As an entrepreneur with businesses spanning "accounting to banking to real estate to cupcakes," Dan may encounter more diverse employee issues than most managers. "I find that the most rewarding, as well as challenging, experiences are how to deal with other people," he said. So, to become a better manager, he earned a Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) from Penn State World Campus.

"The World Campus HRER program taught me to handle virtually every situation that can arise with employees," Dan said, "from what the laws are, to how to properly motivate employees." Acquiring his master’s degree also fulfilled his longtime dream to be a Penn State grad. "The thought of becoming a Penn State alum seemed impossible — or so I thought. Then I found out about the World Campus, which gave me the opportunity to turn my dream into a reality!"

While taking classes, Dan juggled course assignments with obligations that included coaching his kids’ sports teams and doing other volunteer work. As a result, he said, "This has made me become more organized in how I approach both my business and personal life."

Dan would highly recommend Penn State World Campus to others because "it is a fantastic way for working professionals to be able to balance their career, family life, and pursuit of higher education goals, all at the same time. The flexibility is the key ingredient! You design the schedule that works for you."

Now Dan uses his World Campus education every day. "I have been able to apply lessons from every class I have taken from the World Campus in my day-to-day activities," he said. "Because I deal with people at every level, my degree has helped me improve those relationships dramatically, which is translating to the overall improvement of business performance."