For Southern Nazarene University (SNU) graduate Jessica Tracy, the path to instructional design wasn’t linear, but it was intentional. Along the way, each step helped her discover how her passions, skills, and calling could come together into a meaningful career.
Jessica earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from SNU, completing her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2008 and her Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology in 2023.
Her journey began with a childhood spent moving frequently, with her family eventually settling in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. From there, Jessica made her way to Bethany as a freshman at SNU.
“I moved around a lot in my childhood, landing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in late high school, attending Dallas First Church, which is what led me to SNU,” Jessica shared. “I ended up in Bethany in 2004 as a Freshman, and have stayed in the Oklahoma City area since, with the rest of my family following me later and now also residing in the area.”
Today, she remains deeply rooted in her community and faith, actively serving at her church and investing in her relationships with family and friends.
“I attend Bridgeway Church, where I have been involved in multiple ministries over the years and faithfully attend a small group full of families whom I just absolutely love. I currently serve as a Team Lead on the Hospitality Team once a month, and love leading others, as well as being involved in welcoming people to my church!”
Professionally, Jessica’s career path has evolved significantly over time. After starting in business-related fields, she realized her true passion was helping others learn.
“After graduating with my BS in Business Administration, I spent some time working in the finance industry, then the cosmetics industry. Unhappy in the business field, I decided to go back to my first love, teaching, and the Lord opened doors for me to quickly and easily step into the classroom in 2012.”
She went on to teach elementary and middle school math in two local school districts for 11 years. During this time, she discovered a new passion: training and development. This passion led her to pursue a career change to instructional design.
“While teaching, I had opportunities to lead various teams in and out of my district, develop training, lead and facilitate training sessions, and help develop teachers (both new to my school/district and new to the profession),” Jessica said. “Through those opportunities, I discovered how much I love, and excel at, training development and delivery. The more I did, the more I realized it was a perfect combination of the skills and strengths God has given me. A Master's in Instructional Design was the logical next step.”
For Jessica, choosing the right instructional design master’s degree program came with a moment of clarity after taking a leap of faith.
“I was looking for a program and really struggling to find one that checked all the boxes and was in the right price range. I felt a nudge through a word from someone at church that I know was the Lord telling me to look at SNU. I scoffed at the idea, convinced they did not have the program I needed, but obeyed anyway.”
What she discovered surprised her in the best way: an instructional design program for working adults.
“I went home that afternoon, found that SNU actually DID have an MSIDT program they were starting that provided the flexibility I needed, and at a good price,” Jessica explained. “I applied and, within 72 hours, was accepted and attending a pre-session of some sort with the cohort, with classes starting the very next week. I didn't even have financial aid lined up before starting my first course of the program! It all happened so quickly and went so smoothly, I knew it was exactly where I was supposed to be.”
The support Jessica received during her time in the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology (MSIDT) program at SNU made a lasting impact.
“There are a few things I could say here, but really what set SNU apart the most was having professors in the program that knew we were working adults and provided care and flexibility for our cohort as we all navigated a new program together, along with the demands of normal life and all the curveballs that were thrown at the individuals of my cohort in that 18-month period.”
She added, “They asked for our feedback, adjusted in real-time when they could, and were flexible with due dates to the extent they could be. I would not have made it through my program without the support of Dr. Marsee and Dr. Lease.”
That support, and the skills Jessica refined during the program, quickly translated into career success.
“I was ahead of the curve with material because so much of what we learned in the program I did regularly in order to run a smooth classroom. However, I did learn a lot and was able to fine-tune my skills to the needs of the field.”
As she began applying for roles, she saw the results firsthand.
“When I got to my last course or two and started interviewing for potential roles, I had a solid portfolio and a resume with some experience that impressed those I interviewed with, as well as skills that had been developed and refined that allowed me to navigate interviews with ease,” she shared. “I had an offer after just three months of submitting applications and interviews at a handful of companies.”
Today, Jessica is thriving in her role at Serco, a company that contracts mainly with government clients across the U.S. and the world, to develop various types of training. She also continues to lean on the relationships she built during her time in SNU’s Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology program.
“Since being in my current position, I have excelled from the start and owe a lot of my success to what I learned in the program. I also have continued to stay in touch with both Dr. Marsee and Dr. Lease, who have been a great support and resource, helping me continue to build my confidence in navigating my post-grad experiences.”
Jessica’s story is one of faith, growth, and discovering what can happen when you use the intersection of passion and purpose to make an impact.