PROFILE: UC Mom's Moral Support Turns Into Magna Cum Laude Honors

A gesture of moral support for her daughter has blossomed into a life-changing experience for the mother-daughter team of UC students Janet and Ebony Warren.

When Ebony graduated from Winton Woods High School and decided to continue her education by studying history at UC, her mom decided she would take advantage of her status as a UC employee and enroll in some history courses "to show Ebony that it can be done," says Janet Warren.

"Now, before you know it, I’m getting a degree, too."

Not just any degree. When the Warrens take part in UC’s Commencement 2005 ceremonies on Friday, June 10, Janet will be graduating magna cum laude in history.

"I’m very, very proud of her," says Ebony. "It almost feels like she’s my daughter. To have a role model like her is exquisite."

Janet works at UC in Human Resources as a senior compliance/prevailing wage coordinator. She already had earned a liberal arts bachelor’s degree, but when Ebony enrolled at UC, Janet saw an opportunity to expand her own education while providing moral support to her daughter.

"One of the things I said to myself in going back to school was that I wanted to prove to Ebony that she could do this, I’m doing this and I’m working. I wanted to show my girls that you have to put something into this," says Janet, who also has her younger daughter, Essence, studying now at UC.

Although not her mom’s favorite subject, history has long fascinated Ebony. "And I’ve always wanted to be a teacher," she says. "I thought it would be good to get my bachelor’s in history, then a master’s in education."

Their experiences at UC have raised the bar of expectations for both mother and daughter. Ebony, who will be getting married and moving to Florida, plans on going on for her master’s degree and then her doctorate in education administration, with an eye on becoming a school superintendent.

Janet, who has been employed at UC for 13 years, has already been accepted into UC’s master’s degree program in education administration. She, too, is planning on pursuing a doctorate, with a goal of someday rising to the rank of college dean.

That may sound ambitious, but as both Warrens now know, the pursuit of education can lead to some surprising – and pleasant – outcomes.

"Ebony and I are truly in God’s favor," Janet says. "And some of our hopes and dreams will be realized on June 10, when we walk across that stage together as a team – a family team."