After three decades away from college, one graduate reached her goal

Shelly Kiss ’26 earned her bachelor’s in human resources with help from her employer through a Guild partnership.

To the sound of cheers from her children, family, and others in attendance, Shelly Kiss ’26 walked across the stage at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) May 2026 Grad Walk to accept her bachelor’s degree in human resource management at the age of 54.  

It was a whirlwind moment. Immediately following her time on stage, Kiss was whisked away to share her story with the UMGC video team. Her journey reflects a path familiar to many adult learners returning to higher education after years in the workforce.

Returning to a long-held goal

About four years ago, Kiss had an epiphany. With her kids soon graduating—a daughter in college and a son in high school—she decided it was time to make a move for herself. After three decades away and a whole lot of life occurring in the interim, Kiss returned to the classroom. 

“In 2024, a new dream happened,” she said. “My children were both graduating, and I thought how cool it would be if we could all graduate with a degree the same year.”

With some help from a UMGC advisor, Kiss was able to complete her associate degree in 2024. She accomplished one goal while setting her sights on another: a bachelor’s degree.  

This journey has taught me that I am smarter than I ever thought I was and going back to school at any age is possible.

Shelly Kiss ’26 BS, Human Resource Management

 

A workplace benefit opens a door

Like many adult learners, Kiss’s path to the present was not what she expected. After graduating high school in 1989, Kiss thought she wanted to be a certified public accountant. But after a few years in community college, she felt like it wasn’t the right fit. 

She took a seasonal part-time job at a local Target, in addition to a full-time position she already had. 

“It was a second job to help pay bills,” Kiss said. 

Years later, she transferred to a new Target store that better suited the needs of her young and growing family. There, Kiss was offered a full-time position in human resources. The seasonal job had transformed, and so had her career goals. 

Kiss said supportive managers and the possibility of advancement helped motivate her to continue growing professionally. Around the same time, Target launched its Guild education benefit program in 2021. 

"Target has a program that will pay for college for their employees, and I decided to check it out," Kiss said. "Next thing I know I am enrolled in UMGC and starting classes."

Target’s Dream to Be program, administered through Guild, provides eligible employees with access to tuition assistance for undergraduate certificates and degree programs. Through partnerships with universities including UMGC, the program helps adults pursue education that supports their career goals while continuing to work. 

Shelly Kiss celebrates graduating in May 2026 after a three-decade break from college.

Confidence earned through perseverance

While Kiss found most administrative tasks and classes manageable, her time at UMGC wasn’t without challenges. 

Starting as a seasoned HR professional, Kiss enrolled in several HR courses right away, only to realize she needed time to reacclimate to college-level learning. 

A conversation with her success coach, Michele Rhoades, helped set her on a better path. Rhoades worked with Kiss to restructure her first semester and build a stronger academic foundation.

“Michele was amazing the whole time I was at UMGC,” Kiss said. “She met with me at least once a month, if not twice a month, checking in, making sure I was doing okay with my classes.”

The walk across the stage in May symbolized many things. Key among them, a new confidence to do what Kiss never thought she could accomplish before. 

"The blank canvas that I stared at 37 years ago is now a masterpiece," she said. "This journey has taught me that I am smarter than I ever thought I was, and going back to school at any age is possible."

 

Read more spring 2026 graduate stories about  perseverance, military spouses, career transformation, military servicemembers and veterans, and the community graduates found at UMGC.