Key Takeaways:
Barbara Bluitt graduated from the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) in 2026 with her second degree and is now pursuing a Doctor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership.
She credits her growth mindset and pursuit of excellence with helping her continue learning while balancing work, life, and school.
Mentor and fellow UAGC graduate Rodney Williams encouraged Barbara throughout her educational journey and helped her see what was possible.
Barbara says UAGC faculty, family, and employer tuition benefit gave her the encouragement, accountability, and resources to keep moving forward.
Looking ahead, Barbara hopes to use her leadership experience and education to make a greater impact, potentially by stepping into a professor role.
UAGC Doctoral in Leadership Student Barbara Bluitt is Pursuing Excellence With Purpose and Support
When Barbara Bluitt crossed the stage at the UAGC Spring 2026 commencement, she wasn鈥檛 alone.
Waiting for her was Rodney Williams, her mentor, fellow UAGC graduate, and one of the people who had helped her believe she could make it as far as she did. Five years earlier, Rodney had completed his degree but was unable to attend commencement. So, he received special permission from the university to walk the stage together to celebrate Barbara鈥檚 accomplishment.
For Barbara, having Rodney beside her made the moment feel full circle.
鈥淩odney has played a huge impact on my journey because if it wasn't for Rodney, I wouldn't be sitting here to give you my story today,鈥 she shares.
Admittedly, Rodney wasn鈥檛 the only one who helped get her across the stage.
Barbara credits the mentors, colleagues, and UAGC faculty who encouraged her throughout her journey. To her, the achievement belonged to more than just the person wearing the cap and gown.
鈥淵our support system matters,鈥 she emphasizes. 鈥淎nd if it wasn鈥檛 for the people rooting me on every step of the way, giving that last extra push toward the finish line, my story would look very different today.鈥
This philosophy has helped her navigate the long hours and inevitable challenges that come with balancing work, life, and school. But Barbara believes excellence isn鈥檛 something you achieve alone.
For more than 30 years, Barbara has built a career in leadership and people development. Her passion for the work has fueled an equally strong commitment to learning and a belief that there is always another opportunity to grow.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be a UAGC graduate because I鈥檓 a better version of myself today than what I was yesterday, than what I was last year, than what I was when I originally started, and I鈥檓 looking for great things to come as I continue on my educational journey,鈥 she says.
The Drive to Keep Learning
Barbara earned a Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Administration and Organizational Management, and a Master of Arts in Psychology from UAGC. Now, she鈥檚 continuing that journey by pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership.
She describes her educational journey as far from easy, but that was never a reason to throw in the towel.
鈥淵ou have to ask yourself, how bad do you want it?鈥 she says. 鈥淏ecause if you want it bad enough, you're going to find a way to overcome the obstacles, the challenges, right? So that you can stay focused and remain on course. Will it always be easy? Absolutely not.鈥
鈥淵our support system matters. And if it wasn鈥檛 for the people rooting me on every step of the way, giving that last extra push toward the finish line, my story would look very different today.鈥
That determination has carried her from one degree to the next, from moments of doubt to a doctoral pursuit, and toward what鈥檚 next, where she hopes to use everything she has learned to make an even greater impact.
鈥淭he reason I didn't stop after my bachelor's degree is that I was so drawn to knowledge,鈥 she shares. 鈥淎nd what was so crazy, it took me forever to start this journey, but then after I finished with my bachelor's, I was like, hmm, what's next?鈥
As a senior manager of client benefits at CVS Health, Barbara found that each degree gave her something she could bring back to her work. Her BA in Health Care Administration helped her feel more positioned and confident in the industry, while her double major in organizational management built on that foundation and challenged the way she approached leadership.
鈥淔or me, the whole objective of organizational management was becoming a better strategic thinker,鈥 Barbara explains, 鈥渁nalyzing the data that comes before me, questioning what鈥檚 in front of me, and building new skills to become a more effective leader.鈥
Her master鈥檚 degree in psychology reinforced another set of skills Barbara considers essential to effective leadership: developing people, building relationships, and communicating with intention.
Just when she thought she was done with her education, she received an email from UAGC about the Doctorate in Organizational Leadership program. With the option to specialize in psychology leadership, the program brought together two things for Barbara.
鈥淎 light bulb went off in my head,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 ignore it. Now is the chance to combine both of my passions,鈥 she says.
There was one more detail that helped seal the deal: The program didn鈥檛 require a traditional dissertation. Instead, students complete an Applied Doctoral Project (ADP). For Barbara, that distinction removed one of the biggest barriers she associated with pursuing a doctorate.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what causes a lot of my friends who have master鈥檚 degrees not to want to go back to get their doctorate,鈥 she says. 鈥淭he coursework and Applied Doctoral Project piqued my interest, for sure. And here I am.鈥
In fall 2026, Barbara began her doctoral program at UAGC, proving that sometimes the next chapter begins with simply being willing to reconsider what you thought was the end.
A Mindset Built for Excellence
To understand Barbara鈥檚 pursuit of excellence, you have to go back to where it began.
Growing up with five brothers, she was the only girl in the family, and she credits that dynamic with fueling her competitive spirit. Her parents reinforced it, teaching their children to give whatever they were doing their all.
