Susie Beador

Our “Global Campus Legends” series celebrates the 30^th anniversary of WSU Global Campus by putting a spotlight on the unique experiences and journeys of Global Campus students throughout the years. Global Campus Legends features students who graduated from Global Campus since it was founded as WSU Extended Degree Programs in 1992.  

“My journey at WSU began in Pullman as a freshman in September 1968. It was a wonderful time and I found community, direction, and a purpose I needed at that time in my life. Unfortunately, after 2 1/2 years, my journey ended as I had to return home to help take care of my siblings. However, I promised myself that one day I would return to WSU and complete my degree and in September 1998 that dream came true when I enrolled in the WSU Extended Degree Program.

In the interim, from January 1971 to September 1998, I took care of my siblings, attended a vocational school, and became a Certified Dental Assistant working in Dentistry for 18 years. I married, had two beautiful daughters, attended a community college taking business classes and then went to work for a municipality as the Utility Billing Supervisor for 11 years. In 1997 I decided it was time to complete my degree, but because I was working full time, had one daughter in college and another who would soon be graduating from high school and heading to college, I knew I was going to have to complete my degree online. That’s when I found out about WSU’s online program and my next journey at WSU began.

While working toward my degree, I continued to work fulltime, and I was a Senator and the Secretary for the EDP/DDP student government for two years. It was an extremely busy time, and my journey was not always easy, however I stayed on course taking two classes each semester fall and spring, and one class during the summer semesters. Keeping focused, on task and with the support of my husband and daughters, I completed my BA in Social Science with Business Minor in May 2001.

Upon completion of my degree, we moved from the westside to central Washington, and I went to work at Central Washington University. I was able to advance my career at Central Washington University giving me the opportunity to guide students on their quest to complete their degrees. The most rewarding of these was being hired as the first Director of the Veterans Center at Central Washington University. When I retired in July 2015, I was awarded the
Distinguished Service Recognition for Superlative Retirees, which was quite an honor. My youngest daughter graduated with her MBA through the online MBA program at WSU in 2011.

And this fall (2023), my granddaughter will be attending WSU Pullman as a freshman. Thank you, WSU, and EDP/DDP/Global Campus, for making it possible for me to complete the journey I started in 1968 to become a WSU graduate. GO COUGS!”