Mother, daughter celebrate graduate degree journey together at Lipscomb

Mother, daughter celebrate graduate degree journey together at Lipscomb

Kim Chaudoin | 06/25/2026

Commencement is a time of celebration of academic achievement and the accomplishment of personal goals. For one family, Lipscomb University's May commencement was a time to celebrate two milestones.

Shelley Armstrong and her daughter, Anna Kate, each celebrated the completion of graduate degrees and had a special shared sense of accomplishment balancing the demands of school, work and life. Shelley earned her Master of Education in school counseling and Anna Kate earned her Master of Science in sustainability from Lipscomb.

"It is a very special experience to be able to share this accomplishment with Mom and my entire family," said Anna Kate. "My mom is the smartest, most determined person I know. She has been either in a master's or doctorate program for as long as I can remember. She truly is amazing, and I look up to her in every way."

Shelley, who serves as supervisor of student support services for Lebanon Special School District, said completing a degree alongside her daughter has made the experience especially meaningful.

"It is really rewarding to see your children embrace learning and find their passion," she said. "When life is happening and assignments are due, we gave each other feedback on presentations or help proofread papers, or provide pep talks and hugs."

Shelley has worked in education for 16 years and pursued her school counseling degree after recognizing a growing need among students for social-emotional support.

"As a building-level administrator, I saw the struggle students were having managing their emotions and building healthy relationships," she said. "I wanted to build my capacity to support students and have the tools to build their skill deficits."

She said the degree has already strengthened her ability to support counselors and administrators across her district as they develop systems to better serve students' emotional, social and career needs.

Anna Kate's path to Lipscomb followed a different route. After earning her undergraduate degree in social welfare from Gordon College in Massachusetts, she discovered Lipscomb's sustainability program while exploring ways to merge her passion for helping people with her longtime love for environmental stewardship.

"I realized that sustainability and environmental health are closely related to social welfare and that I could pursue both passions simultaneously," she said. "When I found Lipscomb's Sustainability program, it felt like a great fit because it was open to individuals of all backgrounds and focused on not just environmental issues, but social ones as well."

Initially beginning the program online while living in Massachusetts, Anna Kate later moved back to Nashville to complete the degree in person and be closer to family.

She now works part-time for the Tennessee Environmental Council as urban bird treaty program coordinator and recently completed an internship coordinating recycling events across the state. Her capstone project examined green infrastructure and sustainable development practices in Chattanooga and Murfreesboro, focusing on how Middle Tennessee communities can better prioritize habitat conservation and sustainable growth.

Though she is still discerning her long-term career path, her mission is clear.

"Whatever I decide to do, I know that I want to educate people about how wonderful and amazing nature is and share the passion and love I have for the environment with others," she said. "Overall, I hope to make a positive environmental and social change in Middle Tennessee."

The Armstrong family's connection to Lipscomb extends beyond Shelley and Anna Kate. Husband and dad, Nelson ('06) is also completing a Master of Education in school counseling through Lipscomb this year, while the couple's younger daughter, Lily, is a junior nursing major.

For Shelley, the experience of being students together again has felt like a full-circle moment.

"It is like old times," she said. "As educators, my husband and I had the privilege of working where our daughters attended school. It is a full-circle moment to all be back in school with them at the same place."

"I feel so fortunate that Lipscomb offers so many wonderful programs of study," Shelley said. "It is a wonderful place to learn and grow."