BUILDING CAREERS AND COMMUNITY
There’s a story behind every resume gap. In Phillip Coffman’s case, that story involves a bout of mental health issues and a stretch of homelessness that derailed his career in systems engineering — a saga that went on far too long and caused a delay in finding work, even after his housing situation stabilized. He looked to graduate school as a way to get his career back on track, and from his apartment in downtown Denver, he found his way to Regis University.
What it Took to Get Back on Track
As an older student with a unique life story, his experience may have been different from most, but ultimately, he found what he was looking for. Phillip had tunnel vision regarding his goals, remaining completely focused on success.
"When I was down, I knew that I could build myself back out of it. I didn't even drink when I was in the shelter — I like to drink, but it was like, ‘Nope, I'm just going to focus on getting out.’ Then I needed my master’s to help with the gap in my resume, so I researched it on my own, and it turned out Regis had the best cybersecurity-related program in the area."