May 20, 2026
Contact: Cary Littlejohn, carylittlejohn@missouri.edu
At the University of Missouri, education is a lifelong pursuit that extends beyond students.
Mizzou encourages staff members to take advantage of its first-rate academic programs by offering support and resources that allow them to continue their education.
Meet some of Mizzou’s employees who are using off-work time to complete degrees at every level.
Name: Darren Hellwege
Staff Position/Title: Senior media producer
Department: FM Station- KBIA/Classical 90.5; Missouri School of Journalism
Degree Seeking: Bachelor’s degree
Format: In-person
Why did you decide to further your education?
After being diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, I’m learning strategies to help academic success. I’m also inspired by my daughter, who is soon to receive her master’s degree, and my parents, who were both professors. I’m not going after a specific, job-related field of study, but rather just taking courses that I find interesting. Knowing that my wife brags to her co-workers about my exam scores always makes me smile.
How has Mizzou made it easy for you to go back?
I have gotten tremendous support from faculty members in my classes, and I’m getting remarkable support from my colleagues at KBIA, who are so encouraging. I have been associated with Mizzou Wrestling for many years, and Coach Brian Smith has been one of my biggest supporters; hearing encouragement from him means a lot to me. Finally, I’m grateful for resources from the Disability Center that are letting me find techniques to help me overcome the disability and still drive toward academic success.
What have you enjoyed most about continuing your education, and how do you hope to use it?
There’s a great combination of courses in specific fields in which I have a great interest, like atmospheric sciences, and things I’d not have immediately thought of as being as relevant, like an art history class I’m taking this semester that I’m enjoying very much. I am taking advantage of some great old traditions of Mizzou: spending time in the Grand Reading Room at the library, having lunch at Memorial Student Union and even rubbing Gov. Francis’ nose before a big exam. Even though I’m substantially older than my classmates, I do feel very much like just another student in these classes and on the campus.
Name: Sydney Winn
Staff Position/Title: CAFNR Extension news & marketing strategist
Department: Division of Applied Social Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Degree Seeking: Master of science in agriculture leadership, communication and education
Format: Mizzou Online
Why did you decide to further your education?
Continuing my education had always been important to me, but the encouragement of my husband and family gave me the push I needed to go back to school. I wanted to better tailor my education to support the career goals I already had. During my undergraduate career, I was still figuring out my professional direction, but pursuing my master’s degree allowed me to be more intentional and focused, choosing coursework that directly aligned with my job and where I want to go professionally.
How has Mizzou made it easy for you to go back?
Mizzou made it an easy decision to return to school. My supervisor and coworkers in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources were incredibly encouraging and understanding throughout the process and were always willing to participate in projects or offer thoughtful input whenever I needed it.
Just as importantly, Mizzou makes it possible for me to pursue a degree that directly aligned with my current job responsibilities, giving my learning a clear purpose. Through the IDEA program, an online higher education alliance, I had the flexibility to choose from courses offered across multiple universities, allowing me to create a truly customized course of study. From crisis communications to positive psychology, the variety of classes helped me build skills that were immediately applicable to my work.
What have you enjoyed most about continuing your education, and how do you hope to use it?
I have most enjoyed blending the work I do every day in my role with what I am learning so they can support each other. For my final creative component, I am building upon a program I currently use to help specialists and their programs develop strategic communication plans that increase their reach and impact across Missouri.
The ideas behind this program — being intentional, audience‑focused and strategic — are ones we use daily in our communication efforts. Through my coursework and creative project, I hope to further refine this work and use the program as a way to teach others how to think more strategically and maximize the effectiveness of their own communication efforts.
Name: Lenny Rahaman
Staff Position/Title: Communications project manager
Department: Dean’s office in the College of Arts and Science
Degree Seeking: Master of arts in journalism
Format: In-person
Why did you decide to further your education?
