Credit for Prior Learning: Kaylan discovers the value of her career

When Kaylan Mumford's youngest son graduated from high school, she found herself with something she hadn't had in years, time for herself. A wife and mother of three adult children, Mumford decided to use that time to pursue her Master of Business Administration at the University of Memphis. 

As a longtime corporate professional and international tax advisor at FedEx, Mumford had years of experience behind her. Through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), she chose the portfolio pathway, documenting the knowledge and skills she had developed through her career and providing evidence of her learning for academic evaluation.  

“I didn’t realize how much I had accomplished until I started writing about all of those professional experiences,” she said. “It added up quickly for me.” 

Her portfolio grew to more than 100 pages before she began cutting it down. The process gave Mumford a chance to step back and recognize the impact of her work. She saw systems and programs she had implemented, documents and reports she had created, and contributions she had made over the years.  

“You don’t realize how much you’ve contributed to an organization,” she said. “You start looking at the systems and programs you’ve implemented and realize, ‘Wow, I did a lot.’”  

Now, with graduation planned for May 2027, Mumford has a message for other adults considering a return to school: “Every day you wake up, you have time. You’re never too old.” She encourages working professionals to keep a record of what they learn and accomplish throughout their careers, then take the time to recognize its value. “It does matter when you’re contributing to an organization,” she said.  Her advice is simple, "Don’t minimize what you do." 

To learn more about Credit for Prior Learning and explore whether your learning could count toward your degree, visit www.memphis.edu/cree/cpl/