Key Takeaways:
- Aquiala Murray is a proud alum of the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC). She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Project Management in 2025.
- Aquiala grew up across the street from Ellen Walker Craig-Jones, the first Black female mayor elected in the United States.
- Living within such proximity to an inspiring female who looked like Aquiala gave her hope that she, too, could achieve great things in life.
- Aquiala Murray didn’t go straight to college after high school, but instead built skills across roles, including communication, time management, and adaptability, which became the foundation for a focused, long-term career.
- Aquiala’s employer Sheetz helped her access higher education through its partnership with UAGC.
- Her degree helped Aquiala validate her professional experiences, unlock new opportunities, and move into leadership faster.
- Advisors and instructors played a critical role in keeping her motivated, accountable, and on track to graduate.
- As a first-generation college graduate and woman of color, Aquiala frequently draws on her lived experience to lead with confidence in a male-dominated field.
- From earning her degree to pursuing PMP certification, Aquiala continues to invest in her growth and position herself for what’s next.
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How UAGC Alum Aquiala Murray Built a Career With Transferable Skills
Most people don’t grow up across the street from a living legend. In the small village of Urbancrest, Ohio, Aquiala Murray did.
Her neighbor was Ellen Walker Craig-Jones, a pioneering leader whose election as the first Black woman to be voted a mayor in America reshaped what leadership looks like in the nation. But to Aquiala, she wasn’t a distant figure or a name blown up on an historical marker. She is a presence on the front stoop, a voice across the street, a breathing example of what’s possible.
“Growing up in a community with that kind of legacy really shaped how I view leadership, representation, and what my own future could look like,” says Aquiala, who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Project Management from UAGC in 2025.
Aquiala listened as the neighbor and role model shared stories of adversity and persistence as a Black woman in local government. Their conversations, subtly embedded with nuggets of wisdom and truth.
“She told me about the things she overcame, the adversities,” Aquiala says. “Being a Black woman, especially in government, that’s not easy. But she never dropped the smile on her face when she spoke to me.”
At home, Aquiala received a slightly different message. Raised by a single mother, Aquiala was encouraged to seek stability, find a steady job, and take care of herself. It was guidance rooted in protection, but it also set limits on what seemed achievable.
"People ask, ‘Is she knowledgeable? Is she serious about this industry? Does she have the experience?’ And I know that to get to the next level, I need my degree. There’s no way around it.”
Just across the street, she saw those limits challenged.
“Looking back now, I realize she never settled,” Aquiala says. “She didn’t stay in a bubble because of who she was or where she started. She pushed past all of that.”
As a child, the takeaway was simple: if someone from your own neighborhood can do it, maybe the barriers aren’t fixed.
“Back then, I thought, ‘She did it, so it can’t be that hard,’” Aquiala says, laughing softly. “Now I know it is hard, but it’s possible. And that’s what stayed with me.”
That realization became a foundation, one that followed her into adulthood, especially in spaces where representation was limited.
“It’s motivating,” she says. “It made me not want to settle.”
Like many first-generation professionals, Aquiala explored different paths before finding clarity. Today, she sees her journey not as fitting into a role, but building one, shaped by what she first saw across the street.
Finding Direction in Motion
After high school, Aquiala didn’t go straight to college. While friends and family encouraged her to enroll, she hesitated, aware of the weight — and cost — of the decision.
“I didn’t know what I wanted just yet,” she says. “And that’s a big decision for an 18- or 19-year-old.”
Instead, she chose exploration. She moved between industries — marketing, human resources, dentistry, and beyond — building a foundation through experience rather than a single path. Each role added something: communication sharpened in HR, time management refined in marketing, and a growing understanding of how organizations operate.
“Whenever I find my passion, I’ll go back to school,” she told herself.
Over time, her priorities shifted. While people-focused roles built valuable skills, they didn’t fully satisfy her desire to create something tangible.
“I gained the people skills,” she says, “but I wanted something more technical, something where I’m contributing to an end goal.”
That realization came with pushback. Her decision to explore different career paths drew criticism from those with more traditional perspectives.
“I love project management; I love being part of something from start to finish. Seeing it come together, knowing I had a hand in it. There’s nothing like that.”
“There’s that old-school mentality,” she says. “‘Figure it out, stay in one place.’ And I understand that, but if I’m not growing or fulfilled, I can’t stay.”
