USU is excited to announce this year's commencement speaker, Dr. Marla Weston. Dr. Weston dedicated her career to improving the professional practice environment for nurses and the quality of care for patients. She currently focuses on assisting healthcare organizations, governmental agencies, and nonprofit associations with creating a positive practice environment; leadership and board development; strategic planning; employee well-being; and enhancing value for their customers, members, and constituents. She launched Nurse Capital, which provides venture capital for nurse entrepreneurs disrupting the healthcare industry with innovations in technology, devices and equipment, and clinical programs. She serves as a strategic advisor to several start-up healthcare companies, including Practicing Excellence, Mobella Health, MIDAS Healthcare Solutions, and Prolucent Health. She is a co-author of the blog, Calling the Leadership Circle.

Dr. Weston has served as a nurse executive in hospitals, the government, and, most recently, as the CEO of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Enterprise. Her leadership in large-scale change and innovation transformed ANA into one of the fastest growing associations in membership and impact. Under her leadership, membership increased by over 40% and Forbes described ANA as “an increasingly politically powerful lobbying force in Washington and state capitals across the country.” Dr. Weston has overseen philanthropic and premier grants programs, securing multimillion dollars for various initiatives.

With her PhD in nursing and over 35 years in executive practice, she is sought out for her meeting facilitation, excellent public speaking, coaching and consultative approach, which enable organizations and individuals to integrate best practices, strategy, and innovation to produce substantive results. She speaks and publishes on professional governance; the future of healthcare; improving health, wellness, resilience, and joy in nursing; building high-performing teams; governance leadership; and transforming

In 2012, she was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and has received numerous awards including being selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare in 2017 due to her leadership skills and accomplishments in healthcare, mentorship of female health care executives, and her contributions to health care at the local, state and national levels.


USU is excited to welcome its graduates in San Diego on 9/19 at noon at the San Diego Convention Center. For more information, please click here: 

https://www.usuniversity.edu/current-students/commencement-information

2025 Commencement Speaker Announced

Utah State University announces Dr. Marla Weston as this year's commencement speaker. A healthcare innovation leader, Dr. Weston improves nursing practice environments, leads Nurse Capital venture fund, and advises healthcare startups on strategic planning and patient care excellence.

A recent study explored how teachers navigate ethical dilemmas when professional values conflict with educational policy. These tensions that can impact both student achievement and teacher retention. While teaching is widely regarded as a caring profession, findings showed that teachers leaned significantly more toward an ethic of justice than an ethic of care in their moral decision-making in their practice. This study points to important implications for aligning policy and practice around how justice and care are balanced in schools.

For the full article, please click here: 

https://www.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/purchase26?openform&fp=tej&id=tej_2025_0025_0001_0033_0051

The Moral Orientation of Educators and Their Commitment to Core Professional Values in Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

A recent study explored how teachers navigate ethical dilemmas when professional values conflict with educational policy.  These tensions that can impact both student achievement and teacher retention. While teaching is widely regarded as a caring profession, findings showed that teachers leaned significantly more toward an ethic of justice than an ethic of care in their moral decision-making in their practice. This study points to important implications for aligning policy and practice around how justice and care are balanced in schools.


The University congratulates Violeta Seitz, who will be the featured student speaker. Violeta Seitz is a nurse practitioner in Tracy, California, where she and her husband, an Internal Medicine physician, operate a primary care practice. She received her Master's degree in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with distinction in February 2024 and FNP board certification from the ANCC. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and worked as an ambulatory care and labor and delivery nurse.
After 25 years as a stay-at-home mother and raising her seven children, she was inspired to pursue a nursing career after witnessing great poverty in the Philippines, where she was born and raised. She founded Pusong Pinoy Forever Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit humanitarian organization that has funded nearly 40 heart surgeries for children in the Philippines with congenital heart defects. In her spare time, she volunteers as a musician at her local church and enjoys traveling, working out, and spending time with her family.

USU Announces the 2024 Commencement Student Speaker

The University congratulates Violeta Seitz, who will be the featured student speaker. Violeta Seitz is a nurse practitioner in Tracy, California, where she and her husband, an Internal Medicine physician, operate a primary care practice. She received her Master's degree in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with distinction in February 2024 and FNP board certification from the ANCC.

Violeta Seitz

LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United States University (USU), a subsidiary of the parent company Aspen Group, Inc. ("AGI") (OTCQB: ASPU), today announced a new strategic alliance with 

PLAY MUSIC-ENJOY LIFE! (PMEL) and RADCO Music Group, LLC

, a multi-award-winning Music and Wellness organization based in the Greater Los Angeles area. This collaboration expands USU's growing portfolio of innovative academic and community partnerships and, introduces PMEL's new after-school group piano instruction program for K–12 students across the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other public school districts throughout the state of California.

Under this arrangement, USU will support the delivery of PMEL’s nationally recognized Music and Wellness class piano program, which integrates academic enrichment, emotional wellness, and performance-based learning. Students will receive instruction on brand-new Roland digital pianos using a vetted, award-winning curriculum taught by expert Music and Wellness educators, trained and managed by PMEL, including current USU students and recent graduates, current LAUSD educators, and other expert instructors residing in the greater Los Angeles area and throughout California.

