Crystal Donlan is a strong believer in the power of education.
A self-described lifelong learner, Crystal pursued teaching as her career. When a medical diagnosis threatened her ability to teach, she turned to education.
She earned a Master of Education in Learning, Design, and Technology online through Penn State World Campus and the College of Education at Penn State in 2020 and is enrolled in the Doctor of Education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education program.
Today, Crystal is proud to use her Penn State education to have an impact on online learning. She works as an instructional designer for Word Campus Learning Design, where she creates engaging online professional development courses that help instructors innovate courses for online learners. Crystal continues to teach and share her passion of education, now in a new way.
Read more about Crystal in the alumni spotlight below.
Why did you decide to pursue higher education?
As a career educator, I chose to pursue additional education after I was given a disheartening medical diagnosis that ultimately altered the way I could stand and deliver learning experiences to my students. Not wanting to give up my life’s work — as teaching and learning is my passion — I decided to pursue advanced degrees at Penn State to focus on distance education and continue facilitating learning through alternative modalities.
Why was Penn State World Campus the right choice for your master’s?
I am an immune-compromised professional with mobility issues, so I chose Penn State World Campus because I could pursue my educational goals from home. This was also important because I am also a single parent of a young adult with a neurological condition, so being able to work on my degree in a digital space afforded me the opportunity to be present for my child if he would need me. My son is a World Campus grad, too, and we are so fortunate to engage as learners in a way that provides us equity of opportunity.
I cannot emphasize enough that online learning is indeed real, robust, and academically rigorous. If it were not for Penn State World Campus, we’d not have been able to pursue our goals.
How does your experience impact your work?
I have evolved as a learner and as an educator. I continue to work in ways that advance scholarship in my discipline, specifically online learning in post-secondary and higher education settings. I have grown so much as a person and a professional. My current position is perpetually informed by what I have learned and am continuing to learn. I have received and continue to receive support from my professors and faculty mentors. Our program faculty has been so supportive of my growth and progress, and I appreciate that sense of genuine presence.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about pursuing a degree online through Penn State World Campus?
Please do not hesitate to pursue your degree online if you feel that is the right fit for you. Penn State is a global leader in online learning, and I feel so fortunate that I not only engage as a learner but also get the unique opportunity to work in this field. The course quality and ongoing commitment to best practice is unparalleled, and you will not be disappointed. This experience has absolutely changed my life.
This Q&A spotlight is part of “40k alumni: 40 stories celebrating 40,000 graduates,” a series marking the milestone of more than 40,000 Penn Staters earning their degrees online through Penn State World Campus.