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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Maegan Tikiryan found that the third time’s the charm for her return to college and achieving her educational dreams, thanks to the flexibility of its degree programs and the support at Roger Williams University Extension School (�������� EXT).

Following high school, she had enrolled at the Community College of Rhode Island, but left school to join the hospitality industry. Throughout her 14 years at Bally’s Twin River Casino as a waitress and bartender, the idea of returning to complete her degree entered her mind, but when she re-enrolled in classes at age 25, it didn’t align with her schedule and she didn’t complete her degree. 

It wasn’t until 2019 when a work injury put her completely out of commission that she reassessed again. With a torn knee ligament and experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, she thought to herself, “I can’t do this job forever.” It lit a fire within her and reignited her passion for pursuing the career she’d wanted for herself a decade prior: become a lawyer.

At the time, she thought, “I don’t even have an associate degree, but I can get here in a year.” 

After receiving her associate degree from CCRI in spring 2024, Tikiryan, 35, of Johnston, R.I., wasted no time in pursuing further studies and she immediately enrolled in ��������’s Extension School within a week of graduating. She chose the Bachelor of Social Science and buckled down, completing 20 classes in 15 months to receive her degree in just one year. �������� EXT accepted transferable credits from CCRI, which helped her power through the program to get her closer to her next goal. 

“I was shocked how everything came together so quickly and allowed me to advance to my next goal,” Tikiryan said. “I registered for classes on the very last day of enrollment in January 2024, and now I’m about to cross the stage with my bachelor’s.”

Tikiryan embraced a commitment to a cleaner environment through her courses at �������� EXT. Her biology project researching an invasive toxic plant earned her a spot on the (BCEENET) Student Conference Cohort CURE and an invitation to present at Botany Without Barriers. This project, though initially for a class, gained national recognition, allowing her to share her dedication to public service through research and advocacy.

Next, she will attend University of Massachusetts Law School with the goal to become an advocate for causes near and dear to her heart. While Tikiryan has an array of interests and passions, helping others in need stands at the forefront of her purpose. 

At a young age, her 5-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cataracts. After years of lobbying for her daughter’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Tikiryan learned special education laws by heart and continued to fight for her equal education. Seeing where her daughter was misrepresented, Tikiryan used that as direction for her career, aiming to offer pro bono legal services for students and schools once she is licensed to practice law.

Another cause that is dear to her, Tikiryan aims to lobby for a statewide ban on smoking in all Rhode Island buildings due to concerns for workers who are exposed to second-hand smoke in their workplaces.

As a result of her hard work and accomplishments, Tikiryan was honored at the annual �������� Provost Dinner on behalf of the Extension School. For many, this would be the capstone to her distinguished education career, but for Tikiryan, a new chapter is unfolding into lifelong learning.