Inspired by her grandmother, Berkeley College MBA grad now motivates the next generation

Quaasia McCrary held a bouquet with “MBA” spelled out in red flowers as she had her portraits taken prior to the commencement ceremony. The proud Berkeley College graduate had special plans for the bouquet following the photo shoot—she planned to lay them at her grandmother’s grave.

“This is to honor my grandmother,” she explained. “She was my inspiration for earning my MBA in Management degree. She was a tremendous influence on me.”

Earning her third degree from Berkeley College

It’s not the first or second Berkeley College graduation, but the third for this woman who grew up in the projects and had to overcome many obstacles. McCrary was the first in her family to graduate from college when she earned an Associate’s degree in Management in 2018. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree.

“I earned those degrees to be an inspiration to my son and my students,” said McCrary, who works as an eighth-grade science teacher, realtor, and an investor. “But my grandmother is the reason behind my pursuit of a graduate degree. She always wanted more for me, and I feel that this will help keep her name alive.”

Advancing her career

McCrary’s journey in the MBA program was challenging, but she persevered. “I had to push myself, often working late to complete assignments, but I really wanted to learn more about the business aspects of what I do to advance my career. And everyone at Berkeley College was very supportive throughout the process.”

“I’m also proud to inspire my students,” she continued. “They get excited about their career dreams, and I emphasize that they can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. I tell them to never give up!”

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The views and/or opinions in this article are those of the individuals interviewed. The academic achievements and/or employment outcomes described in this article are specific to each individual and are not a guarantee of similar results for past or current students. For up-to-date and detailed information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu and view our catalogs at BerkeleyCollege.edu/publications.