Serving those who are built to serve

Whether retired from the military or on active duty, Arizona State University has a steadfast commitment to provide military-affiliated students with different ways to access a college degree, provide them with a supportive environment and help them succeed inside and outside of the classroom.

Through ASU Online, military-affiliated students have found the flexibility to continue serving while pursuing a degree and accessing ASU's resources and world-class faculty, regardless of their location.

The Pat Tillman Veterans Center at ASU was established to support students and families who have served our country, helping them succeed on their college journey and preparing them for life after they graduate.

“Our center really exists to provide customer service excellence, community and career readiness for our over 21,000 military-connected learners,” said Shawn Banzhaf, executive director of the Pat Tillman Veterans Center. “We do this because we know the path to a degree and career is full of obstacles and we want to smooth as much of that path as possible here at ASU.”

The center’s team includes veterans, current military personnel, dependent family members and others connected to the military or veteran experience who pride themselves in being in the service of others and helping service members, military veterans and their families navigate the college experience.

During ASU’s Salute to Service week, we spoke with active-duty personnel and veterans about their experience at ASU Online and what serving their country means to them.  

Army National Guard | Shaftesbury, Vermont

Army veteran Andrew Hunt has dedicated years of service to his fellow veterans through volunteerism and fellowship.

Hunt spent the majority of his career in various law enforcement roles, while also serving in the Army, where he deployed to Iraq for a year and a half.

The military was also a path towards a college degree. What he didn’t expect was how his military experience would shape the college experience for enlisted service members and military veterans.

Outside of work and family, he dedicated his time to volunteering and running a veteran organization.

“I get a lot of joy of helping my fellow veterans and working to assist them, either through the programming that I was doing, which was facilitating outdoor opportunities for veterans to go on hunting trips, fishing trips, hiking and camping,” Hunt said.

While working as a safety patrol supervisor at a university in Vermont, the dean’s office, aware of his nonprofit work supporting veterans, approached him for guidance on how to better serve military-affiliated students.

“Military members and veterans range from 24 years old up to 45 years old,” Hunt said. “I help people understand the nuances of veteran students, the transition from military life to civilian life.” 

Hunt bridges the gap between students who have served and college staff, helping them translate military acronyms or explain how to read deployment orders to better support students through their college experience.

He also helps develop veteran programming and raise awareness about veteran issues on campus, like mental health.

After earning his associate degree and taking a small break, Hunt is also pursuing his own degree through ASU Online and says ASU already feels like home.

“The applied military and veteran studies degree not only seemed fitting, but was the first undergraduate degree that I was actually excited about when I discovered it as an option,” he said. “I am already currently involved in the relevant work and feel that this degree would not only benefit me, but the veterans that I currently serve and those I will serve in the future.”  

United States Air Force | Agat, Guam

In Guam, nearly every family has at least one member or friend who has served or is currently serving in the United States military.

For Rheanna Juanillo, growing up in that environment meant she always saw military service not only as a way to serve her country and island but also as an opportunity to travel, earn a degree and build a stable career.

Juanillo enrolled at the University in Guam, but soon felt that there were more opportunities to explore and decided to enlist in the Air Force.

It was during her temporary duty station in Yuma, Arizona, that she learned about ASU and the military tuition assistance benefit.

The support that ASU provides military students and the network Juanillo has been able to build cemented for her that she made the right choice.

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in business administration, she decided to continue her studies with ASU Online and enrolled in the Master of Legal Studies program.

“Earning this degree is part of my long-term plan for stability and purpose after completing my military service,” she said. “It’s about preparing for a meaningful transition into federal service in legal compliance, where I can continue to serve with integrity and impact. This degree gives me the tools and confidence to step into that next chapter with clarity and security.”

From academic advising to career resources to the team at the Pat Tillman Veteran Center, the center was instrumental in helping her transition from an undergraduate to a graduate degree.

“The Pat Tillman Center has been extremely helpful,” Juanillo said. “When I decided to get my master's, I had to use my GI Bill on top of my military tuition assistance to cover the costs. So they've been very communicative with the transition and information that I needed to ensure that I receive my benefits.”