Small group piano classes of up to 10 students each, one class per student per week

Six after-school classes per week at each participating school

After-school programming delivered three days per week, including a new "summer program"

Collegiate-level Roland digital pianos with individualized headphone and in-class participative group instruction, personalized and with headphone usage for practice

End-of-semester recitals and concerts for students, families, and school communities

 Annual large-scale celebration concert as the program expands to capacity at known venues (i.e.: Wiltern Theatre, Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Greek Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, SoFi Stadium). As the program reaches scale, an 

 will be introduced at major Southern California venues. At full implementation, 

 to participating students who may not otherwise have access to an instrument, creating one of the largest musical scholarship initiatives ever undertaken.

UNITED STATES UNIVERSITY is committed to providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality educational opportunities, with a strong focus on diversity, inclusion, and lifelong learning.

PLAY MUSIC ENJOY LIFE! shares these core values and delivers measurable benefits through active participation in music, including improved academic engagement, increased confidence, and enhanced emotional and physical wellness.

“This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission and core values. PLAY MUSIC-ENJOY LIFE! expands our reach, enhances our offerings, and allows us to serve a demographic we don’t traditionally reach, children under 18, while creating meaningful teaching opportunities for our students and graduates. We are excited about the positive impact that this innovative collaboration will have on young minds and hearts throughout California.”

"Licensing our program and collaborating with UNITED STATES UNIVERSITY is an incredible honor. Dr. Burrus and his amazing team embody the values we stand for: innovation, integrity, and service. Together with USU, LAUSD, and other USD's in California, we can grow faster, reach more students, while bringing hope, confidence, and opportunity to children initially throughout Southern California, and that's just the start! Nothing pleases us more than helping kids thrive academically, emotionally, and personally.”

About Aspen Group, Inc. and United States University

Aspen Group, Inc. is an education technology holding company that leverages its infrastructure and expertise to allow its two universities, Aspen University and United States University, to deliver on the vision of making college affordable again. For more information, visit www.aspu.com.

United States University currently serves over 2,000 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. The university maintains a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. USU has a long history of supporting underserved and first-generation learners and continues to expand access to education through innovative partnerships such as this one. For more information, visit 

 currently reaches tens of thousands of followers globally online with its messages of Music and Wellness through the active participation of Music Making. With 

 across 370+ schools by 2029 and potentially become one of the largest private piano music education programs in the world. For more information, visit 

Aspen Group, Inc. Investor Relations Contact
Hayden IR
Kimberly Rogers
(385) 831-7337


A photo accompanying this announcement is available at 

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/025d52f6-94ec-4202-bb4e-042e59184a7a

UNITED STATES UNIVERSITY Announces Strategic Alliance with PLAY MUSIC-ENJOYLIFE! to Expand After-School Music & Wellness Programs

LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United States University (USU), a subsidiary of the parent company Aspen Group, Inc. ("AGI") (OTCQB: ASPU), today announced a new strategic alliance with PLAY MUSIC-ENJOY LIFE! (PMEL) and RADCO Music Group, LLC, a multi-award-winning Music and Wellness organization based in the Greater Los Angeles area. This collaboration expands USU's growing portfolio of innovative academic and community partnerships and, introduces PMEL's new after-school group piano instruction program for K–12 students across the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other public school districts throughout the state of California.

The University congratulates Gia Cabrera who will be the featured student speaker. Gia is a dedicated educator from Upland, California, who recently earned her Master of Arts in Teaching – Multiple Subject Credential with Distinction from United States University. Gia’s journey into education began during her undergraduate years at San Diego State University, where she worked at the SDSU Children's Center. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in May of 2023 and immediately began her master’s program that fall. With over 10 years of experience as a nanny and current work as a substitute teacher for 5 local school districts, Gia is dedicated in shaping the lives of children. Her goal for the coming year is to begin her career as a full-time elementary teacher and be able to call a classroom her home. Gia has always known she wanted to make a difference, she just wasn’t sure how at first. Over time, she came to realize the incredible impact teachers have on the lives of their students. They don’t just teach academics; they guide, empower, and help shape the future. That realization is what led her to pursue a career in education. When she’s not teaching or nannying, Gia loves hanging out with her girlfriend, family, and friends, and traveling whenever she gets the chance. She’s passionate about helping children grow, learn, and feel seen and she’s so excited to bring that passion into her own classroom soon.

USU Announces the 2025 Commencement Student Speaker

Gia Cabrera, United States University's featured student speaker, earned her M.A. in Teaching with Distinction. With 10+ years in childcare, she's ready to inspire as an elementary teacher in California.

USU News

2025 Commencement Speaker Announced

The Moral Orientation of Educators and Their Commitment to ...

USU Announces the 2024 Commencement Student Speaker

UNITED STATES UNIVERSITY Announces Strategic Alliance with ...

USU Announces the 2025 Commencement Student Speaker