{"id":32572,"date":"2026-05-05T14:34:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=32572"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:34:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:34:33","slug":"alumna-overcomes-obstacles-to-achieve-masters-degree-from-tusculum-praises-university-for-the-support-she-received","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2026\/alumna-overcomes-obstacles-to-achieve-masters-degree-from-tusculum-praises-university-for-the-support-she-received\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumna overcomes obstacles to achieve master’s degree from Tusculum, praises university for the support she received"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 When Elizabeth Tarlton walks across the stage Saturday, May 9, to receive her Master of Business Administration<\/a> from Tusculum University<\/a>, it will be a major achievement not just because of her additional knowledge but also due to her perseverance through a major health issue.<\/h3>\n
\"Elizabeth

Elizabeth Tarlton takes a photo at Virginia Hall on campus. Photo by Hannah Vaughn<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI was dealing with severe health complications, including leaky gut syndrome and a neurological condition that left me paralyzed for over a year,\u201d she said. \u201cDuring that time, I was wheelchair-bound and completely dependent on others for things I had always taken for granted. It changed every part of my life. Physically, it was exhausting. Mentally and emotionally, it pushed me to places I had never been before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tarlton had days filled with uncertainty, pain and questions about her future.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that season also became one of the most defining in my life,\u201d she said. \u201cIt strengthened my faith, taught me patience and revealed a resilience in me that I did not know existed. I had to fight for every bit of progress. Today, I am walking again. That alone is something I will never take for granted. What I went through did not break me. It built me, and it gave me a renewed sense of purpose and determination. I carried that strength with me into my master\u2019s program, knowing that if I could overcome that season, I could overcome anything. Through it all, I give all glory to God, because it was my faith in Him that carried me through every season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Tusculum was a good fit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before the downturn in her health, Tarlton received a bachelor\u2019s in business administration<\/a>, with a major in management, from Tusculum in 2023. Tarlton said Tusculum has been a great choice for her studies.<\/p>\n

\u201cChoosing Tusculum wasn\u2019t just about getting a degree for me,\u201d said Tarlton, a patient service representative at State of Franklin Healthcare Associates. \u201cIt was about finding a place that fit my life and believed in people like me. As a working wife and mom, I needed something that was flexible but still meaningful. Tusculum gave me the opportunity to pursue my bachelor\u2019s in business administration with a major in management\u00a0while balancing a full-time job and raising my family. The structure of the program allowed me to keep going even when life felt overwhelming. But what really made the difference was the support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it came time to continue into my Master of Business Administration, the choice was easy. Tusculum had already proven to me that they didn\u2019t just care about academics. They cared about the person behind the degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Support from a federal program at the university<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tarlton, who lives in Chuckey, is a first-generation student, meaning her parents did not earn a bachelor\u2019s degree. When she was an undergraduate, that status qualified her for ARCHES, a federal TRIO grant program at Tusculum that provided valuable support to working adults who were pursuing their bachelor\u2019s degree. She did not know how to work her way through the higher education landscape, and ARCHES gave her the tools to succeed.<\/p>\n

\"Elizabeth

Elizabeth Tarlton poses on campus in her cap and gown. Photo by Hannah Vaughn<\/p><\/div>\n

She said ARCHES helped her grow in confidence, find her voice and believe she deserved to be in the classroom and cross the graduation stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mentor, Rachael Barnett, was hands down my hype woman,\u201d Tarlton said. \u201cShe believed in me even in moments when I doubted myself. She pushed me, encouraged me and reminded me of what I was capable of. Sometimes all it takes is one person in your corner, and she was that for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

That program for working adults still exists as part of Student Support Services<\/a>, another TRIO federal grant program.<\/p>\n

\u201cARCHES and SSS have mattered a great deal because they have changed lives,\u201d said Dr. David Smith, executive director of Tusculum\u2019s TRIO<\/a> programs. \u201cWe are pleased to have played a role in Elizabeth\u2019s development but commend her as well for her spirit and desire to make a difference. TRIO works because it provides opportunity to people who can make the most of it and succeed in ways they might not otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growing her skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though her coursework with Tusculum has been online, Tarlton has developed lasting relationships with her classmates. She said they helped each other through assignments, deadlines and life. The university has also helped her tremendously.<\/p>\n

