Lou Sotelo
Business Administration
"Education is something that will always benefit you," says ASPIRE student Lou Sotelo, 37, of Sterling, Illinois. "Ashford University has provided an education that allows me to focus on my family and profession while enhancing my knowledge of business to further my career."
Sotelo knew he did not need to go to Ashford. He had already earned his BS from a major university and had achieved professional success as a systems analyst. In early 2008, he was elected an Alderman for the city of Sterling. He certainly did not need to study at Ashford to prove himself. And yet, Sotelo could see himself reaching for even bigger achievements. He says he wants "to contribute to the strategic plan of an organization." A Master's degree through Ashford's adult accelerated program, ASPIRE, will see him through to that goal. "With my MBA, I will pursue a career as a CIO." Sotelo is on track to complete his MBA in May, 2008.
And he did it all, balancing his studies with his personal life, in less than two years. "I am surprised by how quickly time passed," he says. The nearby campus in Clinton, Iowa, and Ashford's accelerated pace has made this possible. Sotelo sees himself moving on to bigger and better milestones in his career very soon. But returning to school for his Master's hasn't changed him a bit he still has time to coach his son's soccer team. "I don't think that my life has changed. I think that graduating with my MBA from Ashford will add another chapter to it."