Welcome to the American College of Education (ACE) Alumni Spotlight, where we highlight our alumni and share how choosing ACE can lead to meaningful outcomes.
Penny Moore is a two-time ACE alum, having earned a B.S. in Healthcare Administration in 2025 and an MBA in 2026. With an impactful career that started in healthcare and progressed into project management, she’s now working toward combining her passions as a nursing home administrator in the future. Moore’s professional journey is one of dedication, hard work and inspiration. We were delighted to learn more about her career and experience at ACE.
ACE: Tell us about your career journey and what led you to your current role as an IT project manager.
Penny Moore (PM): My career began in healthcare, where I worked in direct patient care and later earned my Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential. As I continued my education, I realized I enjoyed improving systems and solving problems just as much as caring for patients. That passion led me to transition into project management, where I now serve as an IT project manager supporting technology initiatives for a national organization.
Although my career has shifted from healthcare to information technology, my mission has remained the same: improving people’s experiences by leading projects that create meaningful results.
ACE: ACE partners with Ross Education to increase degree accessibility for their employees. How did you learn about the partnership, and how did it support your ability to pursue your career goals?
PM: I learned about the partnership through my employer, Ross Education, and it immediately stood out as an incredible opportunity. The partnership made earning my degree much more accessible while balancing work and family responsibilities. It removed financial barriers that might have delayed my education and gave me the confidence to continue investing in my future. I’m grateful that my employer and ACE worked together to make higher education achievable for working professionals like me.
ACE: What made you choose ACE again for your MBA, after already earning your bachelor’s degree with us?
PM: Returning to ACE for my MBA was an easy decision because my experience during my bachelor’s program was so positive. I appreciated the flexibility, the supportive faculty and the understanding that many students are balancing careers and families while pursuing their education. ACE gave me the confidence that I could continue growing professionally without putting my life on hold. It felt like coming back home to a place that truly believed in my success.
ACE: You impressively completed the MBA program in five months as a full-time employee and parent. What kind of support – from ACE, your employer or otherwise – made it possible to accomplish this?
PM: Completing my MBA in just five months required discipline, planning and an incredible support system. ACE provided a flexible learning environment that allowed me to study around my work schedule and family responsibilities. My employer encouraged my professional growth, while my daughters constantly reminded me why I started this journey in the first place. There were many late nights and early mornings, but every assignment brought me one step closer to my goal.
ACE: With your plan to become a licensed nursing home administrator, how do you see your degrees from ACE helping you reach that goal?
PM: My degrees have given me a strong foundation in leadership, business strategy, communication and organizational management — all essential skills for leading a nursing home. My healthcare background allows me to understand patient care, while my business education prepares me to manage operations, finances and teams effectively.
My long-term vision is to become a licensed nursing home administrator and eventually open a retirement community where older adults receive compassionate, high-quality care. ACE has played a significant role in preparing me for that mission.
ACE: What’s one piece of practical advice you’d give another working parent considering pursuing a degree?
PM: Don’t wait for life to become less busy because that perfect time may never come. Progress is made one assignment, one class and one day at a time. Remember that your children are watching you, and your perseverance teaches them that education and hard work are worth the sacrifice. The journey won’t always be easy, but the opportunities that come after earning your degree make every challenge worthwhile.
Being an American College of Education (ACE) alum has its perks. When you return as an alum for another program, you receive discounted tuition with the Alumni Continuing Education Grant. Alumni can also refer a friend to an ACE program and get exclusive rewards.