I was working an office support role at Mizzou, but wanted to move into journalism or strategic communication, which seemed like the best way to do more of what I enjoyed. I knew I needed additional knowledge and experience to change careers, and I knew I could get both through the Missouri Method at the Missouri School of Journalism.
How has Mizzou made it easy for you to go back?
I have flexibility both from the Mizzou Graduate School and my supervisors. The Graduate School’s time limit for degree completion allowed me to take classes at a pace that felt comfortable. I’ve changed jobs over the years, and all of my supervisors have been extremely supportive of me continuing and completing my degree.
What have you enjoyed most about continuing your education, and how do you hope to use it?
I’m already using what I learn. I can learn something in the classroom and bring it into the office to use the same day. That’s probably what I enjoy most — applying what I learn a matter of minutes later. Taking classes while working in the same field really levels up the Missouri Method.
Name: Sam Snavely
Staff Position/Title: Student support staff/placement coordinator
Department: Office of Clinical Experiences and Partnerships in the College of Education and Human Development
Degree Seeking?: Completing a master of library and information sciences degree in May 2026 and has been accepted into the doctoral program for information sciences and learning technologies starting Fall 2026
Format: Mizzou Online
Why did you decide to further your education?
At the start of my high school English teaching career, I had already gone back to college once to complete my master’s degree and get a reading specialist certification. As more years went by, I knew that I wanted to go back to being a student. I loved learning so much, and I really wanted to be able to pursue a doctorate at some point. Spring 2023 was my last semester in the public-school classroom, and I knew it was my time to apply for something else. I had always considered getting my MLIS, but I wanted to be able to support and advocate for K-12 education still. I applied for the master’s program at the same time that I applied for my position in the College of Education and Human Development, supporting preservice and student teachers. I was incredibly lucky to be accepted in both roles.
How has Mizzou made it easy for you to go back?
I think Mizzou has done so much to make this an easy transition back. It does help a lot that my place of work is within the same college that my degree programs are housed. Even though I am considered an online student, I am still within walking distance to a lot of the resources and people on campus, but I know that there is a ton of outreach and support for people who are not as close as I am, too. Our faculty and staff are incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate. They are always willing to help and guide students. It makes it so much more approachable. My experience and engagement would not be possible without all of those pieces from Mizzou — the people and the resources.
What have you enjoyed most about continuing your education, and how do you hope to use it?
I have most enjoyed learning and studying with peers and experts interested in the same work, but who are from all over and from so many different backgrounds. I have learned a lot about advocating for libraries, emerging technologies and aspects of information sciences that I had not fully considered before. My goal is to now take this education into my doctorate so that I can combine all of my interests. I am currently working on ideas related to the school-to-prison pipeline and how we can build community, supporting our most disenfranchised through the lens of information sciences. The community at Mizzou is so special to me, and I believe it is always important to move forward in finding ways to support one another. I hope that my future research can be a part of that.
Name: Mary Christie
Staff Position/Title: Senior director of education programs
Department: Health Affairs in the School of Medicine
Degree Seeking?: Doctorate in translational biosciences
Format: In-person
Why did you decide to further your education?
I decided to further my education because I wanted to grow in ways that would help me make a greater impact. I am pursuing a doctorate to gain the advanced training to study rural research and develop evidence-based solutions that expand access to research opportunities in rural communities.
How has Mizzou made it easy for you to go back?
Mizzou made it easier to go back by offering assistance that made it financially realistic. I have also been fortunate to work with leaders who value professional growth, encouraging me along the way.
What have you enjoyed most about continuing your education, and how do you hope to use it?What I have enjoyed most is being able to connect what I am learning to the work I do every day. I have loved learning new skills that strengthen my work in research, workforce development and rural engagement. I have also learned so much from the other students in my program while building meaningful relationships. I hope to carry that forward by advancing research training, building stronger community partnerships and sharing Mizzou’s work more broadly across Missouri and beyond.
