Alla Kudryavtseva was presented with her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies degree by IU East Executive Vice Chancellor Michelle Malott and School of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Ross Alexander at IU East on December 13.

Indiana University East presented Alla Kudryavtseva with her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies degree on Tuesday, December 13, at the Student Events and Activities Center. She is one of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) players enrolled at IU East through an educational agreement between the campus and the women’s professional tennis organization.

Kudryavtseva was presented with her diploma by Executive Vice Chancellor Michelle Malott and School of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Ross Alexander. She is a December 2016 graduate and completed her last online class during finals week, December 6-12.

While in Richmond, Kudryavtseva toured the campus and met with students, faculty and staff she has become acquainted with during her time as a Red Wolf. She also spent the morning talking with IU East student-athletes about balancing life between professional tennis and her studies. In return, the students had an opportunity to share some of their on-campus experiences with the graduate.

“Being a professional tennis player requires lots of sacrifices: you barely see your family and friends, you shouldn’t party, and you are constantly on the move. I want to thank IU East and the WTA for making sure education doesn’t have to be one of those sacrifices,” Kudryavtseva said.

Kudryavtseva enrolled at IU East in January 2014 to pursue her bachelor’s degree.

“It was difficult but very rewarding to travel, play professionally and study. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to attain this bachelor’s degree without having to compromise my career as a tennis player. Thank you to the IU East faculty and students who worked with me and good luck to all remaining IU East students, especially my colleagues competing on the WTA tour,” Kudryavtseva said.

IU East Chancellor Kathryn Cruz-Uribe said she was delighted to welcome Kudryavtseva to campus.

“It has been a pleasure to host Alla on her first trip to the Richmond campus. We are honored to present her with her diploma. As an alumna, she will join a network of over 9,000 IU East graduates,” Cruz-Uribe said.

Alexander said, “Alla was one of our finest students in the Communication Studies program and within the entirety of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her professors consistently lauded her stellar work, professionalism, and the global perspective she brought to all her courses. She is among the very best we have at IU East.”

IU East and the Women’s Tennis Benefits Association have an agreement that establishes IU East as the primary provider for baccalaureate online degree completion programs for WTA players.

The agreement provides the opportunity for players to professionally train and play tennis while completing their bachelor’s degree online. IU East’s online degree completion programs offer the high quality of an Indiana University degree to students throughout Indiana, nationally and internationally. IU East offers 13 options for students to complete their bachelor’s degree or certificate online.

Kudryavtseva is the second WTA player to be presented with her diploma while visiting the IU East campus. This December, WTA player Irina Falconi will also complete her degree. She will receive her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Kudryavtseva and Falconi are the second and third players to graduate under the IU East and WTBA agreement, after Venus Williams graduated in August 2015. Additionally, IU East has a similar agreement with the ATP, the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuits.

Falconi said, “This has truly been such a success for me. To be able to manage a professional tennis career, and a business college degree, has really shown me that if I put my mind and heart into it, I can accomplish anything. There were definitely some points where I wasn’t sure if it was worth it, but now that I have finished with a bang, I will have yet another tool in my tool belt.”

Lisa Grattan from the Women’s Tennis Benefits Association (WTBA), explained that about five years ago they collaborated with the WTA to create a partnership with IU East. In addition to the three graduates, 21 WTA’s players are currently enrolled in IU East online degree completion programs.

The Women’s Tennis Benefits Association (WTBA) is a non-profit organization, established to promote and protect the common interests of all women tennis professionals (the “Members”) and to unite them in a single representative organization. The Organization’s primary activities are to administer and manage the retirement plan investments and other assets owned by or on behalf of the Members; to oversee the Member Health Insurance and Disability; and to offer “Transitions” Educational Programming.

About WTBA Transitions Programs:  Transitions courses are funded by the Women’s Tennis Benefits Association (WTBA), and provide sophisticated education, training and career guidance to maximize opportunities, in business and in life, during and after a player’s tennis career. Current and alumnae players have access to a range of programs including financial planning and investing, online education, coaching certification, networking, broadcasting and public speaking /business presentations.

About the WTA
The WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 2,500 players representing 92 nations competing for a record $137 million in prize money. The 2016 WTA competitive season includes 57 events and four Grand Slams in 34 countries. In 2015, The WTA was watched by 395 million fans on television and digital channels around the world. The 2016 WTA competitive season concludes with the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global from October 23-30, 2016 and the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China from November 1-6, 2016. Further information on the WTA can be found at www.wtatennis.com, facebook.com/WTA and twitter.com/WTA.

About IU East and IU East Online Programs
Indiana University East has an enrollment of nearly 4,500 students. IU East is both a traditional campus that excels in innovative learning options and a virtual campus with select online degree completion programs. The university’s customized bachelor’s and master’s programs – a portfolio of over 50 degree program options – anticipate the growing needs of citizens in the region, state and nation.