From pause to progress

Brooklyn Hodge ’26, always intended to complete her undergraduate degree. As she took on the role of mother and later working adult, her education took a backseat.

In fall 2024, Hodge is halfway through completing her Bachelor of Science in Business degree, as part of the School of Business & Society’s (SBS) degree completer program. An Esri employee, she became the recipient of the Esri Fellowship, which awards staff a tuition-free scholarship to complete their undergraduate or graduate-level education at University of Redlands. Balancing the demands of her full-time job, family life, and rigorous coursework, Hodge’s journey is a testament to perseverance and the power of a strong support system.

“I [took] a couple of community college classes right after high school, and then life happened, and I took a nice 10-year break,” Hodge recalled. “When I started [working at Esri], I [returned] to Crafton Hills College and got my political science (associate’s) degree. Then I wanted to keep going. I wanted to keep that momentum. University of Redlands was logical, [as] Esri partners with them,” Hodge continued. “I had a couple of close colleagues who had gone to University of Redlands and were able to testify to me how awesome their experience was, and it [became] a no-brainer for me to choose Redlands.”

SBS’s completer program has become the perfect fit for Hodge. With eight-week courses designed for working professionals, the format allows her to focus on one class at a time, meeting her needs where she is.

“It is a lot of hard work, [and] you have to dedicate yourself to the program,” Hodge said. She credits her family’s unwavering support, particularly her children, who cheer her on through late-night study sessions. “They're my cheerleaders,” she said. “They'll sit in the back room with me while I do homework. I couldn't do this without my family. They sacrifice a lot for me, but they understand that it's short term and that it's going to be a whole lot better in the future.”

With plans to explore new opportunities within Esri after graduation, Hodge is eyeing a master’s degree to further expand her career opportunities, knowing her support system that includes “amazing” U of R staff Perla Ramos, Liz Villegas, and Esri will be there with every step of the way.

“As a whole, Esri makes this possible,” Hodge said. “Without Jack and Laura [Dangermond] reaching out [to create] their partnership with U of R, I couldn't do this. It's great to see how wide my support network goes.”

Her advice to other working professionals looking to complete their degree is simple.

“Trust yourself—you're never going to regret it,” she said. “You've done harder things in your life but it's absolutely worth it, and it can be done. If I can take a 10-year break, get my associates, move right on to my bachelor's, and now I'm considering a master's—you can [too].”

Learn more about the School of Business & Society and its programs.