At the time of her graduation, Bernie deMunnik (MHS 2009) was program manager of a hospital emergency department where her role included leadership of 80 staff working collaboratively with 25 ER physicians and specialists. Since completion of her degree, she accepted a secondment to a Ministry of Health-funded position where she will be until June 2010. After that, she anticipates continuing to contribute in project management at her organization.

"I selected AU for a few reasons. First, that AU knows how to accomplish distance education so well. My undergrad was completed through distance education at a different university; however, I experienced many frustrations in the process, from receiving course materials in a timely manner [to] submission of assignments and connecting with and obtaining feedback from the professor. I had completed one undergrad course through AU and the difference was remarkable. I thought, ‘This is how it should be! This is how it can be!'

"Second, AU knows how to meet the student needs in a predictable, standardized manner. As an adult learner who also juggled a full-time management-level role, and a mother of four active children, it was important to me to be able to depend on my educational process. I appreciated it so much that I could participate online - no more rushing to the post office or courier at the last moment to submit assignments or waiting for results. The wonderful bonus was the feeling that I was part of a learning environment. The ability to be part of a class and to contribute and learn together was so amazing.

"It is a wonderful sense of accomplishment to have completed my degree. This has provided the confidence and freedom to seek additional learning opportunities and application of the knowledge and skills I have gained. I am glad I did it. I would do it again. I am also glad I am finished and able to move forward with the knowledge and confidence to continue to challenge myself in life."