Jet Kaehn was already an accomplished woman when she decided to return to school. She had amassed more than ten years of experience working at a Big Four accounting firm, she had successfully completed many job-related training seminars, and she had a fulfilling life outside of work teaching meditation and creativity workshops at a local bookstore. But she realized she had hit a ceiling in her career and needed to finish her degree if she wanted to move into management. So that’s exactly what she did. For her efforts, Kaehn has been named Ashford University’s Outstanding Alum of the Month.

To pursue her degree, Kaehn chose Ashford because she appreciated the way the University was set up, from the organization of the online classroom to the accelerated five-week courses. She felt Ashford stood out from other schools she had been looking into. “Other online programs and local colleges I had looked at were not as user-friendly, and the schedules and requirements were very vague. With Ashford, I felt like I knew exactly what I was getting into and was able to assess the workload from the very beginning to assure I wasn’t biting off more than I could chew.”

Kaehn graduated in July 2013 with her associate of arts degree in business administration and continued working as an alumni coordinator, but was soon identified by her firm’s leadership as someone who could be management material due to her skills and business acumen.

“This ‘business acumen’ and knowing how to work with the politics of the company was directly due to the things I had learned while studying at Ashford,” Kaehn explains, “The psychology classes I took, the marketing classes, communication, accounting – everything I studied gave me knowledge and confidence that directly impacted my day-to-day efforts at work.”

Kaehn received a promotion in October 2014, adding practice administrator to her ongoing alumni coordinator role in the company. Reflecting on her promotion, Kaehn credits her experience at Ashford. “I don’t think it was the piece of paper that got me the promotion, but the knowledge and understanding that came from the things I studied. If I had just slacked off and eked by in my studies at Ashford, I may have still gotten that degree, but I wouldn’t have absorbed everything as acutely as I did, and I think that is what made the difference. So I don’t think it was the degree that got me the promotion, but the education.”

Kaehn is currently enrolled at Ashford pursuing her bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology with a minor in psychology. She expects to be finished in February 2016.

The Ashford University Outstanding Alum of the Month recognition was created to spotlight Ashford success stories and graduates who have used their Ashford education as a springboard to personal and professional achievement.

About Ashford University

Where heritage meets innovation – that’s Ashford University. At Ashford, students discover relevant degree programs, innovative technology, and cherished tradition. Ashford offers associates, bachelor’s, and master’s online degree programs, while the Clinton, Iowa campus offers bachelor’s programs. Whether on campus or online, Ashford students enjoy the same supportive community. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu, www.facebook.com/ashforduniversity, www.twitter.com/AshfordU, or call Shari Winet, Vice President of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.