Jeanene Zagajeski's love for technology spawned in 1977 when her eldest brother’s job gifted him a TRS-80, one of the first at-home computers to be available to the public. He gave it to Jeanene, his seven-year-old little sister, and unknowingly handed her the keys to the castle that would shape her life and her experience navigating the world.
She spent countless hours over the next decade meticulously learning the ins and outs of this revolutionary piece of technology, developing a nuanced understanding of how technology can create opportunities for connection.
“I fully accepted tech a long time ago,” says Jeanene, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development* at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC).“
Jeanene’s early recognition of the power of technology to bring knowledge, joy, and interconnectedness drives her to make a meaningful impact on society through education.
The best thing you can do for your life is to grow. Going back to school grows you. It’s entirely different than when I stepped into a college class at 18. It’s a different type of growth.
Between receiving that fateful gift years ago and today, Jeanene has persevered through simultaneously managing chronic health issues, building her career, and navigating the family court system. Having defied the odds countless times in her life, she utilizes education as a transformative tool to uplift herself and her community.
“Knowledge is meant to be shared,” Jeanene explains.
Building a Foundation
As a young girl growing up in the Pacific Northwest with much older siblings, Jeanene ended up being a caretaker for her niece, who was only five years her junior. She left public school after the ninth grade, earned her GED, and took a few college courses before joining the Army at age 20. Here, she trained as a medic and later went on to build a career in politics and public service, working as an executive assistant to a C-suite management consultant.
By way of firsthand experience, Jeanene recognized a need for more comprehensive emotional intelligence training for parents, children, and their advocates in the family legal system. Combined with her passion for creating nonprofits – she has founded over a dozen – Jeanene is using her life experience and knowledge gained from the Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Development degree program at UAGC to create an app called the Whole Child Parent Training Program.
The Whole Child Parent Training Program is a research-backed approach to parenting that blends gentle, respectful parenting methods with advanced communication skills and emotional wellness practices.
“My goal is to create a multi-platform resource that supports parents, educators, and children in building healthier, more connected relationships,” she explains.
The Whole Child Parent Training Program is in the research and development phase, with Jeanene building the app herself and configuring ways to monitor the time participants spend on the modules and how to report this information to the court system. Jeanene’s deep appreciation for technology allows her to see the potential for web-based modules to transform the way parents, children, and their advocates communicate and connect.
From Isolation to Engagement
When chronic health issues, leaving her wheelchair bound plagued her late 20s and early 30s, Jeanene stayed engaged with the world outside of her home through the Internet.
“When I got sick, and when I was wheelchair bound, I couldn’t leave my home without assistance. But then, there was the Internet. I couldn’t go to the movies, but I could download them and join chat rooms, where I could engage in conversations. I see what the Internet can do, and where it can go.”
Compounded by living in a remote environment, Jeanene values technology for its ability to inform and inspire. She shares that she has been able to access courses and information that she never could have without the power of online education.
“I’ve seen how much it has improved my life, my ability to socialize, to learn, and to just grow as a human being,” Jeanene explains.
Now in her 50s, Jeanene admits that most of her life, she has held titles like “Assistant to...” and “Right hand of...” But now, for the first time, she is stepping out and claiming her power as a multi-hyphenate professional. A lifelong learner, Jeanene knew she wanted the modules within the Whole Child Parent Training Program to be backed by the most up-to-date research and methods for child development. To enhance and legitimize the content in her modules, Jeanene sought out a degree in child development.
Not all online programs are created equal. UAGC offered the flexibility I needed, along with the credibility and structure I was looking for. It felt like a place where I could be seen, supported, and challenged in the right ways
Jeanene uses the information she gleans from her textbooks and professors at UAGC to inform the modules, ensuring that they are up to date with relevant research and methods for child development.
Forging Connections
Beyond contributing to required weekly discussion posts in her classes, Jeanene wanted to engage in deeper conversations with like-minded classmates. Therefore, she is a member of the LGBTQ+ Ally Association, an Officer in the Early Childhood Education Club, UAGC Student Government Vice President, and a member of both the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society as well as the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Her first experience with an extracurricular organization was joining the Early Childhood Education Club as a requirement for one of her courses. Her professor, Dr. Tisha Shipley recognized that she was an outstanding member of the club, going out of her way to volunteer to participate in Officer meetings. About two months after joining, Dr. Shipley asked if she would be interested in being an Officer for the club, which she accepted. Now, she works alongside Dr. Shipley to run the club, including securing funding for custom swag and creating artwork to shape the brand.
While a student, Jeanene endured several challenges that would test her strength, but she credits her professors for supporting her during those tough times. When she unfortunately lost her emotional support animal and her service animal within a year of each other, she says her professors went above and beyond to ensure she did not fall off track.
During this difficult time, Jeanene explains that “the instructors and my advisors asked, ‘Do you need more time? Do you need to take a break? What can we do to help you?’ At UAGC, they want their students to succeed.”
When she dealt with wildfires in her area, Jeanene asked for an extra day to complete her discussions, and her professors gave her a full week. It’s these acts of kindness and embodiment of the Culture of Care philosophy that have lifted Jeanene up through her journey thus far at UAGC.
"Living in a remote area with no access to local campuses meant online education was my only option,” Jeanene shares, “but not all online programs are created equal. UAGC offered the flexibility I needed, along with the credibility and structure I was looking for. It felt like a place where I could be seen, supported, and challenged in the right ways.”
Jeanene didn’t just forge connections with faculty, however. She also stays involved on campus and meets new people through the Connect mobile app, which allows her to balance family responsibilities with being an active and engaged student. Although her path hasn’t been a straight line, Jeanene’s perseverance and determination to use her education to improve her community is a shining example of how transformative it can be to return to higher education later in life. Jeanene is happy to share her experience with others and often encourages those seeking change to consider education, regardless of their age.
“The best thing you can do for your life is to grow. Going back to school grows you. It’s entirely different than when I stepped into a college class at 18. It’s a different type of growth.”
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*The Bachelor of Arts in Child Development program is not designed to meet the state educational requirements for teacher licensure or certification in any state.
Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.