Alumni story

James Greer

Master’s in Philosophy & Humanities

United States

"GCAS college at Woolf has offered me a venue to explore my ideas with like-minded individuals, whose aspirations to expand their (and others) horizons, finding new ideas and thoughts to assist our fellow human beings to be more efficient, kinder, and smarter."

Serving, Studying, and Ultimately Searchingfor Meaning Through Woolf

I am James Greer, I was raised off the grid in rural Kentucky, think no running water, no electricity – just the raw world and an open sky. That upbringing gave me a curiosity about life that I didn’t have words for yet.

Years later, after two combat tours in Iraq and fifteen years in service, that curiosity became an obsession: Why do we act the way we do? Are our choices truly ours, or are they just the next link in a chain of cause and effect?

That search led me to study English and literary theory at Kennesaw State University, where I was introduced to GCAS and the Woolf network. I went on to earn my Master’s in Philosophy in 2023, and another in Humanities and Research Methodology in 2024.

Woolf, through GCAS, gave me the freedom to pursue deep philosophical questions on my own terms. The flexible format allowed me to balance intense academic work with full-time employment and family life, a juggling act that frankly came down to how well I could carve out time to think. And thinking takes time — philosophy is not something you can cram.

What stood out most in the program were the small lectures, the space for dialogue, and the kind of intellectual community where people aren’t afraid to admit what they don’t know. That humility is powerful. It’s what drives my dream to teach. I want to offer students the same opportunity I’ve had: to explore how thought shapes the world and how we might use that knowledge to shape it better.

For students thinking of pursuing a degree through Woolf, I’d say that you need to understand your goal: why are you pursuing a degree with Woolf? If that purpose isn’t clear, it’s easy to lose your way in moments of doubt or uncertainty. I joined GCAS (through Woolf) in pursuit of knowledge, only to discover, as Socrates once said, that “I know I know nothing.”

I’m now a second-year PhD candidate aiming to finish my doctorate in 2026. My goal is to teach full-time at the university level, not just to deliver lectures, but to create space for critical inquiry, for wonder, and for people to locate themselves in the chaos and possibility of life.

"As a working parent, I needed something flexible and manageable. Woolf’s structure fit me perfectly. I was nervous at first, balancing work, parenting, and midnight classes, but the support, resources, and sense of community kept me going."

“Through Woolf and Kibo, I gained a globally recognized Computer Science degree with a focus on Full Stack Development. The flexible, supportive program helped me grow, overcome challenges, and build the confidence to pursue ambitious projects in tech.”

“Woolf and Scaler’s hands-on Master’s program gave me the practical skills and confidence I was missing after my undergraduate degree. Real projects, professional tools, and mentorship transformed how I think, build, and solve problems — leading me to a career as a Software Engineer.”

"Woolf provided me flexibility, a strong community, and high quality education. It really broadened my perspective and significantly improved my communication skills. I graduated not just more knowledgeable, but also more confident and well-rounded."

“Woolf’s flexible, accredited program gave me structure, community, and the confidence to grow. From landing my dream internship to winning a hackathon, Woolf opened doors and shaped both my career and mindset.”

“Woolf’s flexible, world-class program let me study data science without pausing my career. Through hands-on projects like building a credit scoring model, I gained confidence, clarity, and momentum to grow professionally.”

"The program at Woolf gave me the language to articulate what I had been intuitively practicing for years. It sharpened my strategic thinking and reinforced my belief that art can be a tool for social transformation."

"My degree with Woolf has helped me professionally to gain business expertise in the arts and to open the door to acquiring further expertise in strategic planning in the arts."

“Woolf’s MBA in Data Analytics transformed how I think and lead. The flexible, credible program helped me balance work and study, sharpen my strategic insight, and restore my confidence to pursue senior leadership opportunities.”

"GCAS college at Woolf has offered me a venue to explore my ideas with like-minded individuals, whose aspirations to expand their (and others) horizons, finding new ideas and thoughts to assist our fellow human beings to be more efficient, kinder, and smarter."

“Woolf’s MBA blended theory with hands-on practice. From real-world case studies to live mentor sessions, it reshaped how I approach finance, strategy, and leadership—helping me grow in my career and think bigger about the future.”

"The best part of the Woolf learning experience is seeing theory land in the real world. Working not only in theory but applying real knowledge to real problems in real life. OneDay college at Woolf provides practical coaching and formal credibility."

“Woolf’s Executive MBA in Arts Innovation gave me the language and frameworks to elevate early childhood music education from classrooms to the global stage. I now lead with greater confidence, advocating for the arts as a force for equity, wellbeing, and public health.”

“Woolf’s MBA through the Global Leaders Institute gave me the structure and tools I needed as a first-time entrepreneur — helping me transform passion into sustainable systems and build a future for classical music in Kenya.”

"At Woolf, each module shaped how I approached my work. Add to that the diversity of perspectives from fellow students and supportive tutors, and you’ve got an experience that was both intellectually stimulating and personally transformative."

"Woolf’s MSc in Computer Science: AI and Machine Learning gave me the flexibility to balance work while learning from industry experts. The project-based approach and peer collaboration deepened my skills and confidence. Completing the program accelerated my career, strengthened my leadership, and gave me a global network I continue to learn from."

