Photo by Yenitza Melgoza
April 30, 2025
Busy working mom finds new accounting career through SIU Online
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale student Jennie Snyder has always loved the great outdoors, so for many years her forestry career suited her well. But a few years ago, she felt a career change calling her name.
It will be “mission accomplished” when the busy mother of three walks across the stage at SIU’s May 10 commencement. That’s because when Snyder claims her bachelor’s degree in accounting diploma, earned through SIU Online while she continued to work full-time and keep up with her many obligations, she has already obtained an accounting job, beginning in July.
It hasn’t been easy, but Snyder said, “It’s been a great experience and a great choice for me. I’m a proud Saluki.”
Starting in the forest
A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Snyder originally found her way to SIU because Karl Williard, director of the forestry program and professor of forest hydrology and watershed management, recruited her for a graduate assistantship as she pursued her master’s degree in forestry with a water resources specialty. She had earned her undergraduate degree in 2000 at Penn State University. In looking for a place for her graduate studies, she visited SIU and fell in love with the campus, the trees, Carbondale and the other small towns in the region as well as the opportunity offered by Williard. She met her husband Benjamin, a Neoga, Illinois, native, while completing her degree. She noted that he’s also “a proud Saluki, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry at SIU.”
After they completed their degrees, they moved to New York for a time for their careers. By 2013, they had returned to Southern Illinois, where Benjamin is employed as a forestry fire manager for the State of Illinois. Jennie worked in a variety of positions in her field, predominately in natural resources and then stayed home for a few years with the couple’s children: daughter Greta, now 17, and sons Everett, 15, and Lincoln, 13. She reconnected with Williard, her former mentor, when she began working part time in SIU’s forestry department in 2018. By 2023, she was working full time as a researcher for communications and special projects for the Universities Council on Water Resources on campus.
While she enjoyed forestry, Snyder had discovered that she absolutely loved data, numbers and working with people. She had also begun thinking about a more indoor focused job, so she pondered a career switch to a business field. But she had a full-time job, busy schedules of three active children and her time-consuming volunteer activities, including serving as the bookkeeper for the nonprofit organization that supports the Murphysboro High School Crimson Express Band (and previously for several years as 4-H leader).
“I was afraid I wouldn’t finish my degree until retirement age.”
Yet that dream was still growing in her heart. She spoke with Kimberly Little, director of student services for the College of Business and Analytics, because she was interested in taking a class at SIU.
“I talked to Kim, and she recommended enrolling in the online degree program, which I didn’t even know was a possibility,” Snyder said. “She suggested I take one class and see what I thought. I did, and I was hooked. I’m so glad she convinced me to do that. Kim has been great through this process, a big influence and very responsive.”
Intriguing classes, even taxation
Although Snyder has always loved data, numbers and communication and gets “excited at tax time,” she expected some of her business courses to be tedious but found them to be anything but.
“I was surprised how interesting the classes were,” Snyder said. “The classes are so fascinating, and everyone really works as a team. I love teamwork. The classes are online, but they have discussion boards, and you do form connections with your classmates, the faculty and the teaching assistants.” Taxation classes sounded intimidating or dull but not so when taught by Tim Hurley, clinical associate professor, Snyder said.
“He has so much knowledge, and you can just tell he loves taxation,” Snyder said. “He’s got a great personality, and there’s so much information that his exams are open book, but I still studied so much for that class. He’s really straightforward. And I never learned more in a class and retained it than I did in the class taught by Professor Marcus Odom. Benna Williams and Patrice DeBlois are excellent, too. They laid everything out so well, and it’s obvious they really care, and they are happy people.”
Balancing act with help from SIU, family
Completing her degree while fulfilling all of her other obligations has been a delicate balancing act, but Snyder said she’s managed to do it in three years while maintaining an “A” average.
“I enjoy the self-driven aspect of online classes,” Snyder said. “The hardest part is making sure you plan your time. Everything takes longer than you think it will. Luckily, I’ve had a great support system.”
She said her husband helped by taking on extra chores around the house, and Greta chauffeured her brothers around. “Ben, the kids and the whole extended family have been very supportive,” Snyder said. “Time management is key. But it was difficult to sacrifice things sometimes. I remember one holiday, my whole family was outside playing kickball, and I was inside studying.”
Snyder felt it was important to show her children how dedicated she was and that she was working hard to achieve her goals.
“Now that they see I’m getting my degree, I think they feel a sense of pride, too.” Snyder said. “They weren’t around when I earned the first ones, but they are this time and see the time, effort and dedication that goes into it.”
She even shared some class lectures with them, especially those pertaining to finance and retirement. She was happy to see her daughter take the lessons to heart and apply them when investing in the stock market in her high school consumer science class.
Snyder’s goal each week was to complete half of her schoolwork by mid-week and then reserve the rest for the weekends.
“Hobbies were almost nonexistent,” Snyder said. “School became my hobby. I’m anxious to start really having time to spend reading again. But family comes first, then school, then work and everything else. Trying to do it all the best I can may mean I get a ‘B’ on a test instead of an ‘A’ so I can make it to my kid’s ballgame. You just have to have grace within yourself to not be a perfectionist all the time, and it has all been worth it.”
Snyder has created quite an impression on the Saluki community.
“Since 2022, it’s been a pleasure working with Jennie Snyder in our online accounting degree completion program,” Little said. “As a dedicated SIU staff member, she’s shown incredible grit and commitment – balancing the demands of her full-time role with the discipline to stay focused and excel in her studies. Her discipline and drive have been seriously impressive, and she’s always approached her academic path with thoughtfulness and purpose. Jennie’s collaborative nature and positive energy have made a big impact, and we couldn’t be prouder of her well-earned spot on the COBA dean’s list. I am so excited to support her as she takes the next step on her journey.”
That next step is going to be at SIU as well, since her new accounting job is on campus.
“I just love SIU and being a Saluki,” Snyder said. “It’s a great place to go to school and a great place to work.”