\u201cTusculum gave me the structure and support to keep going when it would have been easy to stop,\u201d Tarlton said. \u201cProfessionally, it equipped me with the knowledge and skills to step into leadership roles with confidence. It strengthened my critical thinking, communication and decision-making abilities. More importantly, it taught me how to apply those skills in real-world situations, whether that was in health care, leadership or business settings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tarlton said Tusculum also helped her see that her story has purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything I have walked through, both personally and professionally, can be used to connect with others, lead with empathy and make an impact,\u201d she said. \u201cTusculum did not just prepare me for a career. It transformed how I see myself, how I show up in the world and what I know I am capable of accomplishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2007, Tarlton has been married to her husband Johnny, who works at Parker Hannifin as a forklift driver. They have two children, Hunter and Harleigh. She said her family has always been her reason for all of her actions. She said she wanted her children to recognize that no matter where one starts, a person can finish strong. It was important to her that they know hard work and perseverance matter.<\/p>\n

Tarlton\u2019s career path<\/strong><\/p>\n

Earlier in her career, Tarlton served for more than 10 years as a disability paralegal, where she advocated for individuals who had to navigate the Social Security system. She has also worked for ForwardAir as a customer account specialist. Additionally, she has worked in several patient-facing roles in health care, such as financial counseling, front-desk coordination and optician support.<\/p>\n

\"Elizabeth

Elizabeth Tarlton stands at the Tusculum Arch. Photo by Hannah Vaughn<\/p><\/div>\n

Tarlton\u2019s leadership roles include serving as program coordinator with WestCare, where she worked on a grant-funded program that supported veterans. She was a direct support program supervisor with Sevita, where she helped oversee care for people with intellectual disabilities. She owned and operated her own residential cleaning business for several years.<\/p>\n

She plans to use her MBA to step into leadership roles where she can meaningfully influence organizations and the people they serve.<\/p>\n

Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, said Tarlton\u2019s story is inspiring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are extraordinarily proud of Elizabeth and everything she has achieved,\u201d he said. \u201cShe did not let obstacles stop her. Instead, she used them as stepping stones. That kind of resolve has served her well in her studies and will enable her to succeed in her career and to tackle any challenge she will face. Her perseverance is an important lesson for others to emulate, and the support she received at Tusculum is powerful evidence of our caring Christian environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Urging others to move forward with college<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tarlton encourages working adults to take the plunge, go to college and study at Tusculum \u2013 and to proceed even if it is the not the perfect time.<\/p>\n

\u201cTusculum University is built for people like us \u2013 people who work full time, who have families and who are juggling a lot but still want more for their future,\u201d Tarlton said. \u201cThe flexibility of the program makes it possible, but more importantly, the support makes it sustainable. It won\u2019t be easy., but it will be worth it. You are not just earning a degree, you are setting an example for your children. You are showing them what perseverance, discipline and commitment look like in real life. You will also grow in ways you don\u2019t expect. You will gain confidence, build relationships and realize you are capable of more than you ever thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tusculum\u2019s graduation will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in Pioneer Arena.<\/p>\n

Additional information about SSS is available at https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/sss\/<\/a>. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 When Elizabeth Tarlton walks across the stage Saturday, May 9, to receive her Master of Business Administration<\/a> from Tusculum University<\/a>, it will be a major achievement not just because of her additional knowledge but also due to her perseverance through a major health issue.<\/h3>\n

\u201cI was dealing with severe health complications, including leaky gut syndrome and a neurological condition that left me paralyzed for over a year,\u201d she said. \u201cDuring that time, I was wheelchair-bound and completely dependent on others for things I had always taken for granted. It changed every part of my life. Physically, it was exhausting. Mentally and emotionally, it pushed me to places I had never been before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tarlton had days filled with uncertainty, pain and questions about her future.<\/p>\n

Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131,91,7,19,142,169,146,1,6,148,147,149,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlumna overcomes obstacles to achieve master's degree from Tusculum, praises university for the support she received :: Tusculum University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2026\/alumna-overcomes-obstacles-to-achieve-masters-degree-from-tusculum-praises-university-for-the-support-she-received\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Alumna overcomes obstacles to achieve master's degree from Tusculum, praises university for the support she received :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 When Elizabeth Tarlton walks across the stage Saturday, May 9, to receive her Master of Business Administration from Tusculum University, it will be a major achievement not just because of her additional knowledge but also due to her perseverance through a major health issue. \u201cI was dealing with severe health complications, including leaky gut syndrome and a neurological condition that left me paralyzed for over a year,\u201d she said. \u201cDuring that time, I was wheelchair-bound and completely dependent on others for things I had always taken for granted. 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