Alissa Meyer, 50, and her daughter, Elizabeth Meyer, 25, graduated from OLLU on Thursday with Master of Social Work degrees and matching 4.0 grade point averages.

The diplomas mark the fifth time mother and daughter earn degrees together and the third time they graduate together. They previously earned Bachelor of Social Work degrees from Mary Hardin-Baylor and three Associate’s Degrees (General Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies and Social Science) from Central Texas College.

The Meyers were among 319 OLLU students who received their diplomas at Freeman Coliseum during spring commencement exercises. Alumna and VIA Metropolitan Transit communications manager Lorena “Lorraine” Pulido (PhD 2010) delivered the commencement address. 

Mother and daughter work at Walgreens as pharmacy technicians and live on campus together at the Slater Apartments. They will take a one-year break after spring commencement and plan to return to OLLU in fall 2024 and pursue the PhD in Leadership Studies.

“She’s my best friend,” daughter Elizabeth said. “All our classmates call her ‘mom.’”

“It’s an amazing feeling for me,” said Alissa. “It’s a super proud mom moment to be able to do that. Not a lot of people can say they graduated with their child or children.”