Since Demetrice Bryant completed her online Master of Education in Adult Education in 2014, she has used it to further her career within the Office of Research Administration at Emory University, which involves providing training and communication services for the office. In addition to the career boosts the degree has provided her, Bryant enjoyed the training she received in specific courses within the degree, and benefited from getting to know her professors very well.

Bryant, who does a fair amount of instructional design within her own profession, thought the instructional design course was her favorite out of all the online classes she took. Though she came into the course with a base knowledge of the subject, she received the sort of formal training she needed from professors she grew to respect for their accomplishments within the field.

“Getting to go through the instructional design class and really learn through that experience was near and dear to me because it made me better at my chosen profession,” said Bryant. “It actually made me a better instructional designer and classroom trainer.”

Through UGA’s online M.Ed. in Adult Education program, Bryant was able to create connections with her professors and have open communication with them. The accessibility of her professors is an aspect Bryant especially appreciated about the UGA Online program.

“I was having a little bit of trouble in Dr. Guy’s class, so I emailed him. It was a weekend so you don’t expect to get a response until the next business day. But he responded immediately with the help that I needed. So that was just amazing to me.” Bryant explained. “I had a similar experience with Dr. Truluck and Dr. Sandmann. Having that experience over and over again, professor by professor, that really validated my choice to do the program at UGA.”

Bryant came into the program with preconceptions about online learning, but discovered that “it actually gave me more of a foundation in the content I was exposed to because I got to explore it in a way that I could have never done in a classroom.” She admitted that the workload could be challenging at times, and went on to explain that as an online student, you must learn to balance your work, school and personal life to get the most out of your online degree.

When not working, Bryant enjoys spending time with her parents, golfing and reading. “I recently took up golf because now that I don’t have to study, I can learn some new things,” Bryant said jokingly. She also highlighted her love of music and reading, which have been lifelong hobbies of hers.