About

A new career after 27 years in law enforcement

Mary Richards graduated from the Charlottesville Campus a year ago with a computer applications technology degree and couldn’t be more pleased with her new career. For more than 20 years, Mary worked as a police officer in Culpeper, Virginia.

After many years in law enforcement, her daughter started having children and she decided she wanted to do something different with her life.

“I am very grateful for my years here at National College, and I am exceedingly proud of the degree that I received here.”

Mary said that during her time at National she was able to learn and master the skills she needed to make a career change: “National College prepared me to make a career change from being in law enforcement for twenty plus years.”

Just prior to graduation, Career Center Director Anne Brown informed Mary of a job fair in Fredericksburg, which is about 40 miles east of her home in Culpeper. Mary attended the fair and applied for a job with MediCorp Health Systems. Before graduation, she was hired at MediCorp as a receptionist. Six months later, she was promoted with a pay increase to a new job where she is now doing medical billing and coding as well as ordering imaging procedures.

Mary is not only using her new skills at work, she is the webmaster for her church and is also able to help her family and friends with tasks related to technology.

Mary said that the friendships she gained while at National have helped her in her new job as well: “The friendships … helped me at work on my team work skills, communication skills, and ability to work with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.”

Mary feels that her education, including the support she got from her instructors, advisors, tutors and staff, helped her meet and exceed her expectations. “I am very grateful for my years here at National College, and I am exceedingly proud of the degree that I received here.”

Mary recently had her one-year performance evaluation and got yet another raise. Congratulations Mary, we are all very proud of you and wish you continued success!