Personal and professional development

When Feryl York ’21 MSL set out to get her master’s degree, she had career advancement on the top of her mind.

Having recently accepted the physical therapist assistant program director position at Kirkwood Community College, Feryl certainly did advance her career, but it was her personal growth that surprised her the most.

“The knowledge and experience I have attained about myself as an individual, a follower, and a leader was far greater than I imaged,” said Feryl. “I have not only learned about my strengths through coursework and tools, but also how to utilize them to empower myself and those I lead.”

With an interest in individualized development and a background in human performance, Mount Mercy’s MSL program aligned with Feryl’s goals and ambitions.

“When I began researching potential areas of study, strategic leadership matched my goals for career advancement and equally fit my passion for human growth and development,” said Feryl. “I considered various programs, but after visiting Mount Mercy’s graduate center and meeting with Marcie, the program director, I felt at home.”

"The personal attention and assistance with every detail has made my experience at Mount Mercy exceptional."

The feeling of home and belonging stayed with Feryl as she went through the program. Throughout her on-campus classes and online seminars, she knew she had a village behind her.

“The personal attention and assistance with every detail has made my experience at Mount Mercy exceptional,” said Feryl. “From registering for classes to the genuine development and fostering of relationships between faculty and fellow classmates, the relationship building has all been key to my experience in the MSL program.”