Military Insider: Graduates 2024

Claudia Burregi

Coast Guard Veteran

Doctorate in Higher Education Administration – Educational Leadership

To my fellow service members embarking on the noble quest of furthering your education while serving our country, let me share a word of encouragement rooted in faith: Remember, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). This journey you are on, balancing the demands of military service with the rigors of academic pursuit, is a path few choose to walk. It is not merely a test of your willpower but a testament to your faith in God’s plan for your life.

I began my doctoral journey just before COVID-19 changed everyone’s lives. I was teaching high school sciences on the only inhabited island in Louisiana, and I knew that although there were many challenges at that time, God had a plan. Never would I imagine that in 2022, when I was nearing the end of my dissertation journey, I would be diagnosed with cancer. What an inopportune time to go through something such as this. But I began by giving this degree to God, and I knew I would push through because I was so close to obtaining IRB approval. I had a double mastectomy days after getting my approval to begin my research. Though recovery and two surgeries later slowed me down, I was able to pull it all together and gave my final defense in May of 2023. “Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). By the strength of God, I made it and I give him all the glory.

Corey Brooks

U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army Veteran

Doctor of Education

Jeremiah 29: 11, was a passage from scripture that I continually fell back on. It reminds us that God is ever-present in our lives and is there to encourage us to move forward in him.

The doctoral program at Liberty is tough. There were times when I wanted to quit. Being on deployment to Afghanistan and still having to work on requirements for my degree seemed impossible. I remember committing to stay up all night from Saturday to Sunday and sleeping in for half of the day on Sunday so I could meet those requirements while in theater.

During my dissertation defense, my Committee Chair asked if it was worth it. The sleepless nights, cold and lonely early mornings, those times in training when I didn’t have internet access and had to walk far to find some so I could submit work in Canvas, the isolation and missing family events – was it all worthwhile? I told my Chair, looking back I don’t know how I did it, how I made it to the final defense, and in tears, I said, “It was Worth it!”

Don’t Quit. See it through because, in the end, it is worthwhile. My photo is of me and my mom after my dad passed away two years before I graduated.

Beth White

U.S. Air Force Spouse (Vietnam Vet, Passed 1/12/24)

Doctor of Education

The road to graduation will be hard and there will be days that you want to quit. Stay focused on the end goal, complete the race, and press on to the finish line. In the end, it won’t seem like it was difficult at all.

When I first met my husband (USAF – Vietnam), a college education was never going to be a reality due to the cost. When I started working at Liberty University, the Continuing Education program made it possible. From the beginning of my undergrad in August 2003, my husband Wayne prayed, encouraged, and helped me in every way possible. If I needed to go somewhere to study and enjoy a refreshment, he was right there with me regardless of how long the time was. For 20 years, he made it possible for me to earn five degrees, and a Graduate Certificate from two universities. I finally defended my dissertation on my birthday this past November and I will never forget how proud he was of me. I had just received my Ed.D. in the mail about two weeks before his sudden passing on January 12, 2024. I am walking this weekend because he wanted to celebrate me for all my hard work over the past 20 years.

Ayla Litsenberger

U.S. Army SFC (Ret.)

Master of Divinity: Christian Apologetics

Keep God first and rest will be added to you. When God is first, the rest of life falls into place. Be steadfast in faith and God will strengthen you along the way.
While working towards this degree, I experienced the loss of a family member for the first time (to stage 4 colon cancer), acted as my father’s caregiver as he progressed through Alzheimer’s, and went through the season of Covid. All while serving in the active duty (reserves) and being a married Mom of three. I praise Christ for the strength he has given me for each assignment, for blessing me with a supportive and encouraging husband who helped me take care of my dad and covered for me at home when assignments required more of my time, and for blessing me with a unit who gave me the grace to meet the needs of my father and see my cousin Emmy on short notice before she passed away. I couldn’t be more thankful for the Christ-like professors who granted me extensions on some of my paper submissions and prayed for me during the hardest of times. This has been quite the journey, but I am excited to see where God takes me next. Anything I have ever accomplished is due to God’s grace, his love, and his favor. To God be the glory!

Kathleen Alejandro

U.S. Air Force Captain

Master of Science in Nursing Education

Your pace is irrelevant; the mission is to finish! You can do all things through Christ!

The military has a funny way of helping you find new callings in life, and interacting with younger nurses and medics helped me discover a calling to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing Education! Working between multiple breaks for deployments, TDYs, PCS, and the demands of full-time nursing career, the work felt endless! After 3 long years, I can finally celebrate this blessing beside all of you!

Jerry Pitts

U.S. Army Veteran

Doctor of Education – Instructional Design and Technology

To all our military students, press on toward earning your degree amidst the unique challenges you face, knowing that your dedication and resilience are truly admirable. The path you’ve chosen is a testament to your strength and commitment. Remember that the skills and discipline you’ve honed in the military — leadership, perseverance, and the ability to thrive under pressure — are invaluable assets on your educational journey. It’s not just about earning a degree; it’s about setting an example of what it means to relentlessly pursue your goals no matter the obstacles. Your journey is an inspiration, showcasing that with determination and hard work, it’s possible to achieve anything. Keep pushing forward, knowing that every assignment completed, and every exam passed brings you one step closer to your goal. Your future is bright, and the sacrifices you’re making today are paving the way for a successful tomorrow. We believe in you and can’t wait to see all that you will accomplish. Keep going, you’ve got this!

At 57, inspired by a dream and nearing the completion of my master’s in professional writing at Liberty, I felt called to a new career in educational technology. My journey into this field began unexpectedly during the pandemic when I was tasked with leading a distance learning program at my former place of employment. This experience sparked a love for educational technology, leading me to enroll in a Ph.D. in Instructional Design & Technology. Then, in October 2020, God opened a door for me to work as an Educational Technologist at Liberty’s Center for Teaching Excellence, and in May 2023 I was promoted to a Faculty Trainer role. My goal was to complete my Ph.D. before I turned 61, a milestone I proudly achieved last December, just 28 days before my birthday.

This journey, from a 10th-grade dropout with ADHD to reaching the highest academic levels, is a testament to God’s grace and the transformative power of faith and perseverance. After losing my wife to cancer in 2015, I lost my zest for life and retired early. However, a new chapter began when I met a wonderful Christian woman who later became my wife. God used her to encourage me to pursue my dreams, which led me to Liberty. My journey has been shaped by divine guidance and the support of loved ones, and I’m eager to see where it leads next, enjoying every moment of this wonderful ride.