For Doris Jones, stepping onto the commencement stage this spring wasn’t just about celebrating a milestone – it was about reclaiming a moment that once passed her by.
A 2021 graduate of Rasmussen University’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program, Doris completed her degree during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many graduates at the time, she didn’t have the opportunity to walk across the stage or celebrate in person.
This year, that changed.
Doris took the stage this year, not as a graduate, but as the featured alumni speaker at the Illinois Commencement Ceremony, where she welcomed the newest graduates into the alumni community and led the alumni pinning ceremony.“ For me, standing on this stage today is truly a full-circle moment,” Doris shared. “When I graduated during COVID, I didn’t have the opportunity to walk across this stage like you are today. So being here now is something very special.”
Doris currently works for Bright Horizons, where she has been teaching since 2017. As one of Rasmussen University’s employer alliance partners, the organization provides tuition savings to employees pursuing their education goals.
“While I was working full-time and continuing my education, I was fortunate to have incredible support from my colleagues,” Doris shared. “They encouraged me to pursue my degree, supported me along the way, and believed in my goals even on the days when things felt challenging.”
After completing her degree, Doris continued advancing in the field she loves. Today, she serves as an assistant director at Bright Horizons’ UChicago Child Development Center Drexel.
Now in a leadership role, Doris is committed to creating the same kind of supportive environment that helped her thrive. She actively encourages her colleagues to pursue their own educational and career goals.
As she addressed the graduating class, Doris paused to recognize a colleague in the audience whose journey she had supported along the way.
“Now, I try to pay it forward by inspiring my colleagues and friends to pursue their own goals,” she said. “In fact, one of those colleagues is graduating here today. Levetta, I’m so honored to celebrate this moment with you. Know how proud we all are.”
Levetta Morris, a fellow teacher at Bright Horizons, completed her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education in December 2025 and was among more than 400 graduates recognized at the April ceremony.
It was a simple moment, but one that captured the spirit of mentorship and encouragement that defines both her career and the Rasmussen alumni community.
The commencement stage Doris once missed became more than a celebration of her own journey – it became a chance to lift someone else up.
