January 14, 2026

Stepping out of comfort: Ann Puruleski earns her fourth degree as a Ferris State Bulldog

Ann Puruleski wasn’t sold on what to study in college when she graduated from Cadillac Senior High School in 2009. Sixteen years and now four degrees later, she knows she’s made the right choice to attend Ferris State University on an academic and professional level.

Puruleski said although Ferris State was close to her hometown of Cadillac compared to other options, she initially accepted admission elsewhere. However, after taking a campus tour in Big Rapids with her father, a Ferris State alum himself, she was influenced to apply for late acceptance in hopes of becoming a Bulldog.

“I remember completing the honors program entrance application with my high school academic advisor once I told her I had changed my mind. She had been the one to help me get the late acceptance into the honors program,” Puruleski said.

As luck would have it, she was assigned to the Henderson Hall honors dorm where her father also stayed more than four decades ago. Knowing what she would study was still in the air but having the opportunity of being “more comfortable navigating a smaller campus” and having a cousin and high school friends also attending Ferris State helped to ease the transition.

Puruleski would find an interest in healthcare, while receiving two Bachelor of Science degrees in both nursing and healthcare systems administration.

“I was a double major because at the time, nursing had an approximate two year wait list,” she explained.

The journey towards her first masters continued, as Puruleski completed her Master of Science in nursing administration in 2018 and eventually began specializing in psychiatric mental health nursing as a professional. What made is graduation ceremony even more special for Puruleski was having her daughter in the audience.

“My daughter was present at both masters graduations, 2018 and this one, and now she is convinced she needs to attend Ferris when she graduates high school because of myself and her grandpa having graduated from here,” she said. “She is only 10, so we have a few years till that happens.”

Puruleski’s pursuit for an MBA (and fourth degree) was a step in the opposite direction compared to her previous academic studies and personal interests. She admitted that it was the most challenging degree she completed as a Bulldog, as she had no prior work experience in business.

Thanks to family and Ferris State faculty members like Alex Manga who provided constant support, Puruleski said she was able to overcome what felt impossible.

“Finishing this degree has meant the most to me… because it was out of my comfort zone and pushed me in ways I have not been pushed, academically,” Puruleski said. “I had a lot of people that really encouraged me to continue the MBA program when I felt like I wasn’t going to pass it. My dad has his MBA and was very supportive (even though) he was shocked when I told him I applied to this program.”

Another key group of supporters was the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Education Department. After receiving her first masters in 2018, she received a medallion that represented the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians emblem, which she wore during the 2018 and 2025 graduation ceremonies. The unique gift served several reminders: her heritage, the support of the PBPI, and a soon-to-be family heirloom.

“The Pokagon Band Department of Education was incredibly helpful over the course of my time as a student at Ferris State University and helped me reach my academic goals. I plan to pass it down to my daughter when she graduates from college in the future.

“I (also) wore it to represent my heritage and culture. I try to live my life by the seven grandfather teachings of wisdom, love, respect, truth, honesty, humility, and bravery,” Puruleski said. “I recognize that tribal ancestors before me could not have the same opportunities as I am privileged to have now, and I need to honor them. This is a way in which I can honor our past and future generations.”

Puruleski realized throughout her academic career that heavy course loads tend to lead to high volumes of stress. That’s why she made sure to prioritize a social and family life balance to stay motivated during schooling.

“I had a lot of great experiences at Ferris. I would have to say that my favorite memories involve when I was an active member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. I made a lot of great friends through the sorority and Greek life (and) keep in touch with a lot of them,” she said. “I also have to say that I had an incredible group of friends I made in my nursing cohort as an undergraduate. I do not think I could have gotten through nursing school without them because nursing school was hard.”

She also found ways to spend as much time with her daughter during her collegiate journey, including serving as a Girl Scout troop leader while traveling statewide to attend different Girl Scout camps and events with her daughter.

Looking back on a long and successful journey at Ferris State, Puruleski said she would tell her younger self to stay motivated during tough times-as the result is always worth it.

“(I would say) to always want to keep learning new things and to not be so hard on yourself. It is easy to get caught up in negativity and self-doubt when classes feel hard. Staying positive and taking care of yourself is important,” she said.

Now equipped with a business background, Puruleski plans to incorporate it into her healthcare career and focus more on the administration element. That is until she starts working toward her last academic goal: completing a Doctorates in Nursing Practice.