A good leader inspires those around them and fosters a culture of collaboration within their community. College of Education and Human Development alumni Shawn C. Thomas (EDU '02) does this each day. Her current job as executive director of adult and continuing education and business engagement at Rowan College of Burlington County combines her passion for leadership and higher education with her personal experiences overcoming obstacles.

A North Philadelphia native, Thomas said she saw her parents work long, hard days at the factory, while being paid piecework. "Society said 'if you didn't have a bachelor's degree, you were not worth anything'," said Thomas. And that's how she saw people in her community treated.

Thomas was the self-described nerd of the family. "My nose was always in a book," she recalled. In 11th grade, she decided to drop out of high school because she disagreed with how schools taught history at the time. As someone passionate about learning outside and inside the classroom, Thomas said she felt the courses were taught from one perspective, rather than diverse perspectives of history.

Then, Thomas was accepted to the University of Maryland College Park on an early admit program before transferring to La Salle University. She worked as a professional staff member at each institution she attended, and sometimes held additional jobs, including time at the Internal Revenue Service, to help herself finance her education.

Her non-traditional path and experience obtained while working at the IRS helped shape her unique perspective on how students can finance their college education, and she knew this was the type of work she wanted to do.

After graduating from La Salle in 1995, she came to Temple University to work in the Bursar's Office. There, she counselled students on debt management and repayment plans.

A colleague recommended she pursue a master's degree in adult and organizational development (now adult learning, training and organizational development) in 2002 because of Thomas' passion for helping students and talent for providing options for students to minimize their debt.

"I didn't choose Temple, Temple chose me," said Thomas.

After working at Temple for several years, and with the support of her colleagues, Thomas decided to pursue her master's part-time while continuing her job in the Bursar's Office.

The master's program consisted of coursework and research that resulted in a thesis. As a first-generation and non-traditional college student, Thomas witnessed how society assigns value to people based on their education. This led her to focus her research on how people interact with each other based on educational level, with a particular focus on bullying in higher education.

The master's program offered a sense of community, Thomas said, and laid a foundation for her to understand the different facets of the education system that are designed to help students.

Later, Thomas earned a second master's from Holy Family University in human resources and then earned a degree in graphic design from Moore College of Art and Design.

For Thomas, every school she attended and every job she held presented new skills and knowledge she used to make an impact. Her Temple experience was particularly impactful, as she said it's where she gained confidence and a community of people that care. "Temple was the place that gave me the opportunity to take chances. It made me fearless," shared Thomas.

With her natural leadership skills and love for learning, colleagues and friends encouraged her to continue her education, which eventually led her to earn a doctorate in higher education from NOVA Southeastern University. She then returned home to the Greater Philadelphia Area, where she began her role as the executive director of adult and continuing education and business engagement at Rowan College of Burlington County. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between industry and education; and helping people understand the value they bring to institutions.

Going above and beyond, Thomas also started her own business called Mynd Structure, where she assists people who struggle with identifying their career goals or understanding which path to pursue. Her services help them to identify their purpose and build a roadmap to achieve their goals.

Thomas said she is always sure to remind students to never forget where they come from. "If it were not for my family and seeing people who could not receive the education I did, I wouldn't be where I am today," said Thomas.

You can read more stories like this on the CEHD website.