On the morning of Monday, May 9, ASU mom Maria Pappas joined some 5,000 Sun Devils in her maroon-and-gold regalia at ASU’s Graduate Commencement as she added a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership and management.
And she wasn’t alone in her family achieving a milestone during graduation week. Maria’s daughter Katianna also earned her undergraduate degree in health entrepreneurship and innovation. We talked to Maria about the exciting experience of graduating alongside her Sun Devil and the lifelong learning opportunities for family members at ASU:
ASU Family: Congratulations to you and your daughter for your dual academic milestones! What has the experience been like during graduation week for you, both as a proud parent and as a graduate yourself?
Maria: Thank you so much! It has been an amazing several days. We had lots of family in town from California and Washington and have been celebrating for days! I’m really happy to have completed my master’s degree. It was a lot of work, especially during the pandemic. I am especially proud of my daughter and celebrating her accomplishments. Sharing this moment was very special for both of us. Pomp and circumstance always makes me cry, but when it was playing for my ceremonies I was fine. When it was playing as Katianna walked in wearing her cap and gown, I got choked up.
If we could back up a bit, can you tell us about your background, such as where you’re from, where you work, your hobbies, etc.?
I am a California native and was born and raised in northern CA. I live in San Jose and am Vice President of Development for The Tech Interactive, a hands-on science center in downtown San Jose, much like the Arizona Science Center. I have worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. I am in two book clubs, walk my dog every day and just got an e-bike!
Why did Katianna and the family originally decide to attend ASU?
My neighbors have two daughters who graduated from ASU, so we heard many positive things about the school for several years. My son Nick started at ASU, and Katianna visited him and decided to go there as well. Nick ended up transferring to San Francisco State University where he finished in 2020.
How has Katianna’s experience been as a health entrepreneurship and innovation student?
She has had some very interesting classes and has flourished in this program. Early in her career she was thinking about majoring in one of the health sciences, and she took many STEM classes. She found she had an interest in business as well, and this degree was a nice combination of both of her interests. Katianna has always been entrepreneurial, even while she was young, so this major was perfect for her. She even made the Dean’s List last semester. Online learning proved to be a positive experience for her as well.
What made you decide to go back for your graduate degree in nonprofit leadership and management at ASU at the same time as your Sun Devil? Why did you pick that degree path?
I have worked in the nonprofit field for over 30 years and often thought about going back to school, but never really got around to it. This program didn’t exist when I got out of college, but it was a great way for me to earn a degree that was completely in line with my professional experience. I am interested in bringing up the next generation of nonprofit leaders and thought this degree might help me accomplish that goal.
Here at ASU Family, we encourage family members to take advantage of the lifelong learning opportunities at ASU, as you did alongside your student. Why would you recommend this path to other Sun Devil families, whether it’s earning a degree, a certificate or boosting their job skills?
ASU makes learning accessible, especially through the online program. I would highly recommend any Sun Devil families take advantage of the many learning opportunities available at ASU. If you’ve always thought, “maybe I should get a master’s one day,” I would say, “don’t wait! You can do it!”
I had no idea how to navigate Canvas, how to apply to the program, how to get my transcripts transferred over. But I figured it out and you can, too. I hadn’t written a paper in over 30 years, but I found my experience in the field helped tremendously. ASU is a large school with many support systems along the way to help make it a smaller experience. You can take a class, get a certificate or earn a master’s degree. All of these things are open to you, and if you are a lifelong learner, check out what ASU has to offer.
How have you been involved as an ASU family member? And how has that experience been for you and the family?
I got to know Robin (Executive Director of Parent Engagement Robin Okun Hengl) when my son started at ASU, and I have enjoyed keeping in touch with her throughout the years. Robin asked me to speak at an ASU Foundation board meeting when I was in town a few years ago, and I enjoyed the opportunity.
Have you been able to celebrate your achievements together as a family this week?
Yes! I attended both ceremonies on Monday and Tuesday, and Katianna participated in her department ceremony on Wednesday. We had over 20 people in town over the weekend and got to try the many great restaurants AZ has to offer. I also met several people from around the country who were in my program. We all sat together at graduation ceremonies and it was definitely a bonding experience.
What’s the next adventure for the two new Pappas family graduates?
Katianna plans to stay with her current job in IT recruiting, and is planning to stay in Arizona as she has grown to love it here. The week after I return, our board will be voting to begin a multimillion-dollar capital campaign, which I will staff. I also hope to find ways to take my degree and encourage current college students to pursue nonprofit careers, especially careers in development. We need good fundraisers. There is a huge supply of jobs and few qualified candidates. I’d like to change that.
Editor's note: Read more about Maria and Katianna Pappas in ASU News.
Photo credit: Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
