Boldly blue, uncomfortably orange.
That’s how Katherine Diaz describes her experience as a returning online student in her thirties at Boise State University.
“You have to be open to new ideas and be vulnerable and a little uncomfortable,” she said. “In any learning situation, any program you’re going into, you are going to learn new ideas that may be different from the ideas you have. You have to be open to that or you’re never going to gain anything from it.”
Diaz has gained plenty. After graduating from the online Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Professional Studies in May 2023, she enrolled in the online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL).
“I decided I wanted more,” she said. “I was thinking about taking a break after the bachelor’s degree, but the advisors at Boise State encouraged me to apply for the master’s program and keep going. I’m definitely happy I did. Once you take that break, it’s hard to go back.”
Diaz, a product support operations representative for Caterpillar who plays hockey in her free time, worked for the same company for 14 years before deciding it was time for a change. That led her to Boise State for her undergraduate degree.
“I was unhappy with things there and looking to go on to something bigger and better,” she said. “I started college straight out of high school but didn’t finish.
“Who am I to say I’m right when I don’t have anything to back it up? I wanted to get validation in some of my thinking. That’s why I wanted to go back and get the degree, so when I speak on things I have an opinion about later, I can also say there’s research behind it.”
The online format is especially beneficial for Diaz, who lives in Peoria, Illinois, and is prepping to move to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“When I am on the road, I take my meetings with my master’s group late at night,” she said. “That works for me because my day is winding down, and I have time to focus on school. The flexibility has been awesome.
“I also get to be in classes with people who can relate to the same situation I am in. A lot of people are older and have full-time jobs while going back to school.”
Red, yellow, green
Diaz is from Phoenix, where she enrolled at Glendale Community College to work on an associate degree in business. Returning to school after a long absence was a huge decision.
“Looking around at what would be a great fit was how I found myself at Boise State, which is all about innovation,” she said. “Now, I probably use the word innovation every single day.”
After earning a degree in interdisciplinary studies, Diaz feels like the OPWL degree is a natural continuation of her undergrad work.
“I learned in the bachelor’s program to be a problem-solver in an innovative way,” she said. “A lot of that had to do with leadership and workplace practices. I realized people learn in so many different ways.
“Everyone deserves a chance to be successful and happy. That’s what got me back to college so late in life. I truly believe that. I thought, ‘Why not me?’ People should have the opportunity to learn the way that they learn, and to be successful.”
So far, one of the courses she is currently taking, Instructional Design, is Diaz’s favorite in the OPWL curriculum.
“We get to work with a real client to design a training,” she said. “That’s like putting together everything I have learned in my undergrad and, so far, in my master’s, apply it and get real-time feedback. These are real clients. Someone is going to use this training. It’s been really fun.
“I also enjoy getting to work in a group. It gives that experience of what we’re going to be doing later on. We are all going to have to work as a team.
“Everyone in the group is a leader, so you have a group of leaders working together. That’s not always easy with leaders because everyone wants to lead. It’s been a great experience to work together and figure that out.”
The information Diaz is learning in the master’s program is applicable to her career, giving her an immediate return on investment.
“A lot of what I do at work is related to the master’s in regard to data analysis,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot about data analysis and gathering data, like interviewing people. Showing the data, too.
“One of the classes I took last semester was Data Visualization, so I was able to put together different graphs and show the data in a meaningful way. I’ve used that non-stop at work, so that’s been great.”
Tickled pink
As an added bonus to attending Boise State University, Diaz got to visit Idaho and see where her dad, Frank, is from.
“Not only was I looking for someplace that was innovative and made me feel like I fit in, but my dad grew up in Mountain Home,” she said. “I had never visited Idaho before, but I knew of Boise and that it was close to Mountain Home. He was so proud of me, which is awesome.
“I also saw that Boise State has a women’s hockey team. I would do anything to be on the ice with them. I have been playing hockey my whole life.”
Diaz walked the graduation stage at her undergrad commencement. She plans to be back in Boise in 2026 to receive her master’s degree in person, too.
“I really wanted to be there for it,” she said. “I flew out and went to the Boise State vs. Fresno State football game and sat in the student section. I am the first person to get a bachelor’s degree in my family.”
Teaching is in Diaz’s blood now. After she earns the OPWL degree, Diaz hopes to teach as an instructor at work or at the college level.
“Right now, I support the Caterpillar dealers,” she said. “I am trying to get them to succeed and get them into different training, which directly relates to what I am doing in school. I’d love to teach and make a difference. Having a master’s is the key to getting those opportunities.”
No matter where her life and career take her, Diaz is proud to be Boise State blue and orange.
“I wanted to be somewhere where we are talking about innovation and learning in the same place,” she said. “That’s Boise State. It is a perfect fit for me.”
Learn more about organizational performance and workplace learning at Boise State
Want to learn more about the online OPWL program? Join us for an online information session or contact a student success coach.