Kylee Whitmer Combined Creativity and Psychology to Shape Her Career
By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
When Arizona State University student Kylee Whitmer needed one more class to stay on track for her psychology minor, she turned to Rio Salado College for a flexible and affordable solution that fit her busy schedule.
Whitmer, an interior designer at GH2 Architects and a 2025 ASU graduate, took Research Methods PSY290 at Rio Salado during the summer of 2023 while balancing a full-time work schedule and her studies at ASU.
Her experience reflects that of many Rio Salado students who enroll in one or two courses to supplement degree programs at other colleges and universities. For students needing flexibility, affordability and convenient course options, Rio Salado helps bridge the gap so they can continue moving toward their education and career goals.
“I added the psychology minor to my course load during the 2022-2023 school year,” Whitmer said. “In order to complete the minor within my timeline, I needed to take a class over the summer.”
At the same time, Whitmer was working 40-hours per week to save money and lighten her workload during the academic year. She needed a course that was affordable and could fit around her schedule.
“Rio Salado had the course available when I needed it,” Whitmer said. “I needed the flexibility to complete my coursework while also working full-time. Rio’s classes are more accessible and at a much better price point compared to ASU’s summer classes.”
Whitmer’s experience is increasingly common among college students across the country. Community colleges play a major role in helping university students stay on track for graduation by offering affordable, flexible courses that fit around work and life responsibilities.
According to research from the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, more than one-third of students who begin at four-year universities attend another college during their academic journey, and more than half of those students take courses at a community college.
Many students use community colleges to complete prerequisite courses, stay on pace for graduation or reduce costs while earning their bachelor’s degrees.
For working students like Whitmer, flexibility can make the difference between delaying graduation and completing a degree on time. Community colleges have increasingly filled that need through online learning, accelerated formats and flexible start dates that allow students to continue progressing toward their goals while balancing jobs and other responsibilities.
The college’s online format and multiple Monday start dates also helped Whitmer stay on track academically without overloading her regular semester schedule.
“It allowed me to take the class I needed over the summer and finish my psychology minor without exceeding a 20-credit course load during the regular semester,” she said.
Whitmer said online classes worked especially well for her learning style.
“As a student, I prefer to be able to learn at my own pace,” Whitmer said. “Sometimes that would be faster than the rate the professor was speaking at, and other times I would need to slow that pace down to fully digest a topic or discussion.”
She encourages students considering online courses to stay organized and proactive.
“The best way to stay on top of online classes is to fully sit down at the beginning of a course and put every lecture video, discussion post and assignment into a calendar,” Whitmer said. “With online classes, you must be accountable for your time and your assignments.”
Now working as an interior designer, Whitmer uses both creativity and analytical thinking in her career. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from ASU in May 2025, along with minors in psychology and sustainability.
Whitmer said psychology has become an important part of the work she does every day.
“Designing interior environments that truly enhance the well-being of those who inhabit them is at the heart of my work,” Whitmer said. “That is where the psychology aspect of my degree truly comes into play — ensuring that the interior environments support and even uplift the people within the spaces I am designing.”
Looking ahead, Whitmer plans to become a licensed interior designer and hopes to mentor future design students entering the industry.
She said Rio Salado helped make her educational goals possible.
“Rio gave me the flexibility I needed to complete my coursework while working 40 hours,” Whitmer said. “I loved being able to work at my own pace and have all the resources I needed just one click away.”