Alli Blair Snyder, Asst. Director of Graduate Enrollment & Adjunct Professor, Alvernia University
When a woman earns her degree, it doesn’t just change her life – it changes the lives of her children, her family, and the community around her. That’s why Alvernia University’s Graduate and Adult Education division is proud to partner with GRCA’s Women2Women and Alvernia Women’s Council, organizations deeply committed to lifting women into leadership, one story at a time.
Together, we are part of something bigger than any single program or event. We’re helping women write new chapters in their lives; chapters filled with courage, growth and purpose. Our shared work across education, advocacy, and connection forms a kind of circle. This reflects how women have always supported one another, back to our ancestral roots: by gathering together, sharing wisdom, making space and lifting each other with care and connections.
In that communal circle, we’ve seen transformation take root. At Alvernia, we walk alongside women who are returning to school after raising families, navigating career pivots or quietly carrying dreams they once set aside. Each path is different, but all are united by a simple truth: when a woman is supported, she will rise and she will bring others with her. Studies show that when women pursue higher levels of education, their children experience stronger cognitive development and are more likely to hold expectations of earning a college degree themselves, reinforcing the powerful generational impact of maternal education (Augustine, 2017; Jackson et al., 2017).
That belief is at the heart of our partnerships. We’re proud to offer Women2Women members a 20% tuition discount on eligible Alvernia Graduate and Adult Education programs*. Upon enrollment, our students join a cohesive community of support – Alvernia Women’s Council enhances our connection with W2W through student mentorship, professional development and meaningful connection for women of all ages and stages.
One shining example of what’s possible is Lucine Sihelnik, President and CEO of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. Lucine is not only a dynamic community leader and entrepreneur, but also an alumna of Alvernia’s Master of Arts in Leadership program and a current Trustee of the University. Her journey, from the classroom to the boardroom, reflects the very mission we carry forward: when women pursue higher education, they become powerful agents of change.
We were honored Lehigh Valley Business and Central Penn Business Journal named us for the 2024 Empowering Women Award, a recognition that belongs to every woman who has trusted us to walk with her through her comeback. That trust is something we hold with deep respect.
Our students remind us that this work is never just about degrees. It’s about dignity. It’s about becoming the role model your children can look up to or being the first in your family to pursue a higher degree. It’s about finding your voice, stepping into your purpose, and choosing not to let the story end too soon.
Our students’ stories inspire all of us:
- A doctoral graduate who returned to school after raising four children; she described herself as “scared but determined” and fulfilled a lifelong dream
- A mother of two who re-entered college 21 years after her first attempt; she now balances full-time work and family life while completing her degree
- A former teen mom and brain aneurysm survivor who earned her doctorate through sheer perseverance; she shared how her journey changed the trajectory for her children
- A Haitian immigrant and mother of eight (biological, fostered, and adopted) who finished her bachelor’s degree while working two jobs; she says Alvernia helped her merge her lived experience with academic growth
These women were honored this past spring as recipients of our Create Your Comeback award. Of the inaugural group, six of the seven honorees were women. Their stories are not only inspiring, they show us what’s possible when access meets encouragement and tangible support.
To help make that possible, Alvernia Women’s Council also supports the Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarship for women to help support them financially to complete their degree. It’s one more way we work to remove barriers and help women return to finish what they started.
We believe deeply in the transformational power of adult learning. Our students aren’t coming back to school just to earn a credential; they’re coming back to lead, to heal, to model resilience and to build something lasting.
If you are part of the Women2Women network and considering your next step, we’re here for you. Because when one woman rises, so many more will follow.
Create Your Comeback at Alvernia.
Reach out to our team at gradandadult@alvernia.edu or visit alvernia.edu/gradandadult to learn more. Many of our programs are competitively priced at the Pennsylvania state rate, and we’re happy to help you explore your options.
*Discount applies to eligible programs only. Please contact our team to confirm availability.
References:
Augustine, J. (2017). Increased Educational Attainment among U.S. Mothers and their Children’s Academic Expectations. Research in social stratification and mobility, 52, 15–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2017.08.001
Jackson, M., Kiernan, K., & McLanahan, S. (2017). Maternal Education, Changing Family Circumstances, and Children’s Skill Development in the United States and UK. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 674(1), 59–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716217729471