From Dual Enrollment to Lifelong Leadership: Lessons from Dr. Jennifer Brock
Sep 10, 2025When students take their first step into college-level work, they often carry both excitement and fear. Will they measure up? Can they succeed? For many, those doubts can become barriers before they even start.
Dr. Jennifer Brock knows this story well. As a high school science teacher in the early 2000s, she began teaching dual enrollment courses long before they were common. Students would walk in skeptical: “I don’t think I can do college.” By the end of the semester, they had proven to themselves that they could — with confidence, credits, and momentum for the future.
Dual enrollment, Jennifer argues, doesn’t just accelerate graduation or reduce cost. It reshapes identity. A hesitant high school junior transforms into a confident college student, often before they even leave high school. That change in self-perception is the spark that carries them forward.
Jennifer’s own career reflects the same principle. Inspired by an enthusiastic professor, she shifted from musical theater to biology. Later, teaching revealed her passion for learning and her desire to expand access. From teaching in high schools to leading at Rio Salado College, Bryan University, the University of Phoenix, Ana G. Méndez, and now the Academy of Art University, she has carried the lesson of transformation into every role: the right opportunity at the right time can change lives.
For leaders, Jennifer’s journey offers a clear reminder: innovation doesn’t always come from new technology. Sometimes it begins in a single classroom, where belief and opportunity meet. By scaling those experiences — dual enrollment, stackable programs, and creative pathways — we multiply their impact.
Stay connected with news and updates!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
