DENTON (UNT), Texas - Savannah Phifer always knew she wanted to go to college. She wasn’t quite sure how she was going to do it, but it turned out working for Amazon would help her receive a psychology degree from the University of North Texas (UNT).

Growing up in the small town of Farmersville, Texas, Phifer took dual credit courses in high school to prepare for her future. She strived to be the first member of her family to graduate college, but the thought of juggling a career while pursuing a college education was daunting. After high school, she waited tables and was even a mail carrier on UNT’s campus. But her path took a turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. As businesses shuttered and opportunities dwindled, she found hope in the company she had always admired: Amazon.

“I was thankful to get hired at Amazon during the tricky economic time,” Phifer said. “I fully embraced the exciting opportunity to work at Amazon.”

She enjoyed the work as a warehouse associate but knew she still wanted to further her education. Then she discovered Amazon’s Career Choice program. Launched in 2012, Career Choice is Amazon’s education benefit that pre-pays tuition for degrees and skills development at more than 600 education partners globally including local universities like UNT.

"Amazon Career Choice is proud to partner with the University of North Texas (UNT) in creating brighter futures for employees and strengthening the economic vitality of the communities where they live and work,” says Tammy Thieman, Global Director of Amazon Career Choice. “Partnering with UNT provides employees with access to best-in-class education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s at Amazon or elsewhere.”

For Phifer, it was a perfect match, and she chose UNT to start her next chapter. Determined to succeed, she balanced full-time studies — some in-person and others online — while working a night shift as a warehouse associate from 1:20 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. and working weekends.

“Amazon was willing to work with me to accommodate my class schedule. If I needed to take a day off to study or to attend to something for school, I was able to keep my 40 hours that I wanted to work,” she said.

At UNT, Phifer found invaluable support in the form of tutors, writing labs and quiet spaces. The Student Money Management Center and Student Health and Wellness Center also played crucial roles in her success.

“It was a bit of an adjustment, working overnight and balancing schoolwork,” Phifer said. “However, I met a lot of college friends in the warehouse, and we all supported each other.”

This camaraderie, coupled with Amazon’s support, made the challenging journey more manageable.

Phifer seized every opportunity presented by Amazon, including securing an internship in Oklahoma as a process guide through their Campus Next program. Finally, in December 2022, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology and chose to continue her career at Amazon. She is now an operations area manager.

Between her position at Amazon and academic knowledge, Phifer has become interested in institutional psychology, which focuses on the workplace and recruitment. She is considering a master’s degree in human resources, as well as pursuing work in human resources or recruitment for Amazon.

Reflecting on her journey, Phifer expressed gratitude for Career Choice. The program allowed her to pursue her academic goals while working, making a seemingly impossible balance achievable.

“It was a crazy time of transition with going to school, a new job, COVID and a new living situation. However, Career Choice and Amazon were with me every step of the way,” she said.

UNT also played a pivotal role in her journey. Through its partnership with Career Choice, UNT provides Amazon employees like Phifer the resources and support needed to succeed academically. This collaboration offers a comprehensive educational experience tailored to working professionals, making higher education more accessible and attainable.

"A lot of my coworkers also participated in the program, and we were all learning together and sharing our experiences. Even one of my mentors went to UNT and we bounced ideas off each other and connected,” she said.