News & Events

Texas Tech Alumna Creates Academic Pathways for Future Red Raiders

By David Chapman, Section Manager

Since her first day as a Red Raider student, Keeley Grant, program manager for the Office of Academic Agreements at Texas Tech University, was captivated by the higher education setting. Coming from a high school with a graduating class of nine, her first class at Texas Tech had more students in the classroom than her entire K-12 school. Although the setting of her undergraduate experience was a drastic change, she always felt at home at Texas Tech.

While completing her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies at TTU, she discovered her passion helping students find their place in their studies. Keely says, "I completed my undergraduate practicum in the University Advising Center and fell in love with helping students discover their academic fit, course progression and providing the same warmth and kindness that was given to me when I was in their same situation."

After graduation, Keeley spent three years as an academic advisor in the College of Merchandising, Hospitality & Tourism at the University of North Texas before taking a break from higher education to pursue her master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. During this time, she counseled families, women and children victims of domestic violence, and provided family placement for an extension of Child Protective Services. Ultimately, life led her back to higher education and she became an academic counselor within the College of Business at UNT.

When Keeley found the position as academic advisor for what was then the Office of Community College & Transfer Relations at Texas Tech, making the career shift was a no-brainer. "I jumped at the opportunity to 'go home' and work for my beloved Texas Tech," says Keeley.

Now as program manager for Texas Tech Academic Agreements, Keeley finds satisfaction in creating avenues for students to become Red Raiders. Whether its creating 2+2 programs for students to complete their associate degree and come to Lubbock or become Red Raiders at one of our regional sites across Texas, or creating dual enrollment programs that lead to double bachelor's degrees at a partner institution and Texas Tech or to a graduate degree at Texas Tech, Keeley says, "I love it all."

According to Keeley, one of the main goals of the Office of Academic Agreements is to "continue to grow in our breadth of partnerships by finalizing our goal of an MOU with each community college in the state and out-of-state border counties," to which she adds, "We are close!" Her hope for the future of her office is to strengthen the most popular transfer pipeline programs by furthering the depth of articulation agreements where there are multiple data-informed pathways for an institution's largest transfer population. She states she would also "like to look at geographical industry-based data and build innovative program alliances for students to complete their baccalaureate or graduate education with Texas Tech."

Regarding students who may be seeking to earn their bachelor's or graduate degree in their home community, Keeley offers the following advice. First, she says to students who may doubt the ability to reach their goals "You can do it and I believe in you." Second, she tells students to "Please ask for help if you have any questions. Texas Tech has the best services for students to foster their success as a Red Raider. Whether you are trying to figure out how to become a Red Raider, experiencing writers block for an upcoming assignment or trying to figure out what to wear to a job interview, our student services offices and staff are ready to help. Here at TTU we are student-centered and dedicated to your success."

To sum up her feelings about her work at Texas Tech, Keeley tells us she is excited to continue her work in making it achievable for students to seamlessly become Red Raiders and "experience the world-class education, community, and opportunity that a degree from Texas Tech University provides." As she says, she is a testament that "from here, it's truly possible."