That mindset became her guide. In 2017, she stepped into construction project management with the discount grocery chain ALDI, supporting store builds across the country with a focus on efficiency and sustainability.
“I’m helping build stores across the United States,” she says. “Making sure everything’s on track.”
For the first time, things started to click. Later, in a coordinator role at Sheetz, that clarity deepened.
“I love project management,” she says. “This is my sweet spot.”
Her work continued to evolve, but the core stayed the same: building, coordinating, and bringing complex projects to life.
“It’s a lot of communication, scheduling, managing risks and budgets,” she says. “You’re kind of like a professional babysitter; keeping everyone aligned, putting out fires, and moving everything toward the goal.”
The Road to UAGC
In a state like Ohio, where rapid development has earned it a reputation as a modern boomtown, Aquiala’s work feels especially meaningful. With each project, she sees the tangible impact of what she helps bring to life, structure by structure.
But as her experience grew, so did the barriers.
As a Black woman in construction and project management, Aquiala often found herself having to prove what others assume.
“People ask, ‘Is she knowledgeable? Is she serious about this industry? Does she have the experience?’” she says. “And I know that to get to the next level, I need my degree. There’s no way around it.”
The turning point came when her employer Sheetz introduced a partnership with UAGC to its employees, which allows them to earn a degree at a lower cost. This opportunity removed one of the biggest barriers in her path. Within the organization, moving up isn’t based on performance alone; it’s also tied to credentials.
“It’s not a good feeling to get passed over,” she says. “Especially when you know you can do the work.”
But instead of closing doors, the requirement opened one.
“They basically say, ‘In order to move up, you need this, and we’re going to help you get it,’” she says. “At that point, you have no excuse.”
With a clear direction, and a program aligned with the work she already loves, she took the next step and enrolled at UAGC.
Turning Experience Into Momentum
When Aquiala started her program in 2021, she brought more than ambition; she brought years of lived experience. Through credit for prior learning and Sophia Learning, she accelerated her path, shaving nearly a year and a half off her degree.
But what stays with her most isn’t the pace, it’s the people.
Two advisors, in particular, became anchors throughout her journey: Samuel Passey and Norma Lucero.
“They cried with me, laughed with me, they were so invested in me finishing this goal,” Aquiala says. “There were times I burned out. I’m working, I’m juggling everything, and I’d be thinking, ‘I need a break.’ And they’d say, ‘No, you’re so close. You’ve got this.’ It was the push I needed, always at the right time.”
That level of care surprised her.
“The UAGC advisors go above the basics,” she says. “It’s not just, ‘What class do you want to take next?’ It’s personal. It’s motivating. And I’m thinking… is this normal?”
That sense of connection carried into the classroom as well. Instructors noticed when something shifted. Participation wasn’t just monitored, it was recognized.
“I’m usually the first one in discussions,” she says with a smile. “So, if I’m late, they’re like, ‘Hey, is everything okay?’ And I’m like… wow, they really know me. I’m not just a number.”
Still, the pace was demanding. Missed outings, late nights, and the constant balancing act of being a working adult and a full-time student became part of the rhythm. But the support system made it sustainable.
Toward the end of her program, Aquiala took a leadership course that reframed how she saw herself. The frameworks, the theories, even the personality assessments pointed to something she had been doing all along but hadn’t fully claimed.
"These things they’re teaching — what makes a good leader, how your personality plays into it — I’m sitting there thinking I already do this,” she says. “I’m just not doing it at the level I want yet.”
It became a moment of validation, one that connected her upbringing, her experience, and her future into a single thread.
“I realize I’ve been selling myself short,” she says. “This is the first step in understanding I already have the foundation. Now it’s about building on it.”
When she crossed the finish line at her virtual commencement, the moment hit harder than expected.
“I’m crying with everyone,” she says, laughing. “We might not be in the same room, but it feels like we are. These are my people. We all have jobs, families, responsibilities, and we all made it.”
For Aquiala, the degree is more than a milestone; it’s momentum.
“Education doesn’t have an age,” she says. “You can keep learning forever.”
She didn’t wait to use it. Even before graduating in 2025, she began applying for management roles. The response felt immediate, recruiters reaching out faster than she expected. The shift was unmistakable. Where she once worked in support roles, she now steps into leadership: owning projects, making decisions, guiding outcomes.
