As a working mom, Angie Haney ’22 was looking for a college that would offer flexibility and support while working toward a degree.
The Chicago community college didn’t come through. Nor did the one in Pennsylvania. But Gateway Technical College in southeastern Wisconsin did – that’s where Haney completed an associate’s degree, where she found a strong community of supporters and discovered that she could continue her education at Alverno.
“I loved Alverno from the very beginning. I’ve got these coaches and these mentors who are really interested in me. I’m not just a number. They value my life experiences. That’s rewarding,” says Haney.
Haney enrolled in Alverno Accelerate, which accepted all of Haney’s prior college credits and connected past and current life and professional experiences to learning.
“It helped me learn about myself, appreciate my life experiences and realize those life experiences were educational lessons as well,” Haney says.
Haney proudly served as Master of Ceremony at Alverno’s May 2022 commencement ceremony, celebrating the achievements of her Alverno family. Haney’s own family was there to celebrate her achievements.
“Everything that I do, I really try to do it so that my daughters can be proud of me. I know I made them proud. They’ve been able to see something that a lot of children of color don’t see. It felt so good to have them front and center,” Haney says.
Haney currently serves as an organizer at the Racine Interfaith Coalition, convening community leaders to build power around action. And as the founder of EmPower HerPower LLC, Haney seeks to provide youth programs to build up young women through mentorship.
For Haney, earning a bachelor’s degree is an important step forward in her professional and personal growth – but it’s not the last.
“I plan on getting my doctorate to effect policy change in social issues,” says Haney.
Along the way, Haney plans on following the advice that she gives to her daughters – and anyone who is lucky enough to meet her.
“Life has ups and downs. It has bumps and bruises. You just have to keep going. You have to understand that everything you go through is a lesson.
Learn the lesson and keep going. Never give up on you. In time, what you envision for yourself will come.”
