Nora Clark

Nora Clark’s path through West Virginia University’s Integrated Marketing Communications program is a story of resilience, growth, and balance. A non-traditional student returning for her master’s in her mid-thirties, Nora pursued the Higher Education Marketing track while managing career transitions, a cross-country move, and welcoming a new baby. She graduated in December 2024 and walked in the May 2025 commencement ceremony. We spoke with Nora about how the program shaped her journey and what it means to her as both a professional and a Mountaineer.

How did your WVU master’s degree shape your career path?

It’s still shaping my career path today. I pursued the Higher Education Marketing track, and while I’m currently working outside of higher education as a marketing recruitment manager, I’ve found the program invaluable. It helped me bridge my experience in higher ed with my current work in AI, tech, and human resources. The program opened my eyes to how connected different fields can be, and it continues to inspire me to explore future opportunities, like possibly pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education organization and planning.

Can you share a moment in your professional life where you thought, “this is what I studied for”?

For me, it’s less about one specific moment and more about the confidence and validation the program gave me. I was told at times that the kind of work I wanted to do in higher education didn’t exist, even while I was doing it. The IMC program affirmed those experiences and gave me the research and leadership skills to act on them. Coming back to graduate school in my mid-thirties, I found it empowering to see my studies align with my career and personal goals.

If you could go back and take more courses from your master’s program, what would they be and why?

Honestly, I wanted to take all the classes! If I had to choose, I wish I had added a teaching certificate, since I want to teach online programs in the future. My favorite course was Multicultural Marketing—it made a lasting impact on me, and I still keep in touch with the professor. In today’s world, it’s essential to recognize and respect people for who they are and where they come from, and that class deepened my understanding of that.

Can you share a success story or achievement you feel the program made possible?

Graduating itself was the biggest achievement. While in the program, I was laid off, moved from Florida to Pennsylvania, and gave birth to my child just days after finishing my coursework. Through it all, my professors and advisors supported me. I also had opportunities like being invited to speak on a podcast, which helped me see the value of my work. More than anything, I left the program not only with a degree, but with a supportive community that made all the difference.

How did you balance work, life, and graduate school?

It wasn’t easy, but the flexibility of the program allowed me to push forward. I took it one semester at a time and leaned on the support of my professors, advisors, and classmates. The program gave me the structure I needed, but also the grace to handle life’s biggest changes.