Judith Paul set out to earn a college degree many years ago. Then life intervened, as it often does for millions who have the same aspiration.
Here’s the thing, though: The time away from her studies was a gift.
She did everything but sit still. She helped others pursue their own education. Made her community a better place to live. Cared for farm animals. Every experience contributed to the well-rounded person that would eventually resume her education.
When Paul graduates from Oregon State University this Saturday, June 13, it will be the culmination of a decades-long educational journey that coincided with a full life at home, at work and everywhere in between.
“It was always my goal to complete my degree, but when, where and how seemed to elude me,” said Paul, who earned her Oregon State bachelor’s degree online. “Work, retirement, moving to a new state, building a house — they all appeared to impede my goal.”
Getting to the finish line, however, was never in doubt.
“I knew it would someday happen,” she said.
Someday has arrived, and Paul is part of OSU’s graduating Class of 2026, which features a record 8,785 students. Of that total, 2,553 students earned their degrees online through OSU Ecampus. That is also a record and a 9% increase over last year. A total of 75 degree programs are represented by this year’s Ecampus graduates.
That includes the liberal studies online bachelor’s program that Paul joined in 2016. She enrolled as a junior, bringing transfer credits earned many years earlier at San Francisco State University and Hartnell Community College in the Bay Area.
Returning to college later in life might have been an uncommon move, but Paul rejects the foolish notion that we are limited by age. In fact, she was so full of zeal in her early days as an Oregon State student that she felt the pull so many lifelong learners do.
“I had no idea what I wanted to major in, and course offerings are far more varied and exciting than when I was last in college,” she said. “I was just having fun, immersed in trying out so many different subjects. Being an Ecampus student has been a wonderful experience.”
Wisdom from 2026 Oregon State graduate Judith Paul
“The #1 takeaway I have from my 10 years at OSU is recognizing the importance of diversity and celebrating that diversity. And to live in this world with gentleness and kindness. And not to accept limitations—not of age, not of ability, not of purpose, not of time, not of finances, not of resources. Always expect a good outcome!”
Photo at top: Judith Paul shakes hands with Benita Blessing as she is inducted into Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society in a ceremony on Oregon State’s Corvallis campus.
In the decades between her California college days and starting at OSU, Paul thrived in a professional career that crossed multiple industries. She worked as a proofreader for a major national publisher; a high school and community college registrar; a city planning director; and a community development analyst.
She and her husband, Jerry, also owned and operated a working cattle ranch in Monterey (Calif.) County before retiring early and moving to Corvallis in 2006.
The abundance of professional and life experience undoubtedly helped her succeed when she resumed her academic career at OSU a decade later.
“Judith’s story is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary determination Oregon State’s online learners demonstrate to achieve their goals, even if their studies are sometimes paused in order to manage life responsibilities,” said Jessica DuPont, the interim vice provost of OSU’s Division of Educational Ventures. “It’s inspiring to witness her perseverance, and I’m proud to celebrate the achievements of all members of the Class of 2026 who completed their OSU degrees online.”
Pursuing Oregon State’s liberal studies degree enabled Paul to customize her degree path and focus on the themes that interest her most: writing, history, ethnic studies and literature. Taking classes part time, she progressed toward graduation and, by spring 2023, had completed all degree requirements apart from a series of world language courses.
The next month, her husband — her high school sweetheart — passed away.
“My husband was my strong support who made this adventure possible for me,” Paul said. “… As I tried to settle into a new way of life, I was unable to focus on completing the language requirement.”
Eventually, she moved forward. In the academic sense, that meant taking a series of American Sign Language courses online and putting the final touches on a lengthy, worthwhile journey. Now she joins the more than 19,000 OSU students who have completed a degree online.
And as a bonus, last month Paul was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society.
“Although this has been somewhat of a bittersweet experience, I do feel completely fulfilled with the accomplishment of completing a long-awaited goal,” she said. “Now I’ll wait to see what unfolds for me next. I won’t be idle!”
