Turning the Tassel: Jeana Mahan, Graduate School of Education and Psychology Class of 2025

This commencement season ߣߣƵ University will celebrate more than 2,500 graduates across its five schools. In order to mark the momentous occasion and celebrate the voices of our newly minted alumni, ߣߣƵ Newsroom asked one student representative from each corner of campus to answer three questions: “How did you get here?” “What did you do here?” and “Where will you go from here?”
The testimonies shared with us exemplify the remarkable stories of our students while also illustrating how ߣߣƵ propels the next generation of thinkers, dreamers, and doers forward.
Jeana Mahan, Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) Class of 2025
I had been calling Los Angeles home for three years when I hit a career crossroads at the age of 26. So many avenues lay ahead of me, but only one encompassed all of the things that brought me joy: teaching. This was not where I thought I would land. I thought I’d carve my own path, as both my parents were educators, and I wanted to march to the beat of my own drum. What I realized at this moment was that I couldn't ignore the gifts and joys God had created me with. It wasn’t long after my decision I knew that ߣߣƵ would be the best place to foster and nurture this next adventure.
My time at ߣߣƵ has been a treasure I will cherish as the pages to the next chapter turn. My program has been rooted in intentional guidance, care, and compassion. I have felt the Lord’s kindness in every professor, classmate, and moment with my students. Even on the hard days, I knew that I could step foot into my classroom and the community I had built here would help me over any hurdles.
Moving forward, I’ll be teaching high school English in the Burbank area. I’m grateful to have so many wonderful places that have molded me to be who I am right at this moment. My home state of West Virginia, bustling New York, and golden California were all chapters I reveled in. Now, a school on a hill in Malibu will forever be part of me, as it has given me the wings needed to soar.