Even after graduating with her BS – Accounting from Johnson & Wales University and a successful 10-year career working as an accountant for nonprofits, Monica Leeming ’19 MBA was hungry for more. “I didn’t feel that my bachelor’s was enough for me,” she says. “I wanted to keep growing professionally so I felt that I need to do more to advance a little more.”

Although she felt strong in her accounting skills, working with nonprofits gave her even more interest in what else she could do. “Nonprofits are very complex so there were a lot of topics that I didn’t fully understand as to why they work the way they do so I wanted to keep going further.”

With that drive to learn more, Monica started looking into what programs were offered for people like her. Already, Monica in the office by 8am and wasn’t making it back home until 7pm; so for her, a traditional classroom wasn’t going to work.

But when she heard that her alma mater offered an MBA – Nonprofit Management 100-percent online, her possibilities became a reality.

In 2017, Monica enrolled at JWU Online. “I said, let me try it online and see how it goes” and although she says it’s been tough, two-years later she now proudly hangs her degree on the wall of her office. “Where I am now, no one has an MBA – Nonprofit Management except for me so it feels amazing”

So, how did she find the time in her busy schedule to get her degree? For Monica, she says drive and determination are the key to anything. “My best message is that if you really want to do something and if you want to accomplish it, you definitely can,” she says. “Don’t you ever think that you can’t, because I could do it and anyone else can too.”

However, despite proudly having her MBA – Nonprofit Management, all bets are off the table for what Monica plans to do next. “You never really stop learning, wherever you are and no matter what field you are in.” So for her, she says the sky's the limit. “I want to see what I can go professionally at my job and if I get a higher position then I will go to get a CPA or get a higher degree in public administration.”

Want to learn more about earning your MBA – Nonprofit Management with Johnson & Wales University’s College of Online Education? For more information, complete the “Request Info” form on this page or call 855-JWU-1881.