Currently stationed in Colorado, the ASU Alumni Association enabled her to find community wherever she’s stationed.

“There's a great ASU alumni (chapter) here in Colorado,” she said. “They do a lot of alumni events as well as the Pat Tillman Honor Run here, so I try to be involved as much as I can.”

Throughout her experience, she felt like she was part of a community that understood the unique challenges of working professionals, and specifically military service members.

But the most significant moments of her career have been those in which she was able to serve in ways that transcend duty.

“Humanitarian missions, in particular, have reminded me of the deeper purpose behind my uniform, the chance to uplift others in moments of vulnerability and need,” Juanillo said. “Whether offering aid to communities in crisis or standing beside those who have lost everything, these experiences reaffirm why I chose this path: to be a force for compassion, resilience and hope.

Nevada Air National Guard | Reno, Nevada

Nevada Air National Guard Col. Jen Kimsey wants female military members to know the sky is the limit.

Her father and grandfather served in the Navy, and with college out of reach, she followed in their footsteps with one piece of advice from her dad: Join the Air Force.

Leading airmen, being a mentor and setting an example to other female military members of what is possible were the most rewarding aspects of her job.

“I try to teach females, whether they're enlisted or officers, whatever age or rank that they are, that you can move forward,” Kimsey said. “But you can't move forward without your education.”

Earning her degree opened opportunities for her, including the chance to be promoted.

“When I retired, I am proud to say I was only one of two female colonels in the Nevada Air National Guard,” she said. “Without my degree, I never would have been able to have that opportunity.”

While Kimsey earned her hygienist degree in person, her schedule didn’t allow for an in-person master's degree, and everything about ASU was what she needed to earn her degree while also working full time, raising a family and fulfilling her military obligation.

A partnership between ASU and Air University allowed her to enroll in a Graduate Professional Military Education program, where she earned her master’s degree in military operational art and science.

This partnership transitioned the Air University eSchool of Graduate Professional Military Education programs and curriculum to ASU’s innovative learning environment, providing the air and space forces a world-class online, adaptive learning environment to deliver its professional development programs.

Between volleyball tournaments for her daughter and a deployment, she credits ASU for its flexible schedule and support for military members and veterans.

“I was able to work on my degree while deployed to another country and on a completely different time zone,” Kimsey said. “They (ASU employees) want you to be successful and will help you along the way.”

After 31 years of service, she medically retired in 2025, feeling accomplished by the example she set for her children, the career she led and the impact she made.

“I'm very proud of our country,” Kimsey said. “I'm very community-based, and so for me, being able to wear the uniform and the pride associated with that, it’s a feeling of doing something different, that I’m adding value to my community and my country.”

United States Marines | Tracy, California

Marine Corps veteran Roberto Perez comes from a long line of veterans, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Perez found the greatest reward of military service wasn’t just the discipline or the ability to stay calm under pressure. It was the people.

Through years of service, he learned the true meaning of leadership: leading by example, serving others and building unbreakable bonds. When he finished his service, he applied his military skills to his new career.

Perez also realized he needed a degree to grow professionally.

He enrolled in the undergraduate business administration degree program offered online at ASU, growing his skill set as a more well-versed leader and strategic thinker who can communicate effectively and bring real value to his team and organization.

“Studying business is helping me grow in those areas so I can continue to make a positive impact in my career,” Perez said. “Working full time, the online format allowed me to continue my education without stepping away from my career, and I’ve still felt very connected to the ASU community.”

Perez wanted a university that supported veterans and working students, and with ASU’s reputation for innovation, online learning flexibility and strong support from the Pat Tillman Veterans Center, he knew he’d found the right place to earn his degree.

“The most rewarding part of my military service was learning how to lead by example and serve others,” Perez said. “Earning my degree will open new doors for my career and help me grow as a leader. Personally, it’s something I’m very proud of, and I hope it inspires others to keep going after their goals, no matter how busy life gets.”