"My Woolf degree significantly enhanced my career trajectory by providing me with specialised knowledge in the emerging field of data science and machine learning, and expanded my professional network. Every class was a memorable moment for me."

"Woolf’s program gave me practical skills in analytics, programming, and data management while balancing work and studies. It directly led to my promotion and prepared me for a future in data science, turning my ambitions into reality."

"Woolf’s program gave me flexible, high-quality learning that I could apply directly to my work. It strengthened my coding, system design, and strategic thinking, helping me grow in technical leadership and lifelong learning."

"Woolf’s program gave me flexible, rigorous, and practical training that strengthened my system design and engineering skills. It transformed me into a more confident, strategic developer, prepared for scalable, real-world software challenges."

"Woolf’s program gave me practical data science skills that I could apply directly in a clinical setting. Its flexibility allowed me to balance studies with maternity leave while learning predictive modeling and machine learning to improve patient outcomes and lab operations."

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James Greer

"GCAS college at Woolf has offered me a venue to explore my ideas with like-minded individuals, whose aspirations to expand their (and others) horizons, finding new ideas and thoughts to assist our fellow human beings to be more efficient, kinder, and smarter."

Serving, Studying, and Ultimately Searchingfor Meaning Through Woolf

"As a working parent, I needed something flexible and manageable. Woolf’s structure fit me perfectly. I was nervous at first, balancing work, parenting, and midnight classes, but the support, resources, and sense of community kept me going."

“Through Woolf and Kibo, I gained a globally recognized Computer Science degree with a focus on Full Stack Development. The flexible, supportive program helped me grow, overcome challenges, and build the confidence to pursue ambitious projects in tech.”

“Woolf and Scaler’s hands-on Master’s program gave me the practical skills and confidence I was missing after my undergraduate degree. Real projects, professional tools, and mentorship transformed how I think, build, and solve problems — leading me to a career as a Software Engineer.”

"Woolf provided me flexibility, a strong community, and high quality education. It really broadened my perspective and significantly improved my communication skills. I graduated not just more knowledgeable, but also more confident and well-rounded."

“Woolf’s flexible, accredited program gave me structure, community, and the confidence to grow. From landing my dream internship to winning a hackathon, Woolf opened doors and shaped both my career and mindset.”

“Woolf’s flexible, world-class program let me study data science without pausing my career. Through hands-on projects like building a credit scoring model, I gained confidence, clarity, and momentum to grow professionally.”

"The program at Woolf gave me the language to articulate what I had been intuitively practicing for years. It sharpened my strategic thinking and reinforced my belief that art can be a tool for social transformation."

"My degree with Woolf has helped me professionally to gain business expertise in the arts and to open the door to acquiring further expertise in strategic planning in the arts."

“Woolf’s MBA in Data Analytics transformed how I think and lead. The flexible, credible program helped me balance work and study, sharpen my strategic insight, and restore my confidence to pursue senior leadership opportunities.”

"GCAS college at Woolf has offered me a venue to explore my ideas with like-minded individuals, whose aspirations to expand their (and others) horizons, finding new ideas and thoughts to assist our fellow human beings to be more efficient, kinder, and smarter."

“Woolf’s MBA blended theory with hands-on practice. From real-world case studies to live mentor sessions, it reshaped how I approach finance, strategy, and leadership—helping me grow in my career and think bigger about the future.”

"The best part of the Woolf learning experience is seeing theory land in the real world. Working not only in theory but applying real knowledge to real problems in real life. OneDay college at Woolf provides practical coaching and formal credibility."

“Woolf’s Executive MBA in Arts Innovation gave me the language and frameworks to elevate early childhood music education from classrooms to the global stage. I now lead with greater confidence, advocating for the arts as a force for equity, wellbeing, and public health.”

“Woolf’s MBA through the Global Leaders Institute gave me the structure and tools I needed as a first-time entrepreneur — helping me transform passion into sustainable systems and build a future for classical music in Kenya.”

"At Woolf, each module shaped how I approached my work. Add to that the diversity of perspectives from fellow students and supportive tutors, and you’ve got an experience that was both intellectually stimulating and personally transformative."

"My Woolf degree significantly enhanced my career trajectory by providing me with specialised knowledge in the emerging field of data science and machine learning, and expanded my professional network. Every class was a memorable moment for me."

"Woolf’s program gave me practical skills in analytics, programming, and data management while balancing work and studies. It directly led to my promotion and prepared me for a future in data science, turning my ambitions into reality."

"Woolf’s program gave me flexible, high-quality learning that I could apply directly to my work. It strengthened my coding, system design, and strategic thinking, helping me grow in technical leadership and lifelong learning."

"Woolf’s program gave me flexible, rigorous, and practical training that strengthened my system design and engineering skills. It transformed me into a more confident, strategic developer, prepared for scalable, real-world software challenges."

"Woolf’s program gave me practical data science skills that I could apply directly in a clinical setting. Its flexibility allowed me to balance studies with maternity leave while learning predictive modeling and machine learning to improve patient outcomes and lab operations."

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