A full-circle moment: Jennifer Berghoff returns to Georgia Southern for her master’s degree

Georgia Southern University has been a constant backdrop to Jennifer Berghoff’s life moments, both big and small. 

Born and raised just minutes from the Statesboro Campus, her childhood memories are intertwined with Georgia Southern: fall Saturdays at Paulson Stadium, school trips to campus and even riding out a tornado in the Rosenwald Building, where her mother worked in the Office of the Registrar.

Berghoff graduated from Georgia Southern in 2000 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and soon found a job at the University, where she has worked for nearly 17 years. It was also here that her future mother-in-law, a colleague at the time who worked down the hall, introduced Berghoff to her husband. They were married down the road at Friendship Baptist Church in Statesboro. 

Now, she’s preparing for another life milestone at the place that’s been with her all along. This spring, at 48-years-old, Berghoff will graduate with her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration.

“I’ve grown up with Georgia Southern,” she said. “To reach this milestone here, surrounded by so many memories, means everything to me. I truly bleed blue.”

In years past, Berghoff watched Georgia Southern commencement livestreams, wishing she had taken the leap into graduate studies, but fear of failure held her back. When a supervisor role opened in spring 2024, she finally found the push she needed, drawing confidence from the lasting memory of a Georgia Southern professor.

“I thought of my favorite undergraduate professor, Dr. Elynor Davis, who did not complete her Ph.D. until she was in her 50s and always reminded students it was never too late to set and achieve goals,” Berghoff said. “I thought ‘Why not me?’”

Berghoff was initially hesitant about returning to school at an older age, but those concerns quickly faded.

“I was worried about being in class with younger people. But they were so encouraging, and I was surprised to find out I wasn’t the only older student,” she said. “Going back to school in your late 40s is not easy. But, I was determined to finish what I started and give the University a good return on its investment. You’re never too old.”

Two years after starting coursework, Berghoff has not only completed her degree, but she has also received a new job title. In March, she was promoted to Director of Faculty Resources in the Office of Academic Affairs Resource Management, where she is putting her new expertise to good use. 

“I have a better understanding of how higher education works. Through the program, you can see how everyone should collaborate,” she said. 

Now that her coursework is finished, Berghoff plans to celebrate and enjoy the culmination of her hard work. And wherever her story goes next, she expects Georgia Southern to be at the center of it.

“I hope to be able to stay and progress at Georgia Southern,” she said. 

“I’m looking forward to crossing the stage, and maybe then I’ll think about becoming a Triple Eagle.”