Shantineq Gatlin
Veteran Finds Sense of Community and Support at Loyola
As an adult learner with a busy schedule, Loyola student and Army Veteran Shantineq Gatlin (BA in Management, ’24) has found that the robust support system and community for military affiliated students offered by Loyola’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies (SCPS) has played an instrumental role in preparing her for success.
Searching for the Right School
Gatlin’s college search began soon after she completed her military service, when she began taking online and evening courses at various colleges around Chicago. As a new mom and working professional, Gatlin initially found it challenging to find a program that could meet her needs logistically while still offering a high-quality professional foundation that would allow her to advance her career. “I had tried a few online programs, but they didn’t really meet my needs at the time,” she said. “I decided I would wait until I found a program that really suited me, and that’s when I found SCPS.”
Attending Loyola
As a student in SCPS’s BA in Management program, Gatlin quickly recognized that Loyola offered a sense of community and flexibility that stood in sharp contrast with her past experiences at other institutions. “I liked the fact that it was tailored toward working adults,” she said. “When I first came to Loyola, I felt more at ease and more comfortable than I had previously. There were so many people from different areas of the school reaching out to walk you through everything step-by-step.”
Gatlin has also found that her peers, many of whom are also Veterans and working professionals, are often eager to connect and support one another. Despite the online format of many of her classes, “the community that you build is really, really excellent,” she said. “You'll meet other veterans who have had some of the same experiences as you had, and then you also have people who are in their professional lives and decided they want to shift gears and go back to school.”
There were so many people from different areas of the school reaching out to walk you through everything step-by-step. Shantineq Gatlin, BA Management '24
Support for Veterans
For Gatlin, perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between Loyola and her prior experiences at other institutions is the support offered by Loyola’s Military Veterans Student Services, particularly when it comes to helping Veterans and military affiliated students navigate their educational benefits. “As a Veteran who’s transitioning from activity duty, you don’t want to go somewhere where the Veteran’s office doesn’t understand your benefits,” she said. “Loyola really does have people who are educated and understand what we have gone through, what we need, and often understand our benefits better that we do.”
Looking ahead, Gatlin plans to leverage the skills she gained in her program to work towards her goal of owning and operating her own business. She also encourages other Veterans considering Loyola to take the leap. “You want people who will rally around you and give you the support that you need and actually appreciate the service and the sacrifice that you made,” she said. “This is where you should be. You're not going to find a better school.”
This is where you should be. You're not going to find a better school Shantineq Gatlin, BA Management '24
BA Management
BA Management
The BA in Management degree program offers adult learners training in management principles, ethical leadership, critical thinking, and strategic planning. You'll quickly hone your analytical, decision-making, and management skills in an accelerated format.
Learn MoreSearching for the Right School
Gatlin’s college search began soon after she completed her military service, when she began taking online and evening courses at various colleges around Chicago. As a new mom and working professional, Gatlin initially found it challenging to find a program that could meet her needs logistically while still offering a high-quality professional foundation that would allow her to advance her career. “I had tried a few online programs, but they didn’t really meet my needs at the time,” she said. “I decided I would wait until I found a program that really suited me, and that’s when I found SCPS.”
Attending Loyola
As a student in SCPS’s BA in Management program, Gatlin quickly recognized that Loyola offered a sense of community and flexibility that stood in sharp contrast with her past experiences at other institutions. “I liked the fact that it was tailored toward working adults,” she said. “When I first came to Loyola, I felt more at ease and more comfortable than I had previously. There were so many people from different areas of the school reaching out to walk you through everything step-by-step.”
Gatlin has also found that her peers, many of whom are also Veterans and working professionals, are often eager to connect and support one another. Despite the online format of many of her classes, “the community that you build is really, really excellent,” she said. “You'll meet other veterans who have had some of the same experiences as you had, and then you also have people who are in their professional lives and decided they want to shift gears and go back to school.”
Support for Veterans
For Gatlin, perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between Loyola and her prior experiences at other institutions is the support offered by Loyola’s Military Veterans Student Services, particularly when it comes to helping Veterans and military affiliated students navigate their educational benefits. “As a Veteran who’s transitioning from activity duty, you don’t want to go somewhere where the Veteran’s office doesn’t understand your benefits,” she said. “Loyola really does have people who are educated and understand what we have gone through, what we need, and often understand our benefits better that we do.”
Looking ahead, Gatlin plans to leverage the skills she gained in her program to work towards her goal of owning and operating her own business. She also encourages other Veterans considering Loyola to take the leap. “You want people who will rally around you and give you the support that you need and actually appreciate the service and the sacrifice that you made,” she said. “This is where you should be. You're not going to find a better school.”