By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
As one of the first two Rio Salado students to earn bachelor’s degrees in the college’s history, Amanda Jansen, 40, is relishing in her academic accomplishments and her life.
Those accomplishments include earning a bachelor’s in public safety administration from Rio in May, as well as a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), and an associate degree in forensic science from Phoenix College.
“I always knew I had this self-determination, this motivation in me that if I really wanted something, I could get it done,” Jansen said.
Jansen had already finished her associate degree and was enrolled at SNHU when she learned about Rio’s new bachelor’s degree programs.
“One of my teachers let all the students know there would be a bachelor’s offering in public safety administration at Rio soon, and I thought it was a great opportunity,” Jansen said. “I decided to sign up, even if I had to double up on my classes.”
Jansen and fellow graduate Rheanan Heller were the first two students in Rio Salado College history to earn bachelor’s degrees following a 2021 law in Arizona allowing community colleges to confer four-year degrees.
The Maricopa Community Colleges began offering bachelor’s degree programming in fall 2023, with the first graduates hitting the commencement stage in May 2024.
It’s Never too Late to Go Back to School
Jansen’s foray into higher education had a rocky start.
“In high school, my dream was to go to medical school to be a surgeon,” Jansen said. “Getting married and having my first kid at 20 - it didn’t work out that way for me.”
In 2010, Jansen attempted to take some premed classes to get back on track, but “life got in the way.” After getting divorced, things began to change for the better.
“In 2015, I met my current husband and he’s been extremely supportive,” Jansen said. “I then went back to school in 2016 and got my first associate degree.”
Last year, Jansen, a mother of five children, took stock of her life and decided further education could expand her career options.
“I woke up one day and said, ‘What am I doing?’” Jansen recalled. “I wanted something more than just an associate degree. I saw all the wonderful opportunities that the Maricopa Community Colleges offered and decided to go for a bachelor’s degree.”
While pursuing her education, Jansen was working full-time and initially struggled with a routine.
“Throughout all of this, I was working third shift - starting at 9 p.m. and finishing at 5 a.m.,” Jansen said. “I was only getting three hours of sleep and it wasn’t working.”
Jansen and her husband took opposite work shifts to be able to spend more time with their 2-year-old daughter. She also found it beneficial to create a schedule for her classes and assignments.
“I love making notes,” Jansen said. “Last year I created an Excel spreadsheet with all my classes. That was my bible for school. It’s color coded. Every time I finished a class, I highlighted it. That really motivated me because I am a visual learner.”
Even with a plethora of academic degrees in hand, Jansen is not done learning. She is continuing to prepare for her future career and is currently taking classes for a master’s degree in forensic science at Arizona State University.
“I’ve always loved forensic science and I know I want to work in law enforcement,” Jansen said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be collecting evidence, conducting research, or working in a leadership role. I just know I have a lot to offer.”