As graduate students, these Explorers gained more than just a new credential at La Salle University. They earned additional expertise and experience for the next stage in their careers. 

As individuals look to grow their expertise and knowledge in their chosen field, many look to graduate school to help reach their goals.

At La Salle University, students can further their education to propel their careers to the next level.

Those interested in graduate education can choose from more than 30 master’s, certificate, and doctoral programs to further their learning. Programs are offered in a variety of different formats, from in-person to hybrid to online, to fit into an individual’s lifestyle. Students receive an outcome based, quality education taught by faculty experts who weave real world applications together with academics.

“An advanced degree represents both a personal commitment to growth and a strategic investment in one’s professional future. At La Salle, our graduate programs are intentionally designed to integrate rigorous academic study with real-world application, reflecting our longstanding belief that knowledge should be practical, empowering, and transformative. Through meaningful engagement with faculty, a strong sense of community, and opportunities to engage deeply in their disciplines, our students develop the expertise and perspective necessary to advance in their careers, contribute thoughtfully to their professions, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” Lisa Jarvinen, Ph.D., interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, said.

Explorers who have completed their graduate programs have found multiple benefits from earning another credential. For Chantal Branco, DNP ’23, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC, MSN ’18, ’17, her experience in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, and the faculty she learned from, made a lasting impression.

“The faculty at La Salle is the X factor. Their support and guidance is unmatched,” she said.

Branco previously attended La Salle for her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing after receiving an associates degree from Northampton Community College. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Maine. When she was looking to advance her nursing career, La Salle’s graduate programs were the right fit.

She started her graduate student journey in the RN to MSN bridge program, which was such a success, that she continued into the DNP Program.

Branco benefited from both her graduate programs. The MSN program built upon her business and nursing programs, while her DNP coursework elevated her skillset to the next level.

“The DNP coursework equipped me with the tools to reach my goal of becoming an effective and transformational leader in a dynamic healthcare environment,” she said.

She also gained real world experience through her DNP Program dissertation. In it, she was able to apply her experiences of working as a nurse manager in an intensive care unit during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The leadership, compassion, and empathy of the faculty gave me the strength to complete a quality improvement project focused on treatment modalities for Covid-19 that not only helped me to process the trauma of the experience but also opened my eyes to the impact made on patient care,” she said.

Today, Branco serves as the vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg, a part of Jefferson Health.

Her leadership role puts her at the helm of patient care services and advancing clinical excellence.

“I work to establish the strategic direction for nursing practice, ensuring high-quality, safe, and patient-centered care aligned with organizational goals and regulatory standards,” she explained.

Her work allows her to collaborate with a variety of team members including executive leadership, medical staff, and interdisciplinary teams to foster a safe and accountable work environment while always elevating her nursing staff’s performance in the hospital.

With its tremendous impact, Branco calls La Salle’s DNP program the “best decision she could have made.”  

“The personal and professional growth I experienced as a result of this program has transformed my life and my career,” she said.

Seeing the impact

Those with a master’s degree or higher earn more on average than their bachelor’s degree counterparts, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But the payoff doesn’t stop there.

The unemployment rate for advanced degree holders is also lower than those without, according to the BLS.

Plus, master’s and doctoral degrees can open the doors to leadership roles at a faster rate, creating an opportunity for individuals to increase their lifetime earning potential, studies show.

“An advanced degree is more than a credential—it’s an opportunity for students to grow, expand their perspectives, and either advance in or transition into their chosen fields. At La Salle, we are intentional in designing graduate programs that connect a thoughtfully designed curriculum with real-world practice, so students can immediately apply what they are learning. Across formats and disciplines, our goal is to support students in building the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to have a meaningful impact in their work and with the communities they serve,” said LeeAnn Cardaciotto, Ph.D., associate provost for assessment, accreditation, and graduate education.

Daniel Nierenberg, MBA ’25, saw his time in La Salle’s School of Business have a direct impact on his professional life.

“I am incredibly grateful for my experience at La Salle University, which provided the flexibility and support that allowed me to complete my MBA in just one year,” he shared. “The rigorous, real-world curriculum strengthened my analytical thinking, discipline, and business acumen, all of which I apply daily in my work. La Salle played a pivotal role in accelerating my academic journey and building the foundation for my continued professional growth.”

As an investment operations coordinator at Boldspire Wealth with Ameriprise Financial, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Nierenberg conducts research and analysis to identify suitable investment options. He also monitors portfolio performance and rebalances allocations to maintain strategic targets and optimize returns.

The MBA program’s online format, along with being able to earn his degree in a year, made it work for Nierenberg’s life and goals. He said the tremendous professors and rigorous program helps prepare students for a financial career.

Nierenberg most enjoyed a leadership course taught by Patrick T. Coyle, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S., associate professor of management and leadership. He’s stayed in touch with Coyle, who’s helped provide him guidance as he’s navigated through his career.

Dana Bozek, ’09, MSN ’18, who attended La Salle for her bachelor’s degree, was motivated by her positive experience as an undergraduate and her dad, who earned his MBA during her freshman year, to pursue a master’s degree at her alma mater.

Today, she works as a nurse practitioner in an outpatient pediatric primary care office with locations in Philadelphia and Bucks County. The experience she gained during her graduate studies helped build her skillset for a career as an advanced practice nurse. She’s also grown a network of colleagues from her time in the program and is now paying it forward as a member of the University’s adjunct faculty.

“It has been humbling to have my time at La Salle come full circle,” she said.

She said La Salle’s graduate program created an environment for learning and growth. Through it all, she felt supported and ready to take on the next challenge.

“My favorite moment from the graduate program was the pinning ceremony,” she said. “I say that the nurse practitioner program was one of the hardest things I’ve willingly done to myself. At the time I was working as a nurse in a hospital and my kids were toddlers. When I was finished with it all, La Salle had an intimate pinning ceremony, and I remember smiling to myself, feeling incredibly accomplished.”

Turning education into action

Pursuing an advanced degree also allows students to delve deeper into their chosen subject matter.

For Brittany Barnett, Psy.D. ’25, that meant getting more experience in evidence-based treatments, clinical work, and research. She was most impressed by the quality of teaching and the hands-on learning she received.

In her graduate program, Barnett studied health psychology and tailoring evidence-based treatments to meet patients’ individual needs. As she completes a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Psychology and Primary Care at the Manhattan VA, she provides individual and group therapy for veterans with a range of health and mental health issues in primary care and specialty medicine settings. The work she does every day builds upon her experiences at 20^th and Olney.

“It has prepared me to work in a variety of hospital settings where I work with patients of diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of presenting concerns. I especially benefited from working in La Salle’s training clinic, preparing me to work not only as a psychologist but also as a supervisor as I supervise psychology interns and externs in my current role at the VA,” she said.

The training clinic, known as the La Salle University Community Psychological Services, is a mental health clinic providing low or no-cost psychological services to the community. It also allows Psy.D. students to gain vital training working with patients, which Barnett experienced firsthand. Within the Psy.D. program, Barnett said she most valued the health psychology concentration.

“I entered the program not knowing much about health psychology, but the excellent  classes and my experience on the clinic team helped solidify my passion for health psychology and led me to where I am today as a health psychology fellow in a veteran hospital,” she said.

The training and mentorship Barnett experienced during the Psy.D. Program prepared her to take on the wide range of duties as a psychologist, including implementing individualized, evidence-based care to assessment, consultation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and more, she said. 

“I am grateful that I chose La Salle for my doctoral program and feel confident that my training at La Salle played an integral role in shaping who I am as a psychologist,” she added.

— Meg Ryan, M.A. ’24