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Many parents go back to school to show their kids what they can achieve when they have a dream and a solid work ethic. UOPX alumna Ericka Harper (BSM, 2023; MBA-CB, 2025) did things differently.

Harper is a proud mom who’s always happy to praise her daughter, Linnae, an accomplished athlete who’s played in the WNBA and on the U.S. Olympic team.

But Linnae is even more excited to return the favor and explain what her mother’s dedication and work ethic mean to her. “She dedicated her entire life to provide for me, support me and mold me into the person I am today,” Linnae says. “And as her biggest supporter, I’m so happy to see her living life for herself and pursuing every desired goal.”

It’s not hard to see why Linnae is so proud of her mother, who left school to be a working, single mom at age 23 and then spent decades supporting her daughter’s education and professional career. It wasn’t until 25 years later that Harper got a chance to get back in the game herself.��

So, with Linnae coaching her all the way, Harper was able to return and earn her bachelor’s degree and competency-based MBA as well — two degrees in four years. She’s quick to share the credit: “I wouldn't have been able to do that without support from my daughter, my mentor and the amazing academic counselors and advisors I had at ���۴�ý,” she says. But the more you learn about Harper, the more you understand why her daughter is her mom’s biggest supporter, and just how hard she worked to become an all-star of her own.

Harper’s journey to the graduation stage wasn’t the typical one. Rather than go to college right out of high school, she joined the military, serving until she was 20. When she returned to school the first time, she had a scholarship, which she put aside when she became pregnant with Linnae.

“Being a basketball mom was a second life for me mentally, emotionally, financially and physically,” says Harper. “I was working full time, sometimes at two or three jobs, to raise her and to get her through the best schools.”

It was in 2005, when Linnae was 10, that Harper first returned to school. She learned about ���۴�ý through her employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Harper was able to take advantage of tuition assistance and returned to school for a year. But between work and supporting her daughter, Harper needed to take a break and paused her education to focus on being a coach on top of being a mom.

Harper continued her professional development at Blue Cross Blue Shield, enrolling in professional training courses and classes with the company so she could continue to find new opportunities, including becoming a trainer. But she could only progress so far.

“I applied for an HR management position in 2020,” she says, “and my mentor, the chief HR director and vice president, told me, ‘Ericka, you’re qualified. And I know you can do this job. But you have to have your degree.’”

This spurred Harper to return to ���۴�ý and earn her bachelor’s degree. When an academic advisor pointed out that Harper was also very close to having enough credits for a competency-based MBA, Harper pushed forward and completed her second degree.

It wasn’t easy, especially during her master’s degree program. “It’s not for the weak of heart!” says Harper. She took another pause, which was especially important as she acclimated herself to a new role as an HR business partner. She returned to complete her MBA in September 2025.

Harper’s efforts weren’t lost on her daughter. “I saw her sacrifice sleep, family time and at times herself to make sure her grades were the best they can be,” says Linnae. But it’s Harper’s successes that Linnae will always remember: “My favorite moment was watching her open up her mail to receive her diploma. To see the tears of joy and her hard work pay off was a dream come true.” This was true for Harper as well as all the supporters who joined her team over the years.

“���۴�ý has given me more than just education,” says Harper. “It made me believe in who I am, and it made me finally see what my purpose is. It showed me my abilities, and so it really gave me confidence overall in life, in any achievement.”

Harper continues to grow in her career, citing the lessons learned in her MBA program as ones she could apply to her workplace even before she graduated. But the office isn’t the only place she’s putting her experience and enthusiasm to work. She mentors young women through Linnae’s not-for-profit organization, That Harper Kid NFP, and is writing a book to help the parents of young athletes on their journeys.

That drive to help others, says Linnae, continues to be an animating force in her mother’s life. “She puts her education to work by creating safe spaces for others to be expressive, instilling faith, and showing others that there is no limit to personal achievement as long as you place education as top priority.”

One recent encounter underscored that dedication. A young mother at Harper’s church asked her, “How do you do it?”

Harper put herself once again into the role of coach and cheerleader: “I said, ‘You can do it if you are focused and put your mind to it.’ And she enrolled at ���۴�ý. The same weekend I graduated with my master’s, she graduated with her bachelor’s.”

It was a moment that exemplifies just how much Harper, in helping others shine, has shined even more brightly herself.

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