A quest to pursue further education while seeking balance between home, work and studies led Hannah Reynolds back to Anderson University.
Reynolds, now a mother of five, recently earned her MBA from Anderson University while giving birth to two children during the program.
“I think part of me wanted to prove to everyone that you can go to school and have children at the same time,” Reynolds said. “It’s hard, but you can do it if you want to. You don’t have to pick one.”
Reynolds graduated in December 2025 with her Master of Business Administration from the Anderson University College of Business and Economics, a milestone that’s been years in the making. Her journey began with an undergraduate degree in graphic design from the South Carolina School of the Arts—also at Anderson University—but life took her in a different direction before she could pursue graduate studies.
“I always wanted to go back to school,” Reynolds said. “I had my undergraduate degree, but I wanted to continue my education.”
Reynolds’ faith was integral to her commitment to see her MBA through to completion while she was raising her growing family. She points to 2 Timothy 1:7 as their family verse: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Reynolds said, “For me and my husband, we honor God’s command to ‘be fruitful and multiply,’ and the degree came second. My first mission for God is my children and family—the career was always to support what God blessed us with.”
Finding the Right Fit
When Reynolds decided to pursue her MBA, she needed a program that could accommodate her demanding schedule. Anderson University’s online format provided the flexibility she required.
“I worked a full-time job while doing the online degree, so I had to just work around those two things,” she explained.
Reynolds heads into the office four days a week at Fujifilm in Greenwood and works from home on Fridays. Balancing work and family commitments with graduate coursework required some strategic time management.
“I dedicated time to my classes within the window of time after children went to bed every night,” Reynolds said. “I would also read on my lunch breaks, and if there were any apps that would read your textbooks, I would listen to them on the drive to and from work.”
The Art of Being Present
For Reynolds, success wasn’t just about finding time—it was about being fully present in each moment. It was also about prioritizing motherhood and choosing to bring two lives into the world during that time. With three children in diapers and her older sons will under 10, it wasn’t easy, but she persevered.
“Focus and discipline require that you dedicate portions of your life to specific things,” she said. “If I’m with my family, I need to be present with my family. If I’m at school, I need to be present at school.”
This philosophy was tested when life’s unpredictable moments arose. Reynolds recalled times when she had to request deadline extensions, including spending an entire day in the emergency room with one of her children when a paper was due.
“They were understanding,” she said of her professors.
A Culture of Support
What stood out most to Reynolds during her MBA journey was the family-friendly culture she encountered among Anderson University faculty. This support system proved invaluable as Reynolds navigated the challenges of graduate-level coursework while managing the demands of a growing family and a full-time career.
“Certain professors I really connected with because they were happy that I had children and a family,” Reynolds said. “They were so supportive of family.”
When Reynolds was giving birth to her youngest daughter, she shared the news with her professor, letting her know when to expect the delivery. She sent the professor a photo of her new baby, receiving the reply, “That makes my day.”
Reflecting on her experience, Reynolds said, “This past May we welcomed Elizabeth to our family of now seven, and I took some time off work to heal and take care of her. Then shortly after that I was able to finish my MBA while being able to talk about my faith in God in every class! Only a little over a year ago, while in the middle of my MBA studies I had another beautiful girl named René and right before I started my MBA program I had my first daughter Catherine.”
Lessons in Balance
Reynolds’ experience taught her important lessons about managing multiple priorities simultaneously. The key, she discovered, was maintaining focus on whatever task was at hand, especially when trying to manage many things at once.
“You have to be present at the time,” she emphasized.
Reynolds’ journey at Anderson University crossed two different academic worlds, but she found value in both experiences. The MBA program offered her the opportunity to develop new skills while proving to herself—and others—that major life events don’t have to derail educational goals.
A Message of Possibility
Reynolds hopes her story will inspire others who may be hesitating to pursue their educational dreams because of family commitments.
“You can go to school and have children at the same time,” she said. “It’s hard, but you can do it if you want to.”
Her success demonstrates the quality and flexibility of Anderson University’s MBA program, designed to accommodate working professionals and parents.
For Reynolds, earning her MBA while raising five children—including welcoming two more during the program—wasn’t about proving she could do the impossible. It was about showing that with focus, discipline, support and determination, the seemingly impossible becomes achievable. Receiving her degree this past December stands as proof that, with the right mindset and support system, you truly can have both.
