Love at SPS: How Three Couples Navigate Grad School Side-by-Side

Sometimes the best love stories include syllabi and a kitchen table that doubles as a study hall. These stories belong to the couples who cheer each other on through exam weeks and deadlines—and just as loudly when it’s time to walk the stage.

Those milestones can be traced back to one clear decision: They committed to each other and to the coursework. 

In the spirit of this love-filled day, we’re highlighting three Wake Forest SPS couples earning their degrees side by side, and sharing how learning together has shaped their routines, their conversations, and the future they’re building.

Chris Rodriguez & Lisa Rodriguez

Meet Chris Rodriguez, student in the Master of Educational Leadership Program and Dean of Students at Georgetown Prep, and Lisa Rodriguez, student in the Master of Project Management Program and Vice President of a research firm. 

Chris and Lisa Rodriguez met more than 25 years ago after being set up by close friends. They’ve navigated life and careers together for decades, so taking on graduate school simultaneously felt like the natural next chapter in their partnership. After two of their three kids left for college, they saw how Wake Forest SPS offered the flexibility they needed to balance their careers with their studies. That’s when they decided to apply and take the leap together.

Now, quality time together looks like quiet mornings in their home office on the weekends. They set up side-by-side with their coffee and laptops to work through their respective modules. When the coursework intensifies, Chris and Lisa lean on each other in ways that go beyond shared study time.

“Lisa is an incredible manager and leader, so I am constantly bouncing ideas off her or asking for her perspective on topics I’m studying,” said Chris. “Her real-world experience is so applicable to what I am learning in Educational Leadership. Also, just having her nearby while we study keeps me grounded.”

Their support shows up in both practical collaboration and a deep understanding of the pressure that comes with balancing graduate school and life.

“We actually took one class together, which got pretty competitive! But usually, the support comes from simply understanding the pressure,” explained Lisa. “We learn from each other’s classes, even when the topics are different. Hearing Chris talk about his coursework broadens my perspective, and vice versa.”

Kimberly Vass-Eudy & Jeffrey Eudy

Meet Kimberly Vass-Eudy and Jeffrey Eudy, both students in the Master of Health Administration Program. Kimberly is a family physician at Iredell Health Systems, and Jeffrey is a pharmacist at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

Kimberly and Jeff met on July 1, 2004—Kimberly’s first day of residency and Jeff’s rotation in pharmacy at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. From the beginning, learning together has been part of their story. They were both interested in understanding how healthcare systems function beyond their clinical roles, so Wake Forest SPS felt like the perfect place to further their education. Kimberly and Jeff agreed that if they were both accepted, they would commit to the journey together.

Being in SPS has deepened how they talk about work, leadership, and decision-making at home, often giving them a front-row seat to each other’s growth. Kimberly said she’s been especially inspired watching Jeff take on new challenges: “I am so impressed with Jeff. He is so smart and capable,” she shared. “He is the calm in the storm and rarely gets rattled. I have enjoyed seeing him grow in real time as we both tackle the assignments.” 

Jeff, in turn, credits Kimberly as a constant source of motivation: “Kim is truly an inspiration. She goes above and beyond to help me in so many ways.”

That mutual support becomes even more critical when the workload intensifies. Their current class, paired with a job change, work stressors, and family demands, has pushed them to be more intentional about how they manage pressure together.

“Finding time to exercise is key. Laughter is essential,” explained Kimberly. “We help each other because we each have strengths that we bring to the partnership.”

Liesl Groman & Chris Groman

Meet Liesl Groman, Master of Project Management graduate and manager of energy and engineering for the Americas at Digital Realty, and Chris Groman, Master of AI Strategy and Innovation student and the marketing and sales manager at Orlando Dreamers.

Liesl and Chris first met after undergrad through a mutual friend, and then reconnected in 2019 and were married in 2023. Chris had long admired Wake Forest SPS and encouraged Liesl to apply when she began researching graduate programs. Once she was accepted, Chris felt inspired to apply as well. Their shared connection to the school brought them into SPS at the same time.

During the semester, their weeks reflected the flexibility—and discipline—required to balance school, work, and life. Chris’s role often has him attending or planning events across the greater Orlando community, which makes his schedule unpredictable. 

“I take advantage of Wake Forest’s flexibility by joining synchronous classes when possible or watching the recordings the next day,” he explained. “When I’m home, I like to relax by watching my favorite shows with my wife and our animals and cooking dinner together.”

Liesl’s schedule required a different kind of structure. While she has since graduated and is preparing to take her PMP exam, she said the rhythm of intentional planning remains familiar: “During the semester, I was very intentional about blocking off certain nights as Wake Forest nights, while also giving myself permission to step back and breathe when I needed it.”

Being at Wake Forest SPS together also deepened conversations they were already having at home. Liesl and Chris describe their relationship as an equal partnership, one grounded in openness about both personal and professional decisions. 

“We’re often running scenarios or weighing options as we would in some of our classes,” they explained. “It’s also given us new frameworks for decision-making that we actually apply at home, whether it’s delegating tasks, thinking through problems from multiple perspectives, or planning vacations.”

Learn Together, Lead Together 

Earning a graduate degree is demanding on its own. Doing it alongside a partner who understands the pressure changes how students experience the program. It means having someone who pushes you when momentum dips and who celebrates progress because they’re living it, too. 

These couples show how a shared effort in learning shapes the lives they’re building.

Ready to start the next chapter of your career with your partner? Explore all our program offerings.