Advancing Professionally: Constance Barnes, Project Management Graduate

With a B.A. in Economics, M.A in Education, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Administration and Supervision, Constance Barnes began seeking another way to further her education. Our Project Management Certificate program was her next step. Seeing the success of former students, this KSU alumna was encouraged to sign up for the program.

The Project Management Institute indicates 15.7 million new project management roles will be added worldwide across seven industries by 2020. Constance saw the course as a great asset to aide her in the hopes of transitioning out of the education sector and moving toward a corporate industry. She said, “I wanted to enhance my leadership skills and add a marketable skill to my resume.”

As a regional Special Programs Manager for K12, a virtual education company, Constance is responsible for the start-up and launch of federal programs in new K12 charter schools in 10 states in the Southeast. She also serves as a coach and regional leader for a team of 10 managers.

Constance said our program has helped her organize the workload into quantifiable projects along with assigning roles and responsibilities by teaching her decision-making strategies, project integration and communications management. “I learned how to visualize tasks through fruition and ways to apply more logic to my daily work,” she said.

Throughout the course, she enjoyed how committed her instructor, Pete Schestopol, was to helping the students pass the course. One Saturday, he offered to spend the whole day tutoring them for the midterm.

“I though his willingness to do that for us made the difference that makes KSU a wonderful place to learn,” she said. Once Constance passed the class, her focus switched to the upcoming Project Management Professional Certification exam.

Her preparation methods included group study sessions with her classmates, reviewing the materials in the Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide and class notes, and downloading PMP-related apps. For six weeks, she dedicated two hours each day to studying.

She said her confidence was boosted when she sat for the exam – which she passed. Now, Constance is looking forward to her next move: “The PMP® combined with my leadership experience, will enhance my career opportunities.”