Michelle Shorter was diligently working on her undergraduate degree when she was unexpectedly sidetracked by two family deaths within one year. "I had a lot going for me, and then suddenly lost my father and his brother within 12 months and one day of each other," she says. "I took time to grieve and ended up pursuing a career instead of going back to school."

Shorter was on the fast track to corporate success, and despite the challenges she was able to complete her undergraduate degree online through Penn State. Enrolled in Penn State's online bachelor of arts degree in law and society program, Shorter was able to focus on her career as a Fraud Policy Strategist for Bank of America while earning her degree on her own time. She completed her assignments from home without having to compromise her job of protecting the company against fraud.

She says her online classes enhanced her career and helped increase her credibility on the job. "I've found my corporate experience in the area of fraud goes hand-in-hand with the criminal law I had been learning," she says. "Both of these skill sets will make me an asset to a litigation firm."

Like many Penn State online students, Shorter is career-driven and committed to lifelong learning. She is now a part of Penn State's Executive Master’s of Business Administration program. After completing the EMBA, she plans to attend Law School to pursue a degree in corporate law.

Shorter recently traveled to University Park to meet with her advisers in person and thank them for all of their help and support. "This experience proves that you don't have to give up your career and short term goals to complete your degree," she says.