UOPX alumni spotlight: Nelson Riera 

Riera’s self-taught skills had helped him land full-time work, so whether out of a lack of perceived necessity or a lack of time and availability, he ultimately decided against pursuing a university-level degree in Argentina. (Although he did take a few courses.) 

All that changed when he decided to move to Dallas. There, he found a sense of belonging — as well as professional opportunities.

“At the time, I needed either a degree or nine more years of experience [to move to the U.S.],” Riera says. Since much of his freelance work didn’t count toward the experience requirement, he decided to go back to school. 

But how? He didn’t see a way to work full time while going to an in-person school full time. There was one more complicating factor too. “My wife, Valeria, said, ‘If you’re planning to move, you should find a university in the U.S.,’” Riera says.

Right away, Riera found value in his courses, which focused on real-world skills he needed in his daily work. This meant taking advantage of University of Phoenix’s skills-mapped curriculum  and discovering not just what was relevant to his degree, but what was rising in importance. He recounts considering one specialization that was becoming less important when he found courses that instead focused on skills that would be more relevant in the future. “University of Phoenix is updating content, so it stays relevant to you and your career,” he says.

Skills weren’t the only thing Riera was able to leverage, thanks to UOPX. After he made the switch to the U.S. arm of Microsoft, he was also able to take advantage of tuition assistance and reimbursement options . 

Additionally, he was able to apply much of his work and life experience toward his degree. Not only did that affirm the value of his self-taught skills, but it has formed an ethos he shares at work.

This approach extends beyond technology. In school, Riera didn’t limit himself to computer science but took courses in other subject areas like nutrition, which he is passionate about. That course, he says, has helped him understand his own diet. “I don't see how that wouldn't benefit anyone,” Riera says, “and I’d like to share that knowledge.”

Just as Riera’s education extends beyond the workplace, so does his eagerness to share with others. “Nelson's passion for knowledge is beyond normal,” says Agustin Gallegos, another colleague and fellow University of Phoenix alum. “He has a great ability to have eyes on everything. If he sees you are working on something he is not aware of, he is curious and asks about is.” Indeed, with his passion for other interests like motorbikes or gaming, says Gallegos, Riera draws from a deep well of knowledge to explain his perspective on other topics: “He always finds the right example to explain his point of view.”

That dedication is what helped Riera finish his degree — “with honors,” he adds proudly — and cross the stage during his Garland, Texas commencement, one of the first in-person graduation ceremonies held after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Riera is a proud Texan and employee at Microsoft, where he is a senior partner technical advisor. In his daily role, he helps delivery partners with technical support and administrative tasks — and even developing training modules to fill in gaps to make everyone’s work more efficient. He is especially keen on encouraging his colleagues to pursue education and upskilling, but it’s not just the workplace where he’s always growing.

“It’s not like you’re one person at work and one person at home,” says Riera. While he might still love to teach himself, he’s learned that finding community and support is crucial to finding yourself, he says.

“Nobody does it alone,” says Riera, “and I want to let others know that you can do it, and that University of Phoenix is here to help you do it.”

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