81-Year-Old Sociology Major Completes Degree, Says It Is Never Too Late to Learn

UNC Charlotte graduate Barbara Coberly offers testament to the age-old saying that it is never too late to learn something new, as she completes her bachelor’s degree in sociology at age 81. Coberly was among the roughly 3,320 UNC Charlotte students who gathered with friends and family in Halton Arena at winter commencement on Dec. 13.

“Getting my degree was one of the things on my bucket list,” Coberly said. “I’ve always wanted to complete my degree but was busy managing an office and raising a daughter.”

Wanting to set an example for her daughter, she attended Santa Monica City College, earning an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts in 1987. From there, she worked at Marriott’s Santa Monica office, eventually managing around 300 people.

Relocating to Huntersville in 2002, Coberly enrolled at UNC Charlotte in 2005. Returning to school was strange for her at first but she says her experiences have generally been like anyone else’s.

“People stare at you at first, but after they see that you are getting good grades they accept and even befriend you,” Coberly said. “I didn’t have the usual distractions that I would have had if I’d been younger and that made it easier to keep my grades up.”

In recognition of her academic achievements, she has been inducted in Sigma Alpha Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi and the Golden Key International Honour Society. Her favorite class was sociological theory with Joseph M. Whitmeyer, who is a fantastic lecturer, she said.

“For me, teaching Sociology to a student with undoubtedly abundant experience was challenging and rewarding,” Whitmeyer said. “The challenges and the rewards of working with an experienced student come from seeking to stimulate new and fresh ways of looking at social life, even at this later point in a student’s life. So I’m happy that Barbara was able to get something out of the class.”

Coberly would advise others who have not completed their degrees to do so, no matter their age. “An education is worth everything,” she said. “If I really wanted to find a job, I could, even though I’m 81.”

Coberly plans in coming weeks to complete “the million and one” unfinished projects around her house. She is considering more far-ranging plans, which may include consulting work. For her, there is always something new.

Words: Tyler Harris, Student Communications Assistant
Image: Lynn Roberson