In the late 1990s, Nathan Mart ’13 found himself in his final year at a state university but unable to complete his degree. With no professional goals after college, he left campus without earning a degree.
Decades later, Mart was ready to finish what he started, but found it difficult to balance his new family and a full-time job, alongside his education. Being a full-time student wasn’t feasible.
Undeterred, Mart found a way to finish his degree – online – and in 2013, he earned his Bachelor of Science in human and social services from Linfield’s Online and Continuing Education program. And this time, Mart knew he wanted to use his degree – to help underrepresented populations.
“With this being my only experience with online education, I was hesitant at first,” he said. “But, I quickly came to find out it was really manageable, really workable and I really valued it.”
In December 2020, Mart was named executive director for Home Life, a non-profit organization in Corvallis that provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He says his personal experience with mental-health trauma and substance abuse allows him to provide living proof that life can get better.
“I am able to see someone and give them hope that there is light on the other side, even though it seems pretty dark,” Mart said. “I love that I am a person that they can relate to.”
Mart often finds others asking him whether he believes in the value of a college education. To him, the answer is obvious.
“I would encourage people to do it because it’s going to do nothing but benefit them. Even if it doesn’t help your career, it helps you as a person and as a human being,” Mart said. “My education from Linfield was really the foundation of my success. Because I chose to continue and pursue my degree with Linfield, I am now married with a child, house, cars and a beautiful life. It’s crazy to think that it all started in a little apartment in Tigard while working, thanks to the flexibility of Linfield’s online degree program.”
— Kathryn Canfield ’23
Read more of Mart’s story at: linfield.edu/nathan-mart
