Over the years, she worked with global teams, led projects, and helped build technology solutions. But as her career progressed, Sillodkar began to recognize that technical knowledge alone was not enough for the type of impact she wanted to make.

“Technical expertise can build systems. But leadership builds impact,” Sillodkar said.

While continuing her professional career, she earned a Master of Business Administration from UMass Global. For Sillodkar, the degree was an opportunity to strengthen her leadership skills and prepare for broader responsibilities.

“UMass Global wasn’t just a university,” she said. “It was a bridge between where I was and where I wanted to be.”

Like many adult learners, Sillodkar completed her degree while balancing professional responsibilities, deadlines, and the demands of everyday life. She says the support of family, faculty, and classmates helped her persist through moments of uncertainty. Through discussions, collaborative projects, and faculty mentorship, Sillodkar developed a broader perspective on leadership.

“Leadership today requires more than intelligence,” she said. “It requires empathy, adaptability, and the courage to build a better future.”

Her story shows that career growth can be just as transformative as a career change. Sometimes the next step is not moving away from what you know, it is gaining the skills and confidence to lead in a larger way.

A career change could be in your future

Their stories show that a career change or a midlife career change does not require you to disregard the experience you have gained. Whether your next step is a new profession, a new credential, or a larger role in your current field, your knowledge, perspective, and persistence can help guide the way.

Whether you are considering a career change, preparing for advancement, or returning to a goal you have put on hold, UMass Global offers online degree programs designed to fit the lives of adult learners.

Before you take the plunge and commit to a new career path, carefully consider all aspects of the potential shift. Learn more by visiting our blog, Career Transition Advice: How to Make a Career Change with Confidence.