Nicole Reesur-Mazur Comeback Campaign

By Lini S. Kadaba

By the time Nicole Reeser-Mazur 鈥01 Ph.D. 鈥24 was writing her 58体育直播 doctoral dissertation in educational leadership in 2023, she had already overcome more than her share of challenges, any one of which could have easily derailed her education. Fate, though, had one more wallop in store for her. This time, her comeback would depend, in equal measure, on her resilience and on Alvernia鈥檚 support for her in a time of need.


As a high school teen more than three decades ago, Reeser-Mazur, became a single mother. The experience, she said, motivated her to consider college. She attended Reading Area Community College (RACC), but when she got pregnant again, she struggled. At one point, she nearly faced homelessness with two young children until a friend opened her home to her.


鈥淚t was really hard,鈥 said Reeser-Mazur, 49. 鈥淚 almost quit.鈥


Reeser-Mazur didn鈥檛. Transferring to Alvernia, she majored in elementary education and landed at Reading School District as a Head Start teacher. She married and had a third daughter, but the couple eventually divorced and she again found herself a single parent. Still, Reeser-Mazur kept at her education, earning a master鈥檚 degree in early childhood education from Albright College in 2011 and rising to supervisory roles at the Berks County Intermediate Unit even while teaching at Harcum College and RACC and raising her three daughters.


Soon, Reeser-Mazur was ready for the next step 鈥 a doctorate. Alvernia鈥檚 Ph.D. in Leadership was a good fit. It catered to working adults, with resources to help students readjust to the demands of graduate school.


鈥淚 was a little rusty," she admitted. "[The program] is very patient with you and works with you so you can get started again.鈥


Reeser-Mazur was well into her thesis when she suffered a life-threatening brain aneurysm. Hospitalized for two weeks, she faced months of recovery, forcing her to take a break from a new job as the coordinator of early learning programs at Wilson School District and her doctoral studies.

When Reeser-Mazur returned to work and Alvernia in the fall of 2023, it wasn't easy.


鈥淚 had a lot of brain fog, some processing issues," she said. "I forgot how to cite things. My brain was rusty. It still is.鈥


Reeser-Mazur considered quitting to focus on health and family, which included several grandchildren by then, but 鈥淚鈥檓 not the type of person who likes to quit."


In early 2024, she completed her doctorate, graduating a few months later.


Psychology professor Di You, who chaired Reeser-Mazur鈥檚 dissertation committee, credits her advisee, saying that life鈥檚 curveballs have never distracted her.


鈥淣icole has a laser focus,鈥 said the chair of the psychology and counseling department. 鈥淪he is determined to get this Ph.D. ... She鈥檚 a problem solver. 鈥業 have an obstacle. How can I overcome that?鈥欌


Alvernia, too, provided multiple layers of support. The cohort model of the doctoral program, for one, offered peer support, You noted, giving Reeser-Mazur a group of friends to lean on for motivation. She also got help from staff at the library, professors and the Academic Success Center.


鈥淲e care about Nicole鈥檚 success, her progress,鈥 You said. 鈥淪he had my personal cellphone number. The library knows her by her first name. The Ph.D. program director knows her. Every corner she turns, she's not just a Ph.D. student. She鈥檚 Nicole. Someone is there for her. It鈥檚 our culture here.鈥


Said Reeser-Mazur: 鈥淚 want to do good in the world. Thanks to Alvernia, I overcame my obstacles and created my comeback.鈥

Ph.D. in Leadership

Degree Type:
Doctorate of Philosophy
College:
College of Business, Communication, and Leadership
Location:
  • Reading Campus
  • The John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne
Program Type:
Doctoral

Early Childhood Education

Degree Type:
Undergraduate certificate
College:
Early Childhood Education
Location:
  • Reading Campus
  • Pottsville CollegeTowne
Program Type:
Certificate (Credit-bearing)
Credit Hours:
0
Note:
Also available as a minor