Liz Olosho is currently studying at Geneva College to get her Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) degree with an anticipated graduation date of May 2024.
Before coming to Geneva, Liz grew up in Nigeria but spent many of her growing up years in Mozambique where her parents were missionaries. When Liz was ready to embark on her college journey, she had friends at Messiah University and decided to pursue her own undergraduate degree there in Human Development and Family Science.
“It was definitely a God thing. The doors opened so quickly and the transition to Messiah was so smooth.”
After completing her undergraduate degree, Liz wanted to continue her education and decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE). She started researching schools online and Geneva College was one of the schools that popped up on her screen. As she was considering Geneva, she found out that Dr. Todd Allen, Vice President for Diversity Affairs at Messiah University, is a Geneva alum. After Liz heard about Dr. Allen’s positive experience at Geneva, her decision was made, and she decided to continue her education at Geneva College.
Liz started the MAHE program in 2022 with one of her favorite classes, Foundations of Higher Education taught by Keith Martel. This class was very beneficial for Liz because she was not just told how to successfully work in higher education. All the concepts she learned were taken a step further. She was taught where these concepts came from and how they developed into what they are today. From there, she was able to form her own opinions about them and figure out the best ways to use them in the higher education environment.
“He did not teach me how to do the work but taught me how to see the root of the work. We learned what the founding fathers of higher education did, how their ideas about education have formed what higher ed is now, and how we can learn from their mistakes.”
Liz has been able to apply her learning to her position on campus as the Diversity Graduate Assistant. When Liz started her GA position, she noted that Becky Case and Kristie Martel, employees in Geneva’s Center for Student Engagement, helped her transition from her undergraduate work to graduate work.
“They gave me space and grace to make mistakes and learn from my mistakes while guiding me in my work.”
Liz has also been able to use skills learned in the classroom and apply them to her daily tasks. Specifically, she helps run Geneva’s Diversity Team giving students from various backgrounds a safe space to grow individually and succeed at Geneva. The Diversity Team also collaborates often with Geneva’s Black Student Union and International Student Organization (ISO).
“I feel like I would not enjoy the MAHE program as much if I was just showing up to classes and then leaving. I get to apply what I am learning the very next day in my position, and I get to build relationships with students.”
Liz will graduate from her MAHE program in May of 2024. Once Liz graduates, she wants to pursue a career in higher education as an International Admissions Counselor. This would allow her to help students through the cultural and linguistic barriers she faced when she first began college.
“This gives me the ability to meet high school students where they are at and guide them through the college process.”
-Lexi Meese '21, MBA '22
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