At 85, UW-Parkside’s Oldest Graduate Completes a Dream Decades in the Making

When Molla Anam receives his master's degree in Sustainable Management from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, he will make history-becoming the oldest graduate the university has ever celebrated. But for Anam, age is just a backdrop. What truly matters is that this moment completes a goal he has carried with him for more than 50 years.

"I came to America with four dreams," Anam says. "The very first was to earn an advanced degree." It took time-five decades, several careers, three countries, and countless life experiences-but UW-Parkside helped make that dream a reality.

A Lifetime of Experience Before Day One at Parkside

He earned his degree, began his career abroad, and eventually immigrated to the United States, where he spent decades working as a chemical engineer in refineries, manufacturing institutions, air-pollution control companies, and major firms like Bechtel and Procter & Gamble.
He built a strong professional reputation and achieved licensure as a Professional Engineer in three states. But there was one goal he had never reached: a U.S. graduate degree.

Life, work, and frequent job relocations made it impossible. He enrolled multiple times at universities along the East Coast but had to abandon each attempt as he moved from city to city."I kept myself educated," Anam says. "Seminars, certificates, training-I never stopped learning. But I never had the chance to finish a real degree."

Finding the Right Program at the Right Time

When he retired, Anam realized that he wasn't ready to step away from learning. He wanted to give back, update his knowledge, and stay connected to a field that shaped his entire life. That's when he discovered UW-Parkside's Master of Science in Sustainable Management, a fully online program offered collaboratively across the UW System.

"I thank myself that I chose this discipline," he says. "It covers everything-engineering, environment, social aspects, the triple bottom line. And I could do it remotely, which was essential for me."
After decades of in-person programs that were cut short, the ability to learn from home finally made graduate study achievable.

Support That Made All the Difference

Anam credits the program's instructors and advisors for much of his success. "Everybody at Parkside was so good to me," he says. "They bent over backwards to help students."
He had attended other universities earlier in life, but Parkside stood out for its support, patience, and personal connection. "It was a different environment altogether," he says. "They were encouraging. They wanted me to succeed."

Initially planning only to earn a certificate, Anam grew more confident after earning high marks in his first course. That confidence-and encouragement from his advisor-pushed him to pursue the full master's degree.

A Capstone That Connected a Lifetime of Learning

For his capstone experience, Anam completed a comprehensive project examining air pollution, water pollution, and solid waste challenges in developing countries. Drawing on decades of engineering experience and on-the-ground knowledge from his travels, he conducted research, gathered photographs, and interviewed local officials.

"It became a full review of major environmental concerns," he says. "I wanted to understand the problems and the solutions." The project embodied the interdisciplinary nature of the Sustainable Management program-linking policy, engineering, environmental systems, and human behavior.

A Message to Other Lifelong Learners

What would Anam tell someone who thinks they're too old to return to school? "Age should not stop you from learning," he says. "If education will help you, or help your community, you should pursue it. Don't wait as long as I did."

For him, finishing this degree is not just personal-it's a fulfillment of the very first goal he set upon arriving in the United States in the early 1970s. "It means everything to me," he says. "This is the one goal I could not complete until now."

Looking Forward-with the Same Curiosity

Now 85 years old, Anam is not slowing down. He has questions about future study, consulting possibilities, and whether he might even explore business courses he once began at the University of Scranton decades ago. "I still have energy," he says. "I still want to learn."
His story is a testament to persistence, curiosity, and the belief that education can truly be lifelong. And for UW-Parkside, hosting a learner like Molla Anam is a reminder that it's never too late for a new chapter-or for finishing one started decades before.

Since its founding in 1968, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been a trusted partner for the region's higher educational needs, empowering students to thrive, advancing applied knowledge, and developing talent for the future. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates and pre-professional programs, designed to foster personal and professional growth through real-world and impactful learning experiences. Located in the dynamic Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, UW-Parkside offers unmatched access to world-class internships, professional networks, and endless career-building opportunities, placing students at the center of it all.

Media contact:

Derek Fye
Communications Manager
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
[email protected] | (262) 771-5419