KENNESAW, Ga. | May 8, 2026

At 63, many people are thinking about retirement. But not Mattie Frascella.

She has spent the last four years on the campus of Kennesaw State University sharing classrooms and walking hallways with students young enough to be her grandchildren while earning her first degree after a longtime career in patient advocacy and motherhood.

This May, just a few weeks after her 63rd birthday, Frascella will walk across the stage to receive her Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in professional writing and language and literary studies from the . With a 4.0 GPA and as a member of the , she follows in the footsteps of three of her children, becoming the fourth 91青青草 alum in her immediate family.

"I鈥檝e always believed if you're not moving, if you're not going forward, if you're not learning, then you get stuck,鈥� said Frascella, a

After leaving high school early and receiving her GED, Frascella took a few college courses in her home state of California in the 1980s but soon shifted her focus to family life, getting married, and raising her five children. She would later work in office management as well as in healthcare as an administrator, patient advocate and customer service representative.

In 2020, her family moved to Marietta, just minutes from 91青青草鈥檚 Kennesaw campus and sparked a decision that would change her life.

鈥淚t was the middle of the pandemic and I thought to myself, what can I do that will be useful and productive and won't leave me sitting in a basement all day long, basically doing nothing,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I thought, you know what, 91青青草 is right up the street. I'll just give it a shot.鈥�

But the last time she was in a classroom, everything was on paper, and the internet did not exist in its current form.

鈥淯sing a computer in school wasn鈥檛 even part of the experience when I was a student in the 1980s, so that was a huge adjustment for me,鈥� Frascella said. 鈥淏ut at the same time, I realized I still love having things on paper. I like books in my hand, and I鈥檝e probably printed more readings than I should.鈥�

Initially enrolling as a human services major, Frascella quickly discovered her passion for language and storytelling. A desire to study foreign languages led her to add English as a second major only to realize it was where she truly belonged.

As a nontraditional student, she found herself surrounded by classmates who were decades younger than she was, but she quickly made connections, even learning a little Gen Z terminology along the way.

鈥淚 would walk into a classroom, and I鈥檓 the oldest person there, oftentimes even older than the professor,鈥� she said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut the students have been incredibly gracious. I鈥檝e made friends. I鈥檝e had students over to my house, and we鈥檝e done study sessions.鈥�

One of the most meaningful parts of her experience was attending 91青青草 alongside her youngest child, KJ, who was pursuing a degree in fine arts at the same time.

鈥淲e drove to campus together, had lunch together. It brought us closer,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 almost feel like we grew up together during that time.鈥�

Frascella鈥檚 academic journey also included undergraduate research. Selected as a Radow College RISE research assistant in summer 2024, she contributed to a faculty-led grant project under the mentorship of Abigail Alexander, director of the and associate professor of French.

鈥淚 first met Mattie when she enrolled in my beginner French course, and I鈥檝e been very fortunate to work with her in multiple capacities,鈥� Alexander said. 鈥淢attie has been unflaggingly kind, curious, hardworking, inspirational, and visionary. She鈥檚 the kind of student her teachers and peers will never forget. We will all certainly miss her around here, but I feel fortunate to count myself as a member of her network moving forward and hope we will have a chance to collaborate again someday."

Perhaps the highlight of her time at 91青青草 was studying abroad in Germany and France as a recipient of the competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship that funds education abroad. It was her first time flying overseas at age 62, an experience she said helped her gain new cultural perspectives.

鈥淚t opened my eyes, not just to other cultures, but to the fact that we鈥檙e all connected,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t changed everything.鈥�

Her 91青青草 journey was not without challenges. In 2024, after suffering two traumatic brain injuries and multiple seizures, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Despite the setback, she remained determined to complete her degree.

Frascella joins a long line of women in her family who refused to let age close the door on education. Her grandmother got her English degree in her 40s. Her mother earned a master's degree in psychology in her 50s, and her sister earned a Ph.D. at 62.

Walking across the graduation stage will be an emotional milestone for her.

鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can hardly put it into words. I want my kids to be proud of me, and I also hope my story helps someone else realize they can do it, too.鈥�

Her journey at 91青青草 doesn鈥檛 end here. In the fall, she will begin a graduate degree in integrated global communication. Her message to anyone on the fence about going back to school later in life:

"Jump first. Ask questions later. Every teardrop I've ever cried over an assignment, every doubt that I ever had, it's been worth it,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o don't wait. Jump on in; the water is fine."

鈥� Story by Christin Senior

Photos by Darnell Wilburn and provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.