Gift of Knowledge benefit helps Purdue system employees take the next step in their careers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Katlyn Peek has traveled across the U.S. recruiting families to participate in clinical studies for her role as a peer coach at Purdue University, but her best trip had to be her latest one — coming to West Lafayette to receive her Purdue Global degree.

Peek is a remote Purdue employee from Mobile, Alabama, who works in the lab of Bridgette Kelleher, an associate professor of psychological sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS). Peek took the opportunity of earning her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Purdue Global to celebrate with her colleagues — many of whom she was meeting in person for the first time; friends; and her parents, husband and children.

Peek supported a peer-to-peer coaching program, providing motivational interviewing to support other caregivers. The caregivers were engaging in a mental health-focused clinical trial as part of Kelleher’s National Institutes of Health-funded research project on rare genetic caregivers across the U.S.

“She regularly shared her degree progress with us as she worked on the trial, alongside other Purdue undergraduates in HHS and other rare disorder caregivers across the U.S.,” Kelleher said. “Beyond this role, she also virtually guest lectured with several of my undergraduate classes and helped train clinical students who were providing evidence-based treatments to caregivers in our trial.”

Peek is seeking a career as a counselor to other families like her own. Her son, Sean, was diagnosed with autism in addition to a chromosome duplication called Dupe 7, or formally 7q11.23 duplication syndrome.

“I was excited to learn that the team was looking for peer coaches to work with other rare genetic caregivers who would be receiving treatment to support their mental health. It went beautifully with my degree plan and future goals of becoming a counselor who works with rare genetic caregivers,” Peek said. “I was very excited to apply and then be hired to work with the team and other peer coaches who have children with rare genetic conditions.”

As a peer coach, she provided direct coaching to dozens of caregivers across the U.S., helping them identify and address barriers that might interfere with trial participation. She also recruited families for the caregiver study, traveling to conferences and setting up meetings to talk with patient organizations. She has met with leading genetic researchers about the work Kelleher’s lab is doing in developing resources for caregivers. Now she is helping Kelleher’s team design new ways to support caregivers in future projects.

Peek uses her Purdue Global degree daily, talking to families about their caregiving journeys.

“Purdue Global has helped me build up the skills I learned while becoming a yoga instructor as well as throughout my life, especially emphasizing active listening skills and accepting people where they are at in their caregiver journey,” she said. “I know when I started back on this academic journey, it was really challenging to figure out how you balance all the schoolwork and family obligations.”

Peek’s next steps include pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and continuing to advocate for families and caregivers.

“Katlyn is truly a rock star having gotten her bachelor’s degree online while her husband worked nights, caring for a child with a significant disability and working remotely on our NIH grant during the day,” Kelleher said.

Gift of Knowledge helps Purdue employees grow into new roles

Peek was one of 58 Purdue University system employees who received their degree through the Gift of Knowledge benefit during Purdue Global’s October commencement. She completed her bachelor’s degree in two years.

The Gift of Knowledge benefit is offered through Human Resources for eligible employees and their family members. The benefit helps upskill current employees and create pathways for career advancement, empowering working adults and nontraditional students to pursue economic and career growth, directly addressing critical workforce needs.

“The Gift of Knowledge benefit has been amazing,” Peek said. “It really helped to offset those expenses of going back to school.”

Since 2018, 1,608 degrees, certificates and diplomas have been granted through the Gift of Knowledge benefit, including:

• 1,344 for employees; 264 for family members
• 831 master’s degrees have been awarded, followed by 422 bachelor’s degrees, 75 associate and 74 doctorates; plus 206 certificates and diplomas

Employees and benefit-eligible family members from West Lafayette, Northwest, Fort Wayne and Purdue Global have participated in the benefit.

For more information on the Gift of Knowledge benefit, please visit Human Resources.

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.