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Megan Cline ’20 needed a college experience that provided flexibility as she balanced coursework with a full-time job. She found that with Simpson College’s evening and online program. Thanks to an attentive faculty and staff willing to help out at every turn, Cline completed her business management degree with honors. Now her career is on the rise, working as an underwriter at Nationwide.
About Megan
Hometown: Glidden, Iowa
Major: Business Management
Minor: Marketing
Occupation: Underwriter at Nationwide Insurance
Involvement at Simpson: Alpha Sigma Lambda national honor society for non-traditional students
Q&A
What does the job of an underwriter entail and why did you choose to pursue this career?
As an underwriter, I assess the risk of personal lines property, auto and umbrella policies. I chose this career because I like to use my brain. With this job, I am constantly using critical thinking skills. This job challenges me to look beyond the obvious and think outside the box.
Was there a specific part of your Simpson Experience that helped you discover your career path?
Simpson’s small class sizes really helped me succeed and hone my skills to propel my career forward. My journey was a non-traditional one, but I always felt that Simpson really understood that I was juggling a full-time job while going back to school. If it had not been for the attentiveness of my professors and the flexibility of classes I probably would have taken longer to finish and not graduated with honors.
Who provided the most support during your time in the evening and online program?
Almost everyone at the school helped me develop and grow. I can't think of a staff member who wasn’t willing to take the time to help me understand whatever class material I wasn’t fully grasping. Each class I had multiple questions, but my professors were willing to answer my emails or even stay late after class to really help me understand the material. Everyone made me feel like they truly wanted to help me and cared about my education.