“I’m a project manager now,” she says. “I’m leading, I’m in charge.”
The degree confirmed what Aquiala could do all along.
“It adds a level of credibility,” she says. “People who’ve been in the field longer see that I’m committed. That I took the time, as an adult, to go back and finish what I started.”
In interviews, that commitment stands out. One recruiter told her something she hadn’t fully considered: her degree isn’t on one track; it’s expansive. “You can take this anywhere,” they told her.
She thinks back to her earlier career, moving between roles, searching for fit. What once looked like uncertainty now reads as preparation. The same adaptability that drew criticism is now an advantage — refined by experience, anchored by education. And while her skills could take her in many directions, her choice is intentional.
She remained in construction. In project management. In the work that first made everything click.
“I love project management,” she says. “I love being part of something from start to finish. Seeing it come together, knowing I had a hand in it. There’s nothing like that.”
Building What’s Next
More than a year after graduating, Aquiala isn’t slowing down.
She currently works as a Project Manager II in telecommunications, supporting a major local power provider with grid expansion. Moreover, she’s preparing to earn her PMP (Project Management Professional) certification through the Project Management Institute, while also exploring master’s programs aligned with her long-term goals.
“Everything happens when it’s supposed to,” she says. “And I’m definitely thankful for that.”
That perspective is hard-earned. It’s shaped by a winding path, the risks she took on herself, and the resilience required to keep moving when her timeline didn’t look like everyone else’s.
Now, she shares that perspective openly, especially with those who feel behind, overlooked, or unsure of what comes next.
“Don’t compare yourself to other people,” she says. “Walk your own path. Align your steps the way that feels right for you.”
She speaks with conviction, grounded in experience.
“Don’t let age be a factor. Don’t let a lack of opportunity be a factor,” she says. “Put yourself in the rooms you want to be in. Make connections. Ask questions. Not everyone will respond, and that’s okay. You still have to try.”
She smiles slightly.
“I’ll message someone on LinkedIn and say, ‘Hey, I’m interested in what you do. What advice do you have?’ You just have to take the chance.”
At its core, her message is simple.
“Don’t let anything get in your way. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t compare yourself,” she says. “You determine your success.”
As a first-generation college graduate and a woman of color in a male-dominated field, Aquiala knows progress looks different for everyone and representation still matters. But she also knows her story doesn’t end with breaking barriers. It continues with building beyond them. And in many ways, it mirrors what she first saw growing up, just across the street from home.
As a child in Urbancrest, she watched Ellen Walker Craig-Jones redefine what leadership could look like. She watched her mom, as a single Black mom, unwaveringly carve out their place in the world. Today, Aquiala is doing the same in her own way and on her own terms.
Speed Round Q&A:
UAGC: In one word, earning your degree feels like …
Aquiala Murray: Success.
UAGC: My biggest motivation to keep going was …
Aquiala Murray: Representation. Seeing what’s possible and knowing I could be part of that.
UAGC: The app I used most as a student was …
Aquiala Murray: Study.com. It was a constant resource for me.
UAGC: Morning or late-night study sessions?
Aquiala Murray: Late nights. As a working adult, mornings just weren’t an option, so I made it work after hours.
UAGC: The hardest part of being a student was …
Aquiala Murray: Writing papers. That pushed me the most.
UAGC: One thing I love about UAGC is…
Aquiala Murray: The support. I never felt like I was doing it alone.
UAGC: I knew I could do it when …
Aquiala Murray: My academic advisor stepped in and really challenged me. He reminded me who I was and what I was capable of. He told me, ‘You are successful.’ That moment shifted everything for me.
UAGC: My proudest accomplishment during school was …
Aquiala Murray: Graduating summa cum laude.
UAGC: The first person I wanted to celebrate with after graduating was …
Aquiala Murray: My dog, Roscoe. He went through the journey with me, waiting while I studied, sitting by my side. When I finally closed my laptop for good, it felt like we both made it.
Are you interested in a degree in Project Management?
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The Project Management Institute (PMI) is an independent entity not affiliated with UAGC. The Bachelor of Arts in Project Management at UAGC is not designed to fully qualify a student for any PMI certification. Students or graduates that are interested in pursuing PMI certifications shall visit the PMI website (www.pmi.org) for additional information.
