Lauren Mitchell Leads the Way in the YC Bachelor’s Degree Program

In May, Senate Bill 1453 passed into state law allowing community colleges in Arizona to offer baccalaureate degrees.

“After years of effort in this state, we are thrilled to receive this authorization. Yavapai College was at the forefront of the lobbying effort for SB1453 because we knew how much of an impact it could have in our county,” said Yavapai College President Dr. Lisa B. Rhine in a YC news release. “Our goal is simple – we want to launch degrees that make sense for community members of all ages, demographics and occupations.

YC’s Bachelor of Science in Business degree focuses on organizational management and leadership, allowing a wide variety of people to find it valuable. Rhine says this degree prepares students to become effective leaders in the workforce as managers, supervisors and team leaders, which is just what Lauren Mitchell needed.

Mitchell, a wife and mother of two, has always wanted to start her own business. Before taking on the bachelor’s degree at YC, she had already created an online business selling healthy drinks for children. At first, her goal with the YC bachelor’s program was to get her prerequisites for an information technology degree, then transfer to Northern Arizona University. Then the difficulties of having to attend classes out of town while raising her family and supporting her husband, an IT architect, in his schooling became clear.

“The majority of the classes could be done online; however, when it came to the core classes, I would have to do them in person. That wasn’t an option with a family,” she said.

That’s when the YC bachelor’s degree program became available. All of the classes could be completed online, on Mitchell’s own schedule. She said she appreciated the emphasis on entrepreneurship.

Mitchell’s decision to pursue the bachelor’s degree was not an easy one, especially with the other demands on her time. But she knew if she kept her focus on her dream of starting a business, she would succeed. “As long as you keep your eyes on the end goal, you can get through anything,” she said. “School was challenging. I took 23 credit hours the first semester and 25 the next, while being a mom, coaching two soccer teams and doing two part-time jobs. I was exhausted for two years!” she said.

A detailed calendar and the support of YC faculty helped her through the tough schedule. “You live by a calendar. Everyone in my family had a color, so if it was on the calendar, you knew who had what and when. I had to be diligent – during any break I’d do homework or read something. Basically, I carried it with me all the time. I could do a class on time management with the papers I’ve written the past two years!” she said.

YC staff was invested in helping Mitchell to achieve her goals. She needed approvals for her heavy class load so she could complete her capstone classes in her first semester. “They accommodated me and supported me through the whole process,” she said.

She credits the support of her husband, Neil, through the two years that also included the loss of her mother in her second semester of classes. “If I did not have Neil’s support, this would not have been achievable. We have a partnership in everything we do.    He was a teacher at YC so he helped me know what classes I needed and helped me to facilitate the whole journey.”

Mitchell isn’t wasting time putting her accomplishment to work. She and her husband will be starting a quick drink business in Prescott in the near future.

“This has always been in my back pocket,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to create a place where you could get drinks for the whole family. I’m not a coffee person, my husband is. I like drinks with a variety of flavors. I never leave the kids in the car, it’s not an option. I want to stop in one place and get the drink I want, and for my husband to get his coffees.”

Mitchell has a larger goal than convenience, however. Growing up in the Prescott area, she has a desire to give back to her community. She wants to provide family-friendly jobs with flexible hours and a variety of shifts. “Being a mom myself, I know you get that call from school for a sick kid or an emergency happens. I want to accommodate that.”

The research is done, a 10-year business plan is complete, and a location is chosen. Mitchell hopes to open the business in spring or summer 2025, depending on final details.

“[These degrees] can instantly transform lives, help them reach a higher job level, increase their wages, start something new, grow something current and most importantly, not be gouged with financial or travel burdens,” said Dr. Rhine. “We want our students to graduate from YC and we want them to stay in Yavapai County.”

With her dreams and determination, Mitchell has made history as the first YC student to receive her YC bachelor’s degree, leading the way for many more. QCBN

By Heidi Dahms Foster, QCBN

For information about the Yavapai College bachelor’s degree program, visit www.yc.edu.

Courtesy Photo: Lauren Mitchell wanted to raise her family, support her husband, earn a bachelor’s degree and start a business. As the first through the Yavapai College Bachelor’s Degree program, she is able to do all this from Prescott.