Delaware Tech Alumna Goes From Accomplished Student to Valued Employee

After the company who employed her for 24 years closed its doors, single mother of two, Alison Buckley, was in need of a career change.

“I had worked at the same job basically my whole life, and I decided to come to Delaware Tech and join the Office Administration Technology (OAT) program to gain some skills and make myself marketable,” she said. “Having never used a computer before and not knowing what a mouse was, I knew I had a lot to learn.”

When she began, she took a full load of classes and took a work study job in Financial Aid. “It was just the beginning for me,” she said. She went on to work a couple part-time jobs on campus, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

During her time as a student, Buckley was a member of the Alpha Betta Gamma (ABG) and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor societies. She also received two scholarships, the Excellence in Service Award (2003) and several other awards and recognitions.

The faculty at the Owens Campus pushed her to succeed. “I don’t think I would have made it without their encouragement,” she said. She graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in 2001.

As a student, she used to pass Bill Wood, chief of public safety, in the halls. “I told him I’d be working for Delaware Tech one day,” she said. “When I secured my first full-time position here, Bill Wood was the first person I told!”

Over the years, Buckley has held a few different job titles as an employee as Delaware Tech. Today, she works in the planning department as a resource development specialist.