On December 13, Jessica Ciccanti will cross the stage as a PennWest Global Online graduate – a moment made possible by years of determination, careful balancing of family and work, and a willingness to redefine her career path.

A single mother of three school-age children from Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, Ciccanti built her education around her family’s needs while keeping long-term goals firmly in sight. She first earned a degree in occupational therapy and spent a decade working in healthcare before launching Sweet Escape Cleaning and Home Healthcare LLC, a business designed to give her the flexibility her family required.

Upon returning to school, Ciccanti initially enrolled in a face-to-face physician assistant program at another university. She soon realized that a traditional on-campus schedule wasn’t compatible with the demands of parenting and running a business.

“That's when I discovered PennWest's Global Online program and made a decisive pivot to Computer Information Systems, a choice that has exceeded every expectation,” she said.

The CIS curriculum opened doors she hadn’t anticipated. Courses in software engineering, database design and biometric systems sparked new interests, especially in the ethical considerations surrounding technology in healthcare settings.

“Juggling the tasks that accompany being an older student was at times overwhelming, but never once did I run into anything but support and empathy from my instructors,” Ciccanti said. “The curriculum's breadth, combined with faculty who brought not just expertise but genuine empathy and mentorship, gave me the foundation to bridge my healthcare background with emerging technology.”

That academic support, combined with the flexibility of online learning, allowed Ciccanti to excel while balancing her responsibilities at home and at work.

As she prepares to graduate, Ciccanti sees this milestone as both an ending and a beginning.

“Graduating represents more than an academic achievement,” she said. “It’s proof that career reinvention is possible at any stage of life, and that the right program can accommodate real-world constraints while still delivering a transformative education.”