Coming Full Circle: Natalie Lowe’s Journey from WSCO Student to Educator

MARIETTA, OHIO — For Natalie Lowe, her journey with Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO),
formerly Washington Technical College (WTC), began unexpectedly, but it would go on to shape the
course of her entire life and career.

When Lowe graduated high school, she hadn’t planned on attending college. But when a representative from the newly built college visited her high school to talk about scholarships and financial aid, she decided to apply. “I completed the application and received a scholarship,” Lowe recalled. “Although I never planned on attending college, I took advantage of the opportunity.”

That decision marked the start of a lifelong connection with WSCO. Lowe enrolled in the Associate of
Applied Science in Secretarial Science program, inspired by a high school program that gave her hands on experience in an office environment. “In high school, I was enrolled in a program where you spent three class periods a day working in a mock office,” she said. “Students rotated through various positions, and I decided to pursue this area.”

Her time at WSCO was marked by small class sizes, close friendships, and strong faculty mentorship. “I loved my time at WSCO,” Lowe shared. “It was such a small, close-knit campus. My classmates became my friends, we worked together on school activities and spent time together outside of class. The student-to-faculty ratio was small, so it was easy to build real relationships with instructors who were approachable and always willing to help,” continued Lowe.

Those personal connections and hands-on learning experiences set the foundation for what would
become a remarkable career in education. “I would not have become a professor if it wasn’t for the
mentorship I gained at WSCO,” Lowe said. “It had everything to do with my career.”

After earning her associate degree, Lowe was hired as a secretary in Student Services at the college.
“There were three of us and one evening secretary,” she recalled. “I would see students and faculty and just wanted to ‘do more.’ So, I continued my journey to Glenville State University, where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Business Education Comprehensive,” shared Lowe.

The very next month, she began teaching at WSCO, coming full circle from student to faculty. “The rest,” she said fondly, “is history.”

She later earned her Master’s Degree in Education and Curriculum from Ohio Valley University, a
milestone she proudly attributes to the foundation built at WSCO. “I have had many of those moments where I think, ‘WSCO helped me get here,’” she said. Looking back, Lowe credits her time at WSCO not just for teaching her professional skills, but for setting her on a lifelong path of learning, leadership, and service. “The skills I learned gravitated me toward the field of office administration and ultimately led me to teaching,” she reflected. “WSCO gave me the start I didn’t even know I needed, and it changed the direction of my life.”