Master's Prepares Stigdon for a New Role

When Terry Stigdon, MSN, RN, MSML considered pursuing a master’s degree in management and leadership, she knew that balancing parenthood, full-time work and graduate school would require a flexible university and a solid degree program. The long-time Riley Hospital for children employee researched her options and decided that WGU Indiana was the right fit.

Her studies not only expanded her knowledge; they enlarged her dream and strengthened her confidence, as well. “The neat thing about going back for my master's is that I was a manager at the time, and I went back for my master's to help me as a manager,” Stigdon explains. “What the degree helped me realize was that I could do the job of a director, that I was better prepared that I gave myself credit for, and this degree really prepared me to lead my team in a very different, deliberate way. That was exciting for all of us. It took our department into a very new direction.”

Stigdon completed her master of science degree in management and leadership from WGU Indiana in 2014 and, in 2016 was promoted from her role of clinical manager of operations at Riley Hospital to director of clinical operations. In December of 2017, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb named Stigdon as Director of the Indiana Department of Child Services. “Terry has in-depth, firsthand experience in the issues faced by the children and families served by Indiana’s Department of Child Services. She has dedicated her life to saving and improving the lives of young Hoosiers, and she will bring a passion for this critically important work." said Governor Holcomb.

Watch this video interview with Stigdon to learn more about her story and her WGU Indiana experience.