Ali Lanenga needed help navigating her new role as a school board member. A web search brought her to an Oregon State University master’s degree, but she wasn’t sure she was ready for that program — either academically or logistically.
Instead, she completed a microcredential online with Oregon State, then a certificate — eventually building the confidence to pursue and complete a master’s degree. Her credentials were stackable, meaning every one she finished came with credits that could apply to the next program.
“It worked for me because I didn’t get overwhelmed. I could do a little bit and see if I liked it,” she said.
What are stackable credentials?
Stackable credentials allow individuals to earn smaller credentials, such as microcredentials and certificates, that count toward larger degree programs. This modular approach provides multiple entry and exit points, enabling learners to build qualifications over time, advance their careers and pursue long-term educational goals.
Starting small, building confidence
Lanenga graduated from BYU with a degree in family and consumer sciences education and worked as a teacher in Utah before moving to Oregon with her family. After supplementing her children’s public-school education at home during the pandemic, an interest in education policy blossomed. In 2023, she ran for — and won — a seat on the Riverdale School District board and was invited to serve on the policy subcommittee. The work was both important and difficult.
“It was like drinking from a fire hose,” she said. “I’m very much a person who’s like, ‘Well, if I’m going to do this, I want to do it well and I want to have a good foundation of knowledge.'”
Lanenga started with Oregon State’s Microcredential in Public Policy Leadership online. A course in public policy theory was especially motivating, sparking a deeper interest in how sound policies can support clear decision-making.
“I thought it would be really hard, and it was. But it opened my eyes to the work in a deeper and more intentional way,” she said. “And then I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll just take a couple more classes.’”
From uncertainty to momentum
After finishing her microcredential, she enrolled in Oregon State’s Graduate Certificate in Public Policy Analysis online. By applying the 9 credits from the microcredential to the certificate, Lanenga was able to shorten her required coursework.
At the end of her 18-credit certificate program — with two Oregon State credentials already in hand —she applied those credits to a Master of Public Policy program online, reducing both the remaining credit load and the time required to complete the degree program.
Her prior Oregon State instructors provided the academic references she needed, and her academic success helped her realize she was ready for a master’s degree.
“Each part felt doable,” she said. “I could complete one part and then another, and then I thought, ‘I might as well just complete all of it.’ I was motivated to keep going.”
Learning to lead through policy
While pursuing her master’s degree online, Lanenga started an internship with Oregon state Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Ore., who represents District 15. A few months later, she was hired as Sollman’s full-time legislative assistant.
In this role, Lanenga performs in-depth research on upcoming legislation, helping the senator understand key issues and how to communicate them to constituents.
“If she is championing a specific piece of legislation, I’m making sure that we have messaging that’s really understandable for folks, because as much as we love lawyers, they write the laws, and sometimes it makes no sense to just a regular person,” Lanenga said.
She also fields questions about topics ranging from noise ordinances to unemployment to environmental policy.
“I really like what I’m doing. I see myself working in government for, you know, as long as they’ll have me. It’s just so fascinating. I feel like I’m helping people,” she said.
Lanenga may also take more courses to ensure she can serve her constituents with appropriate, accurate information.
“I will probably be the person who says, ‘Oh! I just want to take one more thing.’ I like learning. It expands my mind and thinking in ways that really help people,” she said.
How stackable credentials work
Lanenga’s journey isn’t just a personal success story; it’s a blueprint for how Oregon State’s stackable credentials can work.
For example, students may earn a microcredential and apply those same credits toward another program, such as an undergraduate or graduate certificate. This approach allows students like Lanenga to test a field of study before fully committing to a longer degree program.
While many of Oregon State’s online offerings are stackable, not all of them are. Students interested in this approach should contact OSU before they enroll in a microcredential or certificate to ensure their credits will stack into the degree they’re interested in.
Learn more about enhancing your career through stackable credentials from Oregon State.
