Transfer graduate spotlight: Karlie DeGrave

After graduating with the Justice and Community Advocacy associate degree from NWTC in 2024, Karlie DeGrave went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lakeland University in 2026. She is currently a litigation paralegal at an Appleton area law firm. 

“NWTC gave me the confidence to keep going, and Lakeland gave me a path to the finish line,” she said.

In a Q&A, DeGrave talks about her journey from NWTC to Lakeland, offers advice for students who are thinking about transferring, and shares what she wishes she had known before making the move.

"Your education doesn't have to be a straight line," DeGrave said. "It can be a chance to explore, build on what you already know, and open new doors."

Q&A with Karlie DeGrave

What made you decide to transfer to Lakeland?

I decided to transfer to Lakeland because I knew I wasn’t done with my education. Continuing my education had always been a goal of mine, and I didn’t want to lose the drive and motivation that NWTC gave me.

I was ready to start school again almost immediately after graduating with my associate degree. Lakeland felt like the right next step because it allowed me to continue that momentum and reach my bachelor’s degree faster than the other transfer options I was considering. I finished my bachelor’s degree less than two years after graduating from NWTC, which was really important to me.

NWTC gave me the confidence to keep going, and Lakeland gave me a path to the finish line.

How did transferring help you reach your academic or career goals?

Transferring to Lakeland helped me reach both my academic and career goals because it allowed me to finish my bachelor’s degree on the timeline I had set for myself. Lakeland offered summer courses that helped me stay on track and make sure I could graduate when I planned to.

By the time I transferred, I had already been hired for the full-time position I still have today. Being able to continue working full time while completing my bachelor’s degree was incredibly important to me. Lakeland gave me the flexibility to keep building my career while still accomplishing the academic goal I had set for myself.

What advice would you give to a student who is considering transferring?

My biggest advice would be to keep your own goals and best interests at the center of the process. Before transferring, I was very clear with my advisor about exactly what I wanted to accomplish and the timeline I wanted to follow. From there, they helped me build a schedule around my goals.

I never felt like I was just following a path that was laid out for me. I felt like I was truly the captain of that ship, and my advisor was there to help me navigate it. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself, ask questions, and be honest about what you want. At the end of the day, it’s your education and your future, so take ownership of the direction you want to go, and find the people who will help you get there.

Who helped you along the way, and how did they make a difference?

One person I owe a huge thank you to is Mr. Kevin Rathburn, my criminal justice instructor at NWTC. He saw potential in me that I hadn’t even seen in myself yet. I don’t think I’ve ever had an instructor who was so passionate about what he taught and so invested in his students.

He also gave me an opportunity when he asked me to intern for him at Suamico Municipal Court where he is a judge. That experience gave me hands-on exposure to the legal field and helped prepare me for the career I have today.

When I started at NWTC, my plan was to stop after earning my associate degree. Kevin was one of the people who convinced me that this was not where the road stopped for me. He pushed me to see beyond what I thought I was capable of and encouraged me to keep going.

He was my number one advocate throughout those years, and I truly don’t know if I would be where I am today without his encouragement. I will never stop being grateful to him for seeing something in me before I was able to see it in myself.

What do you wish you had known before you transferred?

I wish I had known that just because I earned my associate degree in something criminal justice related, didn’t mean I had to continue down that exact path for my bachelor’s degree.

Transferring gave me the opportunity to open more doors and explore another area that interested me, which led me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology. I think sometimes we feel like the degree we start with must determine the exact career path we follow, but that isn’t true.

Your education doesn’t have to be a straight line. It can be a chance to explore, build on what you already know, and open new doors.