UHCL : UHCL Alum Seeks To Leave A Legacy Of Transformation

Press release from University of Houston-Clear Lake:

December 22, 2021

Despite considerable success throughout her career in retail and human resources,
Billie Manz came to a professional crossroads for one simple reason — she didn't have
a college degree.

"No one in my family went to a four-year college, and everyone just assumed I'd go
because I was in the top 10 in high school," said Manz, currently a senior generalist
at Aiken Regional Medical Center in Aiken, South Carolina. She had received some scholarship
money and attended Sam Houston State University for just one year and ran out of money.

"I found a job when my friends were all finishing college," she said. "I got into
retail at Lord and Taylor in Dallas and did well. That's where I found out that associates
in retail don't get cared for very well, but my staff was successful and the turnover
rate was lower. I realized that I was able to retain people and help them achieve
levels of success if they were encouraged and supported."

She moved on to Toys R Us and was promoted six times, ultimately landing in their
New Jersey corporate office and ironically, began recruiting college students. "I
was working in a job that required a college degree recruiting students with college
degrees," she said. "Based on my performance, I managed to get in that position, but
because I didn't have a degree myself, it was also my downfall."

She had acquired years of manager-level human resources and business experience and
had been one of three college relations managers for multiple divisions in a U.S.
shared-services model for Toys R Us, Inc. when she was laid off.

"I was job hunting and I'd find jobs where my qualifications were a match, but I had
to have a college degree," she said. "I decided I needed to take this break and go
back to school."

Manz said she decided to study literature at University of Houston-Clear Lake because
she wanted to get educated in something she loved. "I didn't want to lock myself into
human resources," she said. "I wanted to write papers and give presentations. It was
such an interesting time, doing what I really wanted to do. It was an eye-opener for
me, as a non-traditional student."

She graduated in 2010 with her Bachelor of Arts in Literature, but she got much more than a diploma when she crossed the stage.

"I didn't realize what a chip I had on my shoulder about not finishing college until
I walked across the stage and I could feel it roll off," she said. "I felt like a
completely different person. I had confidence and self-respect. I had gone with the
waves for so long, but I'd made a conscious decision to take that step and do something
just for me."

With her degree, Manz said she was able to "check that box" on any job application
and move forward to new career opportunities that were commensurate with her qualifications.

"After I got my degree, only thing that was missing was something to leave behind,"
she said. "I am a breast cancer survivor and I don't have children of my own. I wanted
to leave something with my name attached to it that would help people also walk across
that stage — it was so transformative for me, and that's what I want for others."

As part of her estate, she has created a scholarship endowment intended for students
with a high GPA and a willingness to work hard, whose true desire is to finish college
but aren't in a financial position to take the next step.

"I'm envisioning these funds going to a non-traditional female student who might be
a single mom and just needs some help," she said. "It takes strength and fortitude
to put the brakes on your life and go in a different direction to get your education.
To be able to help someone in that position and give them one less thing to worry
about it what I'd like to do."

She has also created a faculty endowment to recognize UH-Clear Lake faculty who are
making a difference in students' lives. "I had several professors during my time there
who played very important roles in my success," she said. "I had a desire to do well
and move forward, and I appreciated their guidance and strength. I would like to recognize
them as well."

She said it was easy to decide to leave something behind that would help shape people's
future. "Women in particular can be career focused, family focused, or individually
focused, but the question is, what will make you the happiest?" she said.

"Long-term plans might set people up for failure, but I like the idea of being able
to say, just think about yourself and what will make you feel the best and be a better
person for the people in your life?" she said. "When you take that time for yourself,
you become a better, more fulfilled person, which turns you into a better version
of yourself. Sometimes people don't move forward with plans because they feel it might
be bad for others. Recognize that you have to do something for yourself sometimes,
in order to be better for those others."

To learn more about supporting academic journeys at UHCL, explore our Giving Opportunities.

This press release was produced by University of Houston-Clear Lake. The views expressed here are the author’s own.