Master’s graduate rides wave of support from Warhawk family in face of challenge

Written by Abigail Dotzler | Photos submitted

Korissa Diehl believes that there is always something more to learn. As a first-generation, nontraditional college student, she earned her associate degree well into adulthood, before collecting her bachelor’s, and, most recently, her master’s in Instructional Design and Learning Technology (IDLT)at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

Though a cancer diagnosis presented an overwhelming obstacle, Diehl overcame each hurdle and earned her M.S. through UW-Whitewater’s fully online program.

Diehl has worked at Forward Service Corporation for 10 years as a transition-to-success trainer. In collaboration with Wisconsin Works and FoodShare Employment and Training, Forward Service Corporation specializes in teaching people the skills they need to find high-paying, fulfilling occupations.

With origins in World War II, instructional design focuses on efficient development of educational experiences. Instructional designers create new materials, such as handouts, manuals, and e-courses, and reevaluate existing materials to maximize student engagement and retention of information. 

Diehl discovered her love for instructional design during the COVID pandemic. As everyone adapted to the new virtual landscape, she was tasked with curating an engaging online curriculum for her employer. 

“I love it,” she said, “so why not learn more of it?”

Her search for continued education led her to UW-Whitewater. The 30-credit IDLT program requires students to accumulate 27 credits from three of four certificate programs. After earning three certificates, students are eligible to enroll in the capstone class and complete their degree. 

The flexible schedule, combined with the “instant gratification” of earning her master’s degree certificate by certificate, was perfect for a nontraditional student like Diehl. 

“Everything in instructional design that I really wanted to learn, they offered,” she said.

Diehl found immediate real-world application to her coursework — one project was exactly what her company needed at the time, and many others correlated directly with her full-time job. Her new knowledge and confidence push her to contribute more in her professional life.

A life-changing turn

In 2022, tragedy struck. About halfway through her master’s program, Diehl was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. 

When she reached out to her instructors, “they were filled with so much compassion and empathy.” They worked with Diehl to ensure she was getting the education she wanted and the support she needed, adjusting assignments, checking in regularly, and encouraging her often. 

“It made me feel like I could do this,” Diehl said.

Korissa Diehl leaned on the support of fellow students, faculty, and staff at UW-Whitewater while receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Through surgeries and treatment, Diehl continued with both her education and her full-time job, but, as the semester came to a close, doctors found more advanced cancer. For her health, she put her master’s degree on pause, but the support she received from the UW-Whitewater community continued. 

“The response that I got was ‘We’re here. We’re here when you’re ready to come back,’” she said.

Not if she came back, Diehl emphasized, but when.

A smooth transition back

In 2024, Diehl returned to the IDLT graduate program. She was met with overwhelming enthusiasm and encouragement. Though she still had a few more surgeries to go through, UW-Whitewater faculty were more than happy to accommodate her needs. 

“They were waiving my fees and just making it a very, very smooth process,” Diehl said. “They were being really encouraging, taking each step to make sure that I had everything filled out, and making sure that everything was ready to start.”

Whether at the Whitewater campus, Rock County campus, or online, community is essential to the Warhawk way of life. Diehl met other cancer survivors in her courses and small groups, and “formed this little support group, checking in with each other,” as she put it.  

Other classmates eagerly offered support, willing to take on extra work in group projects, encouraging Diehl to reach out if there was any way they could help. Diehl felt that her classmates and instructors walked through her journey with her. Some knew her before her diagnosis, and more saw her through her recovery — they cheered her on through each challenge she faced.

“The UW-Whitewater culture, the support, what they stand for is more than just getting you through a class and education,” she said. “It really was about supporting, caring for the students, and making sure the classes were what you needed.”

 Korissa Diehl, back to camera, hugs Nicole Weber, assistant professor of educational foundations and Instructional Design and Learning Technology program coordinator, at a hooding ceremony for graduates of UW-Whitewater College of Education and Professional Studies master’s programs on May 17, 2025, in the University Center.

Education goes beyond the syllabus at UW-Whitewater, and a student’s success is measured in more than a grade point average. More than skills and book knowledge, Diehl learned her own strengths.

“(My experience at UW-Whitewater) taught me that I’m capable, and it taught me that I’m way smarter than I give myself credit for, and I do have a lot of talent,” she said.

Confidence was a key skill Diehl learned in her master’s program, and her success taught her the value of a supportive community. Not normally one to ask for help, Diehl found that honest communication with her peers and professors led to more support and encouragement, giving her the freedom and determination to succeed.