Keiser University West Palm Beach Campus valedictorian Sonja Burgos and husband and wife learners Tom and Teresa Buzzerd recently shared inspirational insights to fellow learners as they celebrated commencement.

Burgos, who plans to go on to earn her master’s degree, stressed the importance of perseverance and shared that she was thankful for life’s ‘curves and turns’ that brought her to Keiser University’s psychology program. Tom Buzzerd, a former behavioral clinician who for more than 25-years worked in mental health and law enforcement and who has served as a Keiser University psychology professor since 2010 stressed a steadfast vision. “Make a decision and follow that direction and then apply yourself to learn everything you can. When you need help ask for it. The days will add up and before you know it you have achieved your goal,” he said.

Buzzerd, who was awarded a doctoral degree, graduated alongside his wife Teresa, and credits her for giving him the ‘gift of time’ to work on assignments, papers, and his dissertation. “She provided space and the environment to make progress,” he said while also thanking his mother who inspired him to keep pushing forward toward his advanced degree, along with his Keiser friends and colleagues who continued to fuel the fire.

Having launched her healthcare profession as a medical assistant Teresa continued her educational journey as a Clinical Massage Therapy student and was encouraged by Tom to pursue her Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Keiser University’s College of Chiropractic Medicine. “I was very motivated by my family,” said Teresa of Tom and her three daughters Kelsey, Josie, and Kody. “Another powerful motivator was my youngest daughter Kody, who had corrective spine fusion for scoliosis a few years prior.” Having originally earned her high school GED in 1994, she is thankful she’d returned to academic study and credits her family members for their support as well as her Keiser University professors, “Ultimately everyone believed that I would be a great doctor and it made me believe as well,” she said.

Keiser University’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program prepares students with the knowledge and skills to pursue entry-level positions in a wide variety of professions. The principles of psychology are used in nearly every field, from human resources and rehabilitative therapies to educational testing and business practices. The program is a strong foundation for graduate study in psychology and other disciplines of the social and behavioral sciences. It also prepares bachelor’s candidates to successfully apply to professional schools, such as law and business.

The Doctor of Chiropractic program at Keiser University is a rigorous professional program consisting of ten semesters of study which are completed over 40 months.  It combines traditional lectures with small group learning, weekly conferences and seminars, laboratory and experiential sessions, and clinical training opportunities at a number of sites.  All coursework includes case-based relevancy for chiropractic practice as a portal-of-entry profession dedicated to excellence in spine care.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a  designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 5 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News And World Report in 2022.