'I Cannot Imagine Doing Anything More Meaningful with My Life'

As the parent of five, Keli Bruehling BEd ’22 already knows she loves kids.

But balancing that family with a job and a college education? That would take love and dedication.

Bruehling is in her first year of the Pacific University School of Learning & Teaching bachelor of education program in Roseburg, Ore. The degree-completion program — which is available through Pacific’s Eugene and Woodburn campuses, as well as in partnership with UCC in Roseburg — was designed to support community college transfer students and working professionals in becoming teachers in their own communities.

Classes are a mix of online and in-person formats offered on weekends, during evening hours and over the summer.

It’s a challenge, Bruehling said, but there’s plenty of support.

“I quickly learned that my family, my employer, my professors and my cohort make an amazing support system and they want to help me succeed,” she said.

She’s also a recipient of the Mark Ankeny Endowed Scholarship for Early Childhood and Elementary Teaching, founded by former College of Education Dean and Vice President of Enrollment Management Mark Ankeny to support underrepresented students pursuing their elementary teaching careers.

Bruehling looks forward to a lasting career in teaching, and she knows Pacific will prepare her well.

“The education program here is amazing. Every teacher I have known that graduated from Pacific University went into their career feeling prepared, confident and now have successful careers as awesome teachers,” she said.

“I want every child to love learning and find so much value in their education. It only takes one amazing teacher to make a different in a student’s life, and I want to be that teacher. I want to help them all to feel important and successful. I cannot imagine doing anything more meaningful with my life.”