海角直播

Non-traditional, full-time student. Mother of three. Paralegal. Licensed real-estate agent. Founder and CEO of .听听

Stacy Berry is a full-fledged, multi-hyphenate.听

And as of May 15, 2026, she added Metropolitan State University of Denver graduate to the list.听听

Berry and I met via Microsoft Teams one spring afternoon to talk about her student experience as she prepared to complete her final semester at 海角直播 Denver. Sunlight pours through a nearby window, spotlighting a container of deep-fried green beans sitting on the table; Berry offers a quick apology for eating, explaining that she鈥檚 multitasking on her lunch break.听听

It comes as no surprise that Berry needs to multitask given her responsibilities and achievements. I wonder aloud how she has time for anything. 鈥淎 lot of people say that,鈥� says Berry. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e like, dang, you鈥檙e superwoman.鈥�听

Berry started out on her higher education expedition as a Human Services major. Realizing that it wasn鈥檛 quite the right fit, she branched out, taking a variety of wellness classes and the The University鈥檚 Individualized Degree Program helped wrap those interests into a Transitional Strategies in Wellness and Housing major and a Human Services minor.听

Sara Shumate, Ph.D., director of the Center for Individualized Learning, says IDP enables students like Berry who have innovative ideas and/or changed direction multiple times through their college careers to design meaningful majors and minors, while paving an efficient path to graduation.听

鈥淚DP is able to tailor educational experiences to suit most students鈥� needs,鈥� says Shumate, noting that the flexibility of the program is vital to student retention and completion. 鈥淲e work closely with academic departments to ensure that students are learning the skills and earning the credentials they need to be successful in their future endeavors.鈥�听

Part of the process requires students to submit a proposal that includes a degree plan and a rationale essay.听

鈥淚t was a lot of pressure,鈥� says Berry. 鈥淚 was so excited when my proposal got approved.鈥�听

Throughout her time at 海角直播 Denver, Berry has had awesome professors supporting her academic and professional goals, and access to life-changing opportunities, like exploring the health care systems in Edinburgh, London and Paris through the University鈥檚 study abroad program; connecting with affordable housing advocates in the community; and acting as an Affordable Housing Institute Ambassador.听听

Throughout it all, scholarships established by generous donors helped make Berry鈥檚 journey possible. One deeply impactful scholarship she received was the , which supports survivors of intimate partner abuse.听听

The award aligned with Berry鈥檚 work as founder and CEO of Harriet鈥檚 Liberation Society, where she provides resources, including housing assistance, and guidance for women wanting to leave abusive relationships.听听

鈥淗ousing insecurity is a big reason why a lot of women stay in those abusive relationships,鈥� says Berry. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the affordable housing piece [of my degree] was so important to me.鈥�听

Berry鈥檚 dream is to put all of the knowledge she gained from her degree program into her organization, describing it as her passion and purpose.听

鈥淸During my time at 海角直播 Denver] my purpose pivoted from being a therapist to being a resource and support for those women,鈥� says Berry. 鈥淚 want to create systems for them and their children to be liberated and hold the keys to their freedom.鈥澨�听

鈥淚鈥檓 ready to keep creating change in the world, and I couldn鈥檛 be more excited!鈥澨�听

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As Berry鈥檚 chapter as an 海角直播 Denver student comes to a close, for other Roadrunners, it is only just beginning. Make a gift supporting students like Stacy today!听