30 Years Later

In July, Susan Stapleton, Dean of Graduate Studies, was contacted by a graduation auditor about former student and alumna Louise Schuster (BS '68; MA '69, Teaching). Schuster was preparing to apply for her second Master's degree from WMU—she had earned a BS in 1968 and her first MA in 1969.

After completing her first Master's degree, Schuster continued to take classes through 1980, but never pursued getting her second Master's degree.

A current unit coordinator for literacy studies, Dr. Lauren Freedman, evaluated Schuster's transcript—which indicated that she had, in fact, completed coursework for a MA in Literacy Studies. Stapleton and Mallory Bourdo, graduation auditor, then began working with the University to see if a degree could be processed for Schuster.

Schuster's granddaughter arranged for Stapleton to surprise Schuster with the presentation of the degree—with her family members present for the occasion.

On October 2, 2012, Stapleton presented Louise (91 years young) with her second Master's degree from WMU. She can now, more than 30 years later, add (MA '12, Literacy Studies) to her list of academic degrees

Schuster, and degree #3, is pictured with Stapleton