Global Campus Alumna Inspired to Pass on Experience Through Mentorship

Online learning opportunities, like the 35 graduate and undergraduate degree programs offered by Washington State University Global Campus, are an ideal way for adults balancing work, family, military, and other obligations to achieve their career goals.

For WSU alumna Jill Knaack, her journey as a Global Campus student wasn’t just a path to her own personal success; it became an opportunity to share that success with others.

“I owe so much of where I am in life to my higher education experiences, and the opportunities to learn flexibly through Global Campus was a huge part of that,” said Knaack. “Now that I’ve achieved some of those goals, I feel like it’s time for me to pay it forward, so to speak, and I’m really glad that Global Campus has given me opportunities to do that through mentorship.”

Knaack, currently living in Arizona, spent more than a decade in various roles in the travel industry. However, her passion for writing led her to pursue a degree and transition into a writing-focused role within the industry.

“I chose Global Campus because I needed a flexible education experience that could meet me where I was. I was a ‘non-traditional’ student working full time while holding down a home and a busy volunteering schedule with Girl Scouts,” she said. “I also wanted to feel like I was having as true a college experience as I could, even as a remote student, and I liked that Global Campus focused on that.”

In 2021, Knack began working on her Bachelor of Arts in strategic communication, which she completed in 2024. Despite initial uncertainties about what going to college fully online might be like, she notes her experience was extremely positive and exceeded her expectations.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I rarely felt like I was ‘just’ an online student, and I got the full educational experience I was hoping for,” she said. “I felt challenged in ways I hadn’t before and I felt like my professors held their students to standards of excellence that pushed us to do better.”

Though her time as an online learner was transformative, it wasn’t without its obstacles.

“Time management was my biggest challenge. I had so many things going on in my life that it could be difficult to lay down a hard boundary when it came to getting my classwork completed,” she said. “I didn’t have much of a social life while I was working on my degree, but I knew I had a support system that would wait for me and be there to cheer me on when I got done.”

Within months of completing her degree, she secured a job in her desired field and industry. “This meant a huge financial boon for my family and put me back where I wanted to be in terms of my career,” she said. “I have since been able to leverage that success into another new role that promises huge growth for my professional life. I sincerely believe it’s been the power of my degree from WSU that has helped me push past a lot of barriers that were in my way.”

Upon completing her degree, Knaack wanted to find a way to share her success with fellow Global Campus Cougs. Inspiration came from an experience she had as a student.

“I had an amazing mentor through the Murrow First program. Her name was Sherry Nebel, and she gave me so much support along the way, inspiring me to give back to WSU through mentoring,” she said. “I wanted to share that with other students that might be having a similar experience to mine.”

Murrow First is a program designed to support first-generation students in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication with mentoring, networking, and academic resources tailored to communication majors.

As a new Global Campus alumna, Knaack discovered the Crimson Compass program, a mentorship initiative that connects Global Campus graduates with those currently earning their degree.

“Today I have two incredible mentees through Crimson Compass and I love meeting with them,” she said. “Getting your degree is like training for, competing in, and finishing a marathon. You’ve got to do the hard work, but your support system helps lift you up. And I want to be that support system for others.”

Knaack shares this advice with those she mentors: “seek out ways to connect with other Global Campus students. It can be through clubs or activities offered online, or through connecting via messaging or keeping in contact with one another after a group project. The number one thing I hear from folks about their time in Global Campus is sometimes this feeling of isolation.”

“Know that you’re not alone! It’s maybe one of the greatest challenges of online school, but WSU offers a lot of opportunities to get and remain connected with your fellow remote classmates. Take advantage of them when you can!”

Learn more about Crimson Compass and other student involvement opportunities on the Global Connections website.

About the Author 

Jeff Willadsen is the Digital Content and Communication Coordinator for WSU Global Campus. Before being hired at WSU in 2018, he worked as a photojournalist and public affairs specialist in the US Navy. He earned his Master’s in Strategic Communication online through WSU Global Campus while still active duty in the Navy, illustrating its value as an effective and flexible higher education option for working adults.