The Hope family balanced work, service, and education together
When Jennifer Hope ’23, ’25, ’26 decided to return to school, she did not expect the decision wouldto become a family endeavor.
Today, Jennifer Hope, her husband, Shamar Lee Hope ’24, ’26, and daughter, Rachel Hope ’26, have all pursued higher education together, supporting one another while balancing careers, military service, and family responsibilities.
Their shared academic journey reached another milestone during the spring commencement season, when Jennifer Hope completed a master’s in cybersecurity technology, Shamar Hope completed an MBA with a focus on human resource management, and Rachel Hope earned an associate degree in general studies.
Starting the journey together
An active-duty Navy servicemember, Shamar Hope received permanent change of station (PCS) orders, and the family moved to Japan, where their educational journey began.
Shortly after the move, Jennifer Hope accepted a position supporting military-affiliated learners at UMGC’s Yokosuka Naval Base location. The opportunity prompted her to continue her own education.
She started with an associate degree in general studies in 2023 and continued with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Technology in 2025.
“I thought, ‘I don't really want to do this by myself’,” she said. “This is a scary endeavor, jumping into it in my late 30s.”
As she considered the challenge ahead, Jennifer Hope invited her family to join her.
After more than two decades in the military, Shamar Hope recognized the importance of continuing his education. At the same time, Rachel Hope was still in high school, where she began taking dual-enrollment courses.
“So, we just started as a family,” Jennifer Hope said.
Making room for learning
Studying together came with practical challenges.
With multiple family members taking courses while balancing work schedules and other responsibilities, logistic challenges demanded flexibility.
Finding study space “was a rotational thing,” Shamar Hope said. “It was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got [the space] two hours in the morning. I’ve got it three hours in the afternoon. I’ve got it three hours at night.’”
Since Shamar and Jennifer Hope were working while they earned degrees, he noted that everybody in the family studied wherever and whenever they could.
While the family shared the same commitment to education, each member pursued different goals.
For Jennifer Hope, completing her master's degree represented another step in a continuing educational journey. She is currently working toward an MBA at UMGC and hopes to continue her studies in the future.
“I have been thinking about potentially becoming a professor,” she said. “Fingers crossed for University of Maryland Global Campus.”
Shamar Hope plans to build on his education by adding professional credentials in project management.
“My specialty is human resources,” he said. “With my job I do now, and with the time I've accumulated in the military, my plan is to just take [that experience] and cross over to the corporate sector as a human resource director.”
Rachel Hope, meanwhile, is continuing her studies toward a UMGC bachelor's degree in business administration.
Encouraging one another
Both Shamar Hope and Rachel Hope credit Jennifer Hope with helping them believe they could achieve their educational goals.
Shamar Hope described his wife as his “biggest supporter and cheerleader all the way.”
Rachel Hope said her mother's encouragement led her to explore dual enrollment opportunities while still in high school. As a result, she earned an associate degree alongside her high school diploma.
“My mom has been my biggest supporter throughout my higher education journey,” she said. “She continues to push me forward and motivate me to succeed.”
For the Hope family, graduation represented more than individual accomplishments.
Shamar Hope said celebrating together made the experience especially joyful and meaningful.
“It was like crossing the finish line and scoring the winning goal with everybody walking across the stage together.”
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.