When Mariah Riley was a high school student, she planned to go to law school, taking several pre-law concurrent enrollment classes. “I got into the University of Iowa and planned to do the pre-law track, but two weeks before I graduated high school, I switched to the pre-medical pathway,” says Mariah, who was born and raised in Iowa. The summer after freshman year, she began working at an assisted living facility in her hometown. “That’s when I knew healthcare was definitely what I wanted to do.”
Returning Home to Become a Certified Nurse Aide
During her sophomore year at the University of Iowa, Mariah faced growing challenges back home. Raised by her grandparents—her mother incarcerated, her father battling addiction—she couldn’t ignore the needs of her two younger sisters, who were entering middle and high school. Mariah made the difficult decision to move back, where she completed a nurse aide program at a community college, earned her certification, and began working at an assisted living facility.
Nursing School
While gaining clinical experience, Mariah also took prerequisites for nursing school. She left the assisted living facility in 2018 and moved to a nursing and rehabilitation center that was closer to home to better fit her schedule. Mariah completed the practical nurse program in 2020 and the associate degree program in 2021, which allowed her to move from CNA to LPN to RN positions at work.
Once she passed the board exam to become a Registered Nurse, Mariah applied to the local hospital and was invited to begin a new nursing orientation program. “I realized very quickly that my heart is in geriatric care, so after completing the orientation, I declined the position at the hospital,” Mariah says. As luck would have it, the nursing and rehab center offered her the assistant director of nursing position in 2021—and she enthusiastically accepted.
Inspired by Her Late Grandmother, a Nurse
As her career was beginning, Mariah was also building her family. She got engaged and had a son in December 2023. Once she settled into motherhood, Mariah was ready to further her education.
“I’m one of those people who goes after something and doesn’t stop until I get there,” Mariah says, adding that she got that ambition from her late great grandmother, who was a geriatric nurse for over 40 years. “She was my greatest inspiration and didn’t retire until her 80s. I had this feeling that I needed to do more and learn more. That’s how she was too.”
Finding Post University
Mariah started researching bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs and master of science in nursing (MSN) programs. “I’ve found throughout my career in nursing that I really enjoy educating staff, so I was looking at both BSN programs and MSN programs focused on nursing education,” she says. Her boss had earned an MSN through Post University and encouraged Mariah to apply to the RN to Bachelor of Science In Nursing at Post University . “She knows my insatiable desire to learn and said whenever I was ready to move forward, Post was a great option that would work with my life and schedule.”
In January 2025, Mariah started the BSN program following a competency based SIMPath® modality. “The SIMPath is the biggest reason why I chose Post, because I’m definitely a self-motivated, type A person, and I appreciate that flexibility to go at my own pace as I work full time and raise a little one,” she says.
Mariah’s goal is to complete the BSN in 2025 and begin the MSN soon thereafter. “I’m very interested in the MSN – nurse practitioner specialization as well as the Nursing Education specialization,” she says. “For now, I will focus on the BSN, but I know my next step will be the MSN. And I can’t imagine going anywhere but Post University.”
A New Opportunity as Director of Nursing
Mariah recently accepted a position as director of nursing at another nursing and rehab center. “I’m excited that the BSN program allowed me to take the next step in my career,” she says. “And I’m still interested in teaching down the road too.”
Wherever she ends up in her career, Mariah is certain that her Post University education is a worthwhile investment. “The instructors and student success advisors are amazing,” she says. “I’ve had a great experience. Truly, everyone at Post cares about students. The University sets you up for success and offers you every resource you need to succeed.”