Online Ambassador Spotlight: Donna Johns, Bachelor of Social Work

“Instead of thinking about how far I could go, I was afraid of what I could lose by trying.”

As a parent balancing family, work, and school, Donna Johns once thought earning her college degree was out of reach. Today, she's a senior in the University of Cincinnati's online Bachelor of Social Work program, gaining hands-on experience and preparing for a career helping children and families.

We spoke with Donna about what inspired her to return to school, how UC has supported her along the way, and why she became a UC Online Ambassador to encourage others to pursue their own goals.

Despite being an online student, Donna’s journey with UC began on campus. She was there to help her younger sister, an incoming UC freshman, with moving into her dorm room. For Donna, the experience brought up mixed emotions: she was excited for her little sister’s accomplishment, yet regretful that she'd never have the same opportunity.

“Wow, what did I do wrong?” Donna remembered thinking. “I could be doing this right now, but it's too late.”

That’s what she assumed, at least. 

A move-in volunteer heard Donna say that she wished she could go back to school. She asked Donna a question that changed her life: 

“Who told you that you can’t go back?”

At the time, Donna had never considered earning her degree and embarking on a new career. She was a stay-at-home mom and worked part-time, relying primarily on public assistance to provide for her family; if she pursued anything more, she feared no longer being dependable. 

Learning that she could earn her degree online at the University of Cincinnati turned her perspective upside down. Soon after that, she got started at a community college. 

Two years later, she was ready to transfer to UC. She finally joined her younger sister as a fellow Bearcat! 

Donna initially went back to school as an education major, but she realized quickly that her calling lay in social work.

When asked what inspired her passion for the field, Donna recalled watching her stepmother’s decade-long struggle with substance abuse. She found herself trying to care for her younger sisters throughout that time. In her interactions with various social services, she saw many interventions that were ineffective in helping her family.

Fortunately, Donna’s stepmother eventually got help, and her younger sisters have grown into young adults. As for Donna, these formative experiences continue to motivate her.

“Those experiences helped me realize that social work was where I belonged,” she said. “I wanted to someday help children and families who might be experiencing some of the same things my family experienced.” 

As excited as Donna was to return to school, some old anxieties accompanied her. 

She’d struggled in school throughout her life; now she would be attempting college coursework for the first time. As a working parent, she was suddenly learning everything from APA formatting to research methods. She was relearning how to be a student.

At the same time, Donna’s internship at Easterseals Redwood, a local nonprofit, transitioned into a full-time position. With so much on her plate, she faced burnout and nearly left school.

What stopped her was the encouragement of her supervisor at Easterseals, Tasha Webster—a fellow UC student and full-time parent. Donna kept going.  

"Finding ways to balance school and motherhood had been part of my life for a long time.”

While she had been expecting the challenge, Donna had never anticipated the amount of support she would receive along the way.

“Every professor I’ve had has been amazing about working with real life,” she said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t deadlines or expectations. It means that when life happens, communication matters.”

One moment that stands out to Donna happened when she was expecting her second child. When she went into labor, she emailed her professor to let her know that she’d be late on the weekly assignment.  

The professor’s response? "Donna, have that baby!”

It’s through that kind of support—from professors and employers alike—that Donna has met academic goals she always thought of as pipe dreams. She’s particularly proud to have made the UC Dean’s List.

“I was always told—you're doing too much, take a break, take a semester off,” she said. “But I’ve got to see it through. If I take a break from something for too long, I might not get back up and do it. I wanted to keep those wheels turning, and I have been.”

Flexibility is one of the key draws of online learning, but many people worry about potential drawbacks. Loneliness and lack of resources are chief among them. However, Donna was impressed by all that was available to her as an online student. 

Despite learning online, Donna has found meaningful ways to connect with the broader UC community and take advantage of the resources available to Bearcats. Emails about on-campus activities and virtual events are always in her inbox; she’s even brought her son with her to volunteer with the UC Help Squad and at the Career Fair. When she needed professional clothing for a job interview, she came to the on-campus Career Closet, and she received assistance from the Bearcat Emergency fund when she needed it.

Donna assumed that she’d stay in what she called a “single student life,” but she’s been able to connect regularly with her online peers. While these relationships may start because of group projects, they’ve extended beyond assignments and classes.  

“We even talk without assignments being included, you know, so it's nice." 

Furthermore, Donna feels more prepared to collaborate at work because of these experiences. She’s come out of her shell and gained the confidence she needs to work with individuals as a social worker.

Another area where she felt supported as an online learner was applying to study abroad in Italy in her final year. With an internship already on her plate, she didn’t think it was a realistic dream—but a supportive professor proved her wrong. 

“I reached out to my professor, and she told me, ‘Donna, you go for it. We'll make it work around your internship. I don't want you to miss out on this experience.’” 

Donna described the conversation as a “huge relief” and nothing like she’d expected. Her professor went the extra mile, too—walking Donna through the application, showing her how to apply for scholarships, and proofreading her application essays. UC faculty and staff didn’t just point Donna in the right direction; they walked with her every step of the way. 

“UC has a lot to offer,” Donna said. “Being an online student is everything to me because I'm still able to feel included.”

In her last year as a UC student, Donna has covered extensive ground professionally. A major milestone has been her internship with Mercy Health/AmeriCorps. Compared to the nerves she felt prior to her first internship, she now feels ready to “develop new skills that I can carry with me as a future social worker.”

Through her internships, Donna has gained additional social work experience and earned multiple certifications, including her Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) credential, along with certifications as an adult peer supporter, youth peer supporter, and family peer supporter. 

At Mercy, she’s worked with her supervisors to develop her plan going forward—starting with earning her community healthcare worker certification. Although she doesn’t know exactly where she wants to go after graduation, she ultimately wants to continue growing as a social worker and helping whoever she can.

Becoming a UC Online Ambassador seemed like the perfect way to end her experience on a high note. When the program launched, she felt like she could help others who felt like she did prior to returning to school.  

“I really wish this type of program was around when I was having the idea of going back to school,” she said, so she’s thrilled to be an inaugural member of the program. 

“I want be that light at the end of the tunnel for another parent or a guardian of a child, or just anyone who thinks they can't go back to school.” 

Her advice for others goes hand-in-hand with that idea. Donna urges online learners like her to do the following:

1. Lean on your support systems. 

1. Communicate with your professors.

1. Don’t give up. 

“Come be a Bearcat!” she said. Having returned to school after years away, Donna believes others can do the same.

Donna's story is a reminder that returning to school is possible, even when life feels full. Through determination, support, and the flexibility of online learning, she's pursuing a degree and preparing for a career in social work. We're proud of Donna and all she's accomplished, and we're excited to see where her journey takes her next.

It's never too late to take the next step toward your goals and become a Bearcat. Because once you're a Bearcat, you're a Bearcat for life.

The University of Cincinnati's online Bachelor of Social Work program offers students the opportunity to pursue their educational and professional goals while balancing other responsibilities, making it possible to build a future at any stage of life.

If you’re interested in online learning, connect with your Enrollment Services Advisor today. All it takes is one conversation to start exploring your options.

Like Donna, UC Online Ambassadors share their experiences to help others see what's possible through online learning. By sharing their stories, milestones, and advice, ambassadors offer an authentic look at life as a UC Online student and inspire future Bearcats to pursue their own goals.

Interested in sharing your story and encouraging others on their journey. Learn more about the UC Online Ambassador Program.