What began with Jennifer Calliste grew into a shared family goal
When Jennifer Lavette Dangerfield Calliste ’26 returned to school, she set out to earn a degree, not start a family tradition.
But as one relative after another followed her lead, education became a shared journey for the Calliste family.
This spring, Jennifer Calliste graduated cum laude from University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) alongside her husband, Kamu Calliste ’26, and daughter, Jazmin Calliste ’26. Her son is currently enrolled, and other relatives have followed her lead by starting their own educational journeys.
What began as one student's pursuit of a degree has evolved into something much larger.
"Even more meaningful to me was witnessing my daughter and husband reach their own graduation milestones alongside me, turning our individual achievement into a family legacy," said Jennifer Calliste.
A family journey begins
The Callistes are a Navy family whose educational pursuits have stretched across continents and time zones. The family is based in Tokyo, Japan, where Kamu Calliste serves as a senior petty officer. Jennifer Calliste is a Navy veteran, while Jazmin Calliste recently joined the Navy and is currently training in California.
Jennifer Calliste earned a bachelor's in psychology with a minor in business administration, along with a certificate in clinical mental health care counseling, and participated in UMGC in Asia’s commencement ceremony in Tokyo in April 2026. She is also just two courses away from completing a master’s degree in business administration.
"As I complete my MBA, I carry the lessons and resilience UMGC helped build in me," she said.
Her studies are also helping shape a new career path. Formerly a paralegal, Jennifer Calliste hopes to become a mediator. Her psychology coursework and counseling certificate deepened her understanding of people, while her MBA studies allowed her to focus on human resources.
"My family calls me an advocate," she said. "They tell me to put on my cape and go save everybody because I advocate for everybody. So, I might as well get a degree so I can do it and get paid for it."
As Jennifer Calliste worked toward her own goals, her family members pursued theirs.
Jazmin Calliste earned an associate in general studies and is now working toward a bachelor’s in health services management.
Kamu Calliste also completed an associate degree and is nearing completion of a bachelor's in environmental health and safety, along with a workplace health and safety certificate. His studies complement his military work in damage control.
The family's connection to UMGC continues with Jennifer Calliste’s son, Kamal, who is pursuing a bachelor's in cybersecurity technology while stationed in Japan aboard the USS George Washington.
Jennifer Lavette Dangerfield Calliste ’26 BS, Psychology and MBA student
Support through challenges
The path was not always easy.
Returning to school while balancing work, family responsibilities, military life, and ongoing health challenges tested Jennifer Calliste physically and emotionally.
“There were days when simply showing up felt like a victory,” she said.
At one point, severe medical complications required Jennifer to be medically evacuated to the United States, and she considered leaving school altogether.
Instead, she found support from faculty, classmates, and the university community. Thomas Harlow, PhD, who teaches psychology in Japan, played a key role.
"He really worked with me even when I returned," Jennifer Calliste said. "He followed up with me, made sure not just that I was okay with my schoolwork, but also physically and mentally okay. That meant a lot. It wasn't just that I was a student. He cared."
Students in several of her classes also helped her stay on track, encouraging her to continue her studies and pursue her MBA.
A legacy that keeps growing
Jennifer Calliste's influence extends well beyond her immediate family.
Her niece and goddaughter, Joy Dangerfield, began taking UMGC courses through dual enrollment while still in high school and graduated a year early. She is now completing the final course required for an associate degree.
More recently, Jennifer Calliste's sister, Jeannetta Dangerfield, enrolled to pursue a bachelor's in business administration and management.
Looking around at the growing number of relatives pursuing their education, Jennifer Calliste sees more than individual accomplishments. She sees a shared commitment to learning that continues to bring family members together.
"Education has become a shared family journey," she said. "We are proud that each family member continues to pursue and achieve their academic goals through UMGC."
For the Callistes, graduating together was a memorable milestone. But perhaps the bigger story is the ripple effect: one adult learner’s decision to pursue higher education helped inspire an entire family to do the same.
UMGC Families: Learning Across Generations: For many learners, earning a degree is a personal milestone. For the families featured in this series, it became a shared journey and a shared accomplishment. The UMGC Families series highlights how relatives are pursuing their educational goals together, supporting one another along the way. Their stories are a powerful testament to higher education's value and illustrate how its impact can ripple through families and communities.