Elisa Landgraf’s Story with American National University
For one American National University student, earning a degree in technology is about much more than advancing her career—it’s about perseverance, challenging expectations, and proving that it’s never too late to pursue something new. After earning her associate degree in her 40s against the odds of former professors saying she should reconsider her path, Elisa Landgraf continued building a career in technology while balancing work, family, and the demands of everyday life. Now pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity at American National University, she is once again taking on a new challenge while serving as the University’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Director. Her dedication and determination have not gone unnoticed: she was nominated as a Term Trailblazer for Term 260, recognizing the commitment she brings to her education and her community.
Because of a long commute and some health issues, Elisa took over twice the amount of time to finish her associate degree than expected. Because of that, she did not expect to want to return to higher education. “I honestly never thought I’d get a bachelor’s degree,” she explained, “I felt like there was no hope for me.” However, her boss, Joel Musgrove, Senior Executive Vice President of Operations at American National University, is the very person who encouraged her to take the leap. “He showed his total faith in me,” she said, “so I said, ‘okay, let’s do it for one term.’ And that was two years ago!” That push got her into the depths of her bachelor’s degree – where she has exceeded her professors’ expectations. “I’m 57! I never thought I could do this, I didn’t think it was something I could do [because of] where I live, my age, what I got going on in my life. I didn’t think it would be possible – and here I am, over half way through!”
“If it wasn’t for that it’s an online class… To be honest, I think that’s why I can do it. I don’t have that hour and a half commute [one way], that three hours of driving every day to get my degree. [American National University] is convenient! I have a two second commute.”
Elisa’s previous education had given her some online experience with hybrid classes. However, she could never connect with them as well as the other facets of her education. With American National University, all of that went away. “ANU does something that makes it a little bit easier. Maybe it’s because the classes are similarly structured so you know what’s expected… and the collaborations with the Zoom sessions, I think, is very easy. If it wasn’t for being online, I don’t think I could do it – I know I couldn’t!”
As part of the IT team at American National University, Elisa is getting education that directly affects the work she is currently doing. “I understand things better. There’s things I read that I have to do in Salesforce and I go, ‘what is that?’ Then I’ll have a network class and it’s like ‘aha!’” She explained with a smile. “I think [my education] is going to enhance my current position and enable me to grow.”
As part of her current term, Elisa had to download VMware for her Ethical Hacking course – where she built a virtual computer to open different kinds of operating systems. “We’re learning how to scan and do penetration testing, basically to see where weaknesses are in another system. So I am using my existing computer, opening a new computer on the inside of it, and testing my existing computer to see where things need to be worked on, or places where hackers can get through, or potential weaknesses on the system – which I think is interesting!” And her professors are career experienced professionals teaching her the skills she needs to succeed. Upon reflecting on the professors she’s had so far, she said, “for the most part, every one of my instructors are passionate about the student success. They want to make sure you understand the material. They want you engaged in class.”
When asked what she liked most about American National University, especially in comparison to her previous education, Elisa says “convenience.” She remembered working nine hours to support her family, then going to a café or shop to spend “too much money” on coffee and snacks to get through her four hour classes and then would have to end the day with an hour and a half drive home. “Here? I can work, I can step away, grab my coffee, go to the bathroom, and I come back [to class]. I make my own coffee! It saves me so much money in commute, in coffees, in food.
[American National University] is convenient, efficient. I save. How do you put a price tag on your time? It fits into a busy lifestyle. It makes it doable. It makes it something achievable, it doesn’t feel so far-fetched for a busy person, to somebody who’s already struggling and juggling a lot of things.”
Her future goals once included telling snarky people who denigrated her higher education pursuits that she could “freelance off of the beach in Belize.” But now that she is in the midst of her bachelor’s at American National University she feels “the sky is the limit!” Her education has allowed her to see that she could reach far beyond her own expectations. “I am passionate about higher education… I wish I could convince everybody to go to school,” Elisa explained. Her biggest push for that is not just to encourage everyone that they should go, but that they are more than able to do it. “I don’t feel like there are enough people pushing an adult to go to college, I don’t feel like there’s enough people showing the way for them, saying ‘you can do this, here’s how!’”
Would Elisa recommend American National University to others? “I would say yes, definitely! ANU makes it so much easier to do it nowadays than even when I got my associate!”
Her advice to new students includes “don’t be afraid to ask questions in Zoom sessions! Because one of the other students is just waiting – they don’t want to be the one to break the ice. Break that ice!”
