From Mount Mercy to mountain air—a path of success

Upon graduation from Mount Mercy University, Jennifer Vaughan ’15 moved to Denver, Colo., with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from MMU and a conviction to maximize any opportunities that were presented to her.

A native of Cedar Rapids, she moved with her boyfriend (now husband, Andrew) figuring the time was right for a new experience.

“I wanted to see something different and try something new,” Jennifer recalled. “Even if I come back, I would rather say I tried than didn’t try.”

A decade after trading the heartland for mountain air, the transition has worked out nicely for Jennifer. She has worked her way up to Regional Administrative Development Manager for Liberty Energy, advanced her education, and volunteers her time, deservedly earning her the 2025 Certificate of Merit alumni award from Mount Mercy, given annually to recent alumni who use their MMU education to show promise of significant growth and achievement.

“I’m in my 30s now and I look back and think—I did do it,” Jennifer said. “It wasn’t as awful or scary as the world makes it seem. You get your degree, you’re going to be fine. Doors open. If you work hard and put in the time, doors open.”

An early door to open for Jennifer was at Mount Mercy, where she double majored in human resources management and business administration with a minor in Spanish.

“My mom went there, and I remember going there when I was little, being with her while she was working on her degree,” Jennifer recalled. “I was close to home and my family, and it was a great campus and a great school, so it just kind of worked out.”

Jennifer said some of her fondest memories stem from the many people she met on campus. In fact, she said she learned a lot by watching her student peers and observing how they handled their academic journeys.

“I really enjoyed that the classes and the campus weren’t so large and overwhelming,” she said.

Not long after moving to Colorado, it was a call from a recruiter that got her in the door with Liberty Energy, an oil and gas company, in January of 2017. Her hard work did not go unnoticed, and she eventually worked her way into her current management role, overseeing six offices in the U.S. and Canada.

“I travel to each of the office teams and help support them,” she said. “We work with onboarding, orientation of new employees, our payroll system—a lot of problem solving with that people piece.”

Even as she has advanced through Liberty Energy, Jennifer has added to her academic accomplishments. She earned a master’s degree in International Business & Organizational

Leadership from Colorado State University Global and is on track to earn a doctorate in Business Administration & Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University in 2026.

It was an academic path that started on the Hill.

“It was my foundation,” she said of her Mount Mercy experience. “All those things I learned kind of laid the foundation for getting started and really helped me.”

Even today, she said she finds herself calling upon knowledge gained during her undergraduate studies.

“It doesn’t happen every day or every week, but sometimes it comes up and I’m like ‘Oh, I learned about this in school,’ or ‘I can teach the next person something I learned.’”

In addition to her work, Jennifer is also committed to service, volunteering with Junior Achievement and DECA, where she mentors high school students and prepares the next generation of leaders. As she continues on her own professional track, Jennifer advises today’s students to remain focused on their own path.

“Make sure you’re finding something you truly enjoy and don’t compare yourself to people around you,” she said. “Everyone has their own journey.”

Jennifer’s journey today involves living in Denver with Andrew and their newborn son, Hudson—and feeling grateful to be recognized for what she’s been able to accomplish.

“A lot of things I’ve done for myself, or my own personal goals, just to say I can do it,” she said. “So for someone on the outside to see it too—feels good.”