For Sie Clay, this season in her life represents both an ending and a beginning.
As she prepares to graduate with her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) through Samford Online, her daughter, Samara, is completing her freshman year studying Human Development and Family Science (HDFS). Both degree programs are offered through Samford’s Orlean Beeson School of Education, which has allowed them to experience these milestone moments at the same time.
“Knowing that I’m about to graduate while my daughter is in her freshman year is a full circle moment,” Sie said.
For Sie, pursuing the MSOL was about more than timing. It was about growth, stewardship and living out the value of professional development she encourages in others every day.
As director of employee relations and development at Samford, she has spent more than 20 years investing in people. Returning to the classroom meant applying that same commitment to herself.
“I take my job very seriously, I care about the people I serve, and I’m big on professional development,” she said. “So, I decided to practice what I preach. I needed to invest in myself just like I invest in others.”
The decision required careful consideration. Balancing a full-time career, family responsibilities and community commitments meant asking whether the timing was right.
“I had to consider my job, my family and my community engagements,” she said. “I thought, ‘Could I really dedicate the time to do this?’”
The flexibility of Samford Online made that decision possible. Designed for working professionals, the MSOL allows students to remain fully engaged in their careers while advancing their education.
“There were times when I took my laptop to softball practices for my kids,” she said. “I was able to be present for my family and still stay engaged in my coursework.”
Even in an online format, Sie said the program fostered meaningful connections. “Even though I wasn’t sitting in front of them in a class, I still felt very engaged in the work and that they cared about me as a person,” she said.
Professionally, the MSOL strengthened her leadership in practical ways. Sie saw direct connections between her coursework and her work at Samford, allowing her to immediately apply what she was learning.
“This program has helped me put a name with the concepts of practices that I may or may not already do,” she said, adding that she encourages other working professionals to consider the program.
“There are so many ways to enhance your knowledge as a working professional,” she said. “The MSOL is one of them.”
For Samara, watching her mom pursue this degree while balancing multiple responsibilities has been impactful.
“She’s been so determined to balance everything between schoolwork, her job, being a wife and a mom, and her duties in the community,” Samara said. “Her being able to balance those different things and complete the program makes me very proud.”
Their shared time at Samford has created a unique dynamic.
“Our conversations are geared towards my mom as an employee, her as a student, and her just being my mom,” Samara said.
For Sie, this season represents something lasting. “It definitely feels like there’s a legacy happening that we can reflect on,” she said.
As she looks ahead to graduation, Sie hopes her work and education continue to impact students across campus, including her daughter and her peers.
For the Clay family, this moment reflects more than a shared milestone. It is a reminder that leadership and learning extend beyond the classroom, shaping future generations.
