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‘Knowledge is power’: New Scott employee has big educational goals

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber R. Kelly-Herard
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  A recently retired veteran, Karen Nixon, Air Force Network Integration Center, Knowledge Operations requirements lead, found her job from USAJobs.com and moved to Scott Air Force Base where she did not know anyone.

But, what she did know was that she wanted to go to school.

Nixon was fortunate that she had a lot of credits, to include CLEPS and DANTES, which she had earned for free while she was on active duty. Her next step was to go to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In December of 2011, Nixon earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

"Park University undergrad worked with Park University graduate school so that I had a two-week break and then started working on my Master's of Business Administration degree this January," Nixon said.

"Working full time, while going to school with a family and a puppy is hard," Nixon said. "Knowledge is power. The more knowledge I have, the more confidence I have in myself, and I am happier with myself. I invest in myself and now I can control my destiny."

Using her Montgomery G.I. Bill and a year of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, Nixon will have no out-of-pocket costs for her bachelor's and master's degrees.

Nixon's education helps her in her current job. For 20 years, Nixon was a 3C3X1, or a communications project manager in the Air Force. Now she does the same thing, but instead of at the base level, she works at the enterprise level.

"I feel like I have validation in the business world because I have knowledge to bring to the table," she said. "I can do whatever the job needs me to do, and I find that I am asking my job for more work and different challenges."

She also furthered her education by attending Squadron Officer School and by taking computer-based training from Defense Air University.

Additionally, she has plans for a third career.

"I was born in the Army, I was an Air Force wife and then I made a career in the Air Force," Nixon said. "I just started my second career, but my third career will be a college professor so I can help people get what I got out of school. I am looking to start teaching before I finish my second career."

Nixon is now looking into a dual Ph.D. in Business Administration and Project Management from Capella University.

"You're never too old. My neighbor's mom who is 77 just earned her Ph.D., it's never too late to go back," Nixon said. "The more education you have, the more doors open. If nothing else, people see what a hard worker you are and that you want to contribute and be an active person in whatever you are doing."

Speaking of being active, Nixon also won AFNIC Volunteer of the Quarter last year.

"The more I do, the more I find I can do; from education you want to help others," she said.

Nixon's example has spread to her children. Her daughter is attending Southwestern Illinois College and is looking into attending either McKendree or Park universities and her son is attending school in Denver, Colo.

Editor's note: This a series of servicemembers who have or are in the process of continuing their education. To recommend someone for this series, please email commandpost@us.af.mil or call 256-2600.