Latest UA Little Rock Grad Proves It’s Never Too Late to Chase a Dream
After years of working in tech and real estate, raising a family, and even earning a pilot’s license, one might say that Allison Baker of Little Rock has done it all.
With the completion of her fourth degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Baker has proven that it’s never too late to pivot toward a lifelong calling.
Now working as a pre-op nurse at Arkansas Surgical Hospital, Baker’s journey to become a nurse was anything but straightforward. She originally enrolled at UA Little Rock in 1992 to pursue a nursing career, but life took her in a different direction.
Baker graduated from UA Little Rock in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and went on to work for Alltel as an IT project manager for 11 years. During that time, she also earned a Master of Public Administration from UA Little Rock. She became a stay-at-home-mother after her second son was born, eventually moving into real estate. However, the desire to become a nurse is something that stayed with her.
“About seven years ago, I finally had the time and space to go back to school,” she said. “I wanted a career that felt more fulfilling. I’m not one to leave things unfinished, and I knew I needed to go back and do this for myself.”
In 2019, Baker entered UA Little Rock’s accelerated associate degree program in nursing and graduated in 2020. On May 17, she will complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through UA Little Rock’s RN-to-BSN program. This is her fourth degree from the university spanning more than three decades of history with the institution.
“I’m elated,” she said. “It’s been a long journey, and I’m really excited to finally have my BSN. I’ve always been a big fan of UA Little Rock. It’s local, affordable, and has a great nursing program. I was well prepared for the NCLEX and the profession itself.”
Baker’s passion for nursing is matched by her drive. She juggled two part-time jobs—one at the hospital, one in real estate—while taking six classes a semester, all while raising two sons, Kristian and Tristan, who will be seniors in high school and college next year. She also holds membership in Sigma Theta Tau, an international nursing honor society, and somehow finds time to play competitive tennis on four teams as well as pickleball.
“I treat school like a job so I can be present for my kids after hours,” she said. “They play soccer, so we travel a lot, but they’ve been really supportive. I hope it’s helped them see the value of education.”
Even as she balances so much, Baker has an eye on the future. She hopes to transition into clinical research, managing projects where new drugs, equipment, and treatment protocols are tested. With her combined experience in nursing and project management, she sees this field as a perfect fit. She also can’t confirm whether she’s done with college for good, admitting she’s also considering pursuing a nurse practitioner degree someday.
“I’ll never say never,” she said.
Her success wouldn’t have been possible without support from family, instructors, and mentors like Dr. Heba Sedaka, who helped guide her decision to return for her BSN.
“She’s an amazing instructor and person,” Baker said. “She’s very responsive and treats everyone fairly. I really appreciated her support.”
As someone who’s changed careers while raising a family and returned to school later in life, Baker encourages others to embrace the unknown.
“Don’t skip classes. Stay organized. Sit at the front and be a leader,” she advised. “Group projects are a great way to stay involved and make sure everything gets done. And if an opportunity comes your way, don’t pass it up.”
For Baker, every twist in her journey helped prepare her for a meaningful second act.
“I’ve added something valuable to my life by going back to school,” she said. “It wasn’t an easy task at my age, but it’s been worth it.”