Lehronda Upshur
Program : Master of Science in Strategic Leadership
Hometown : Philadelphia, PA
Undergraduate Degree : BA in liberal arts from Penn State University
The desire to take her career one step further was the impetus for Lehronda Upshur’s decision to return to school for her graduate degree. She knew it would a be challenge to squeeze classes onto her already overflowing plate of family life and professional duties, but she felt it could work and Neumann College proved her right.
“My Neumann experience was a challenging one that involved storming, norming and forming with my teachers, classmates and schoolwork. It evolved into a learning experience that has helped me grow tremendously both personally and professionally,” she reflects.
Lehronda is a news and traffic anchor, public affairs director and internship coordinator for Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc. (Bala Cynwyd, PA). Her job responsibilities include anchoring morning drive news and traffic reports, heading up the company’s internship program and spearheading community events. As if these duties alone do not keep her tremendously busy, Upshur also has a second profession as a mental health technician in a residential care facility.
It was through Lehronda’s co-workers at Clear Channel Broadcasting that she first heard about Neumann College. “I knew about Neumann since several Clear Channel interns were either students or recent graduates. Neumann became my graduate school home because of the friendly environment and positive reinforcement I received upon visiting. It was also a strong choice for me since it was the most convenient and affordable continuing education program for me at the time.”
Lehronda believes that her graduate degree in strategic leadership will allow her to transition into senior management and qualify for positions that require secondary learning at the master’s level.
According to Lehronda, Neumann’s Catholic education came through bright and clear during her experience at the college. “Neumann’s environment matches its mission. I attended Catholic elementary and middle schools, so I’m familiar with the Franciscan environment. I became aware, as soon as I visited campus that it was a true Franciscan environment,” she says.
For a graduate program to be a good fit for a student, Lehronda says it has to help one grow as well as learn and that is exactly what Neumann offered to her.“Neumann has strength in that it offers options, flexibility and teachers that will work with you when there are the everyday life challenges that other institutions will ignore. It has a number of faculty that are compassionate people who treat students like people, and not numbers,” she notes.
