Trecia Marchand '07 G'09

Associate of Science, Business Administration, Executive Management ‘06
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Executive Management, One Day A Week College ‘07
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practice G’09

I was at a crossroads in my personal and professional life when I first learned about Bay Path, but taking a leap of faith has proved to me that the sky is the limit.

My journey began when I was picking up my son, who was four years old at the time, from daycare. I noticed a brochure for Bay Path’s One Day A Week College that stated I could be a mom, a career woman, and college student, and not only that—I could earn my bachelor’s degree in three years or less. As a single parent and full-time employee with what seemed like no free time, I didn’t know if I was capable of juggling one more thing, especially an accelerated degree program. But I called the phone number that was listed and haven’t looked back since. Making the call has led me to earning not just one, but three degrees from Bay Path.

From my classes on Saturday, I was able to learn material relevant to today’s marketplace. What’s more, I was able to immediately apply the tools and concepts at work on Monday. Because of that, my employer recognized my ability to strategically develop processes and implement plans to achieve the organization’s goals. When I started at Bay Path, I was working in a junior management role. With each educational milestone I reached, I simultaneously experienced professional growth. By the time I completed my graduate degree, I had been promoted to an executive leadership position.

Any time I walk onto the Bay Path campus, I get a feeling of empowerment. I’m proud to stay involved as an alumna to make sure that others who come after me are able to experience that same feeling I had with my education. Recently, I represented the One Day students as an alum on the Board of Trustees during a time that major changes were taking place, including the decision to become a University and the construction of the Health Science Center. Bay Path changed my life for the better, and seeing others getting the best opportunities available to help them succeed fuels my passion.

Furthering my education wasn’t just for me—I wanted to set a positive example for my son. We spent many evenings together at the kitchen table doing our homework side-by-side and I was able to teach him that if you work hard, the sky is the limit. Whatever your goals are, or if you have a dream you’ve put on the back burner, I’m here to say it’s possible to achieve anything you set your mind to.

Trecia’s story was featured in “Achieving the Dream,” President Carol A. Leary’s how-to guide for adult women seeking a degree.