That mindset has followed Barbara into every classroom and every discussion post, where excellence isn鈥檛 about being perfect. It鈥檚 about refusing to settle for yesterday鈥檚 version of herself.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be a UAGC graduate because I鈥檓 a better version of myself today than what I was yesterday, than what I was last year, than what I was when I originally started, and I鈥檓 looking for great things to come as I continue on my educational journey.鈥
One quote, shared with her by a nephew who plays college football, has become a favorite: 鈥淚f you don't have the time to do it right the first time, when will you have time to do it over?鈥
The sentiment captures Barbara鈥檚 approach to learning 鈥 and to life.
鈥淔or me, being a better version of myself today than what I was yesterday is having a growth mindset,鈥 she says.
That mindset begins with intention.
鈥淏eing intentional means being passionate about what you're doing, being open-minded, because there's feedback that you're going to receive on this journey,鈥 she says. 鈥淏eing disciplined means setting schedules so that you can try to complete your coursework on time. Will life happen? Absolutely. Life just happened yesterday. But being intentional on, 鈥楾hese are my goals, this is what I want to accomplish,鈥 and making sure that you are committed to the end.鈥
It鈥檚 a framework that has helped her navigate the long hours and inevitable challenges that come with balancing work, life, and school. But Barbara believes excellence isn鈥檛 something you achieve alone.
鈥淵ou have to count on yourself, but you also have to get your support group 鈥 the people who are going to have your back, hold you accountable, and be your cheerleaders, because some days you may need all of that. I couldn't have done this without my higher power. There鈥檚 no way I was operating in my own strength.
鈥淵ou get closer and closer, and you start to see your dreams become your reality. And at the end of the day, you have to look in the mirror and say, 鈥榊ou know what? I do want this bad enough.鈥 And because I want it bad enough, I'm going to ride the storm.鈥
She Didn鈥檛 Do It Alone
Even the most determined person needs someone in their corner. For Barbara, that person was Rodney Williams.
When he earned his degree from UAGC in 2021, he was working full time on the road as a corporate trainer for Cox Automotive, traveling to automotive dealerships to train employees on different software. His schedule made earning a degree anything but easy. After long days of traveling and training, Rodney would return to his hotel room and turn his attention to his coursework.
鈥淛ust imagine some of the challenges that I had on a daily basis of having to go out and train other people and then having to come back to my hotel room and still commit to completing the classes,鈥 . 鈥淏ut I'm just living proof that it can be done.鈥
Rodney saw that same persistence in Barbara and encouraged her to recognize it in herself.
鈥淩odney鈥檚 support means the world to me because just knowing that I could call him whenever I needed extra words of encouragement or just someone to lean on, someone who I knew would not hold back and keep it real with me, it made all the difference,鈥 Barbara shares.
Support from her university would matter just as much as having the determination to keep going.
鈥淢ost adult learners, we're juggling many things in life,鈥 Barbara says. 鈥淔or myself, it's being a wife, being a mother, having a staff at work, also being a student as well. So, you want to feel that you're more than just somebody online learning. You want to know that you do have that support from faculty.鈥
That support showed up in faculty members who made themselves available, communicated expectations, and reminded her that she wasn鈥檛 navigating her education alone. Among the faculty members who made a lasting impression were Dr. Paul Greenberg, Bill Davis, and Dr. Teresa Leary Handy. At the UAGC 2026 Culture of Care Summit, Barbara had the opportunity to publicly thank the faculty members who supported her along the way.
鈥淚've learned so much from you guys, whether it be the personalized one-on-one care that you've given me, sharing best practices, the encouragement, the accountability, the belief,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 just really appreciate this program, and I hope that others will flock to it because I feel that it could be instrumental in their journey.
鈥淲hat I love about my relationship with them is that they don't work for me, and I don't work for them. What they do is simply out of the genuine care in their heart and their passion to see other people thrive.鈥
More Knowledge, Greater Impact
Barbara鈥檚 doctoral journey is underway, but she鈥檚 already thinking about what comes next.
Continuing her education has always been about expanding her perspective to help develop the next generation of leaders.
鈥淭he more knowledge that I have, I feel the more impactful that I can be,鈥 she says.
Will life happen? Absolutely. Life just happened yesterday. But be intentional on, 鈥楾hese are my goals, this is what I want to accomplish,鈥 and make sure that you are committed to the end.鈥
After several decades in the business of empowering others, Barbara is even considering a new way to share what she鈥檚 learned: stepping into the classroom herself.
While she may not know exactly where her journey will take her, she knows what she wants from the road ahead.
鈥淚 do want to have more control as it relates to my quality of life, and where I鈥檓 giving my time to, where I鈥檓 pouring into,鈥 she says. 鈥淓ducation will help me do that, I am sure.鈥
From a childhood spent competing alongside five brothers to competing with herself for a third UAGC degree, Barbara鈥檚 journey has been defined by a willingness to keep learning, growing, and betting on herself, with a community of people cheering her forward along the way. Now, she鈥檚 ready to see how far that journey can take her.
Continue Your Journey
Inspired by Barbara鈥檚 story? Whether you鈥檙e taking your first step or looking for your next challenge, your journey starts with a decision to invest in yourself. Explore UAGC degree programs today, and talk to an advisor.
