Claudia Chavez-Rhoades of Marquette was selected as the Outstanding Global Campus Student award recipient by the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. She will graduate magna cum laude April 30 from the applied workplace leadership program, offered completely online and designed for nontraditional students and returning adult learners who have either completed associate degrees in any field or earned previous college credit.
Chavez-Rhoades started the Global Campus program during the semester that the pandemic started and was challenged with balancing working from home, pursuing her own studies from home and helping her four children continue their education from home.
Originally from South Gate, Calif., Chavez-Rhoades first attended NMU 15 years ago and began working as a licensed practical nurse in pediatrics. She is also a certified health coach and is certified in mental health first aid. Making a move to health care administration, she became the Quality Initiatives Program coordinator for Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions, and is now the clinical coordinator for the Physician Group Incentive Program of Upper Peninsula Health Plan.
Chavez-Rhoades said she hopes to enroll in an online graduate program in leadership, management and strategy through Michigan State University.