Military Insider: Graduates 2025

Dr. Bryan W. Becze

Marine Corps Veteran

Doctor of Strategic Leadership

From the barracks to the boardroom, my journey began with seven and a half years in the United States Marine Corps. The discipline, resilience, and leadership I gained during my service shaped the foundation of who I am. But I knew there was more I was meant to do, more to learn, more to give. After completing my military service, I pursued a bachelor’s in business administration, followed by a master’s in political management. Each academic step helped me better understand organizational systems and the human element within them. Yet I wasn’t done. I earned my MBA to sharpen my executive capabilities, especially in leading change and managing complexity across industries. Still, I saw a deeper need: leaders who not only strategize effectively but also lead ethically, inclusively, and with purpose. That conviction led me to pursue my doctorate in strategic leadership. Balancing school, full-time work, and life’s curveballs wasn’t easy. I battled through ADHD, PTSD, and career shifts, but I stayed anchored in faith and committed to growth. Now, as Dr. Bryan W. Becze, I carry not just credentials, but a calling, to lead with courage, serve with integrity, and help others find their voice and path forward. Liberty University didn’t just shape my future, it affirmed the mission I’ve lived all along: to lead by example.

Cpl Mitchell Rivas

Marine Corps Veteran

Doctor of Strategic Leadership

My pursuit of a higher education started in 2014 when I enrolled in my undergraduate studies in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was attending school while my one-year-old daughter, Maryssa, was receiving life-saving treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. I had envisioned receiving my college degree and transferring my career closer to the hospital where she was receiving care. Her prolonged hospital stays resulted in my desire to advance to a graduate program to receive my master’s in organizational leadership. In my second semester, Maryssa’s health took an unexpected turn for the worse, and doctors only gave her 30 days to live if they did not pursue surgical intervention to correct her congenital heart defect. On the Marine Corps birthday, 11/10/2015, Maryssa underwent an extensive open-heart surgery. My plan and God’s plan did not align, and Maryssa passed away three days later. Heartbroken and lost, I took a few weeks off from school to figure out a new plan. My academic mentor, Dr. Nelson Soto, suggested I re-do my coursework and create the blueprints for a nonprofit that would honor her life. In October 2016, I completed my thesis on the blueprints for Maryssa’s Mission Foundation, an Ohio-based nonprofit providing temporary aid for medically fragile children and their families. Still feeling there was a “missing piece,” I sought out the DSL program at Liberty University to pursue my doctorate. In this degree, I prepared myself for my role as an advocate for chronically ill children and a nonprofit executive. Today, our organization has served more than 8,000 individuals facing the challenges of raising a medically fragile child.

Dr. Stephanie Nicole Robinson

Army Veteran

Doctor of Education – Educational Leadership

My journey to graduation was full of challenges, sacrifices, and unwavering determination. Balancing a full-time job while pursuing my education was no easy feat. On top of that, being a pastors wife meant carrying the weight of ministry and supporting others while trying to carve out time for my own growth. There were days when I felt stretched thin, and I wondered if I could manage it all. Fortunately, I was never alone, and my daughters Kiara, Krystal, and Kennedy were my constant sources of inspiration. They reminded me why I started and why I had to keep going. Their love and encouragement fueled my determination to graduate. My husband, Dr. Robinson, stood by me every step of the way, offering his unwavering support and reminding me that I could achieve my goal. A dear friend, and my church family also continuously encouraged me, and spoke life into my dreams when I needed it most. Just as in my military service, there were late nights, early mornings, and moments of exhaustion. There were also victories while completing assignments and missions (despite fatigue), and as I pushed through difficult classes, I realized how strong and capable I am. Each milestone brought me one step closer to the finish line. Now, as I graduate, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. This journey has tested me, refined me, and shown me that perseverance and faith can overcome any obstacle. Walking across that stage will be more than a celebration of finishing a program. It will be a testament to the strength, love, and support that carried me line. Now is only the beginning, and I am ready for what’s next!

Steven John LeMaire

Air Force Veteran

Bachelor of Science in Military History

I started my journey with the military by joining the Army when I was 15 years old. I dropped out of high school and thought the Army would give me a home. Unfortunately, about one year later, I was discovered and discharged. I was able to reenter the military at 17 years old, but I joined the Air Force this time. I became a military police working dog handler and spent most of my time overseas. I was injured by a grenade blast during training, which damaged the tips of two of my fingers and my hearing.

While in the Air Force, I obtained my GED and some college credits for the military schools I attended. I was discharged at 21 and became a police officer in San Diego, California. As an officer, I was injured several times but was able to work my way up to being a detective, even with the little education I had. After retirement, I became a criminal investigator for the Nevada Attorney General’s Office in Las Vegas.

After I retired from the AG’s office. I decided to finally complete my education. I have always been interested in history and began my college career at Arizona State University. After my first semester, I began to look for a more traditional Christ-centered education and discovered Liberty University. I was immediately interested in their military history program, so I applied and was accepted as a student. With Liberty’s generous military and law enforcement incentives and using my VA benefits, I could attend at almost no cost to me. Going to LU was the best choice I could have made! The teachers are proactive with their students and enjoy what they do. I am now considering applying to Liberty for my master’s degree. It is an excellent school with great people! Thank you, Liberty University!

CPO David Cano, Ret.

Retired Navy Veteran

Master of Arts in Public Policy

When I walk that stage in May 2025, it will be the first time in my life that I wear a cap and gown for an academic-type commencement ceremony. I was a poor student in high school and was kicked out of Clark High School in San Antonio for excessive truancy. I earned my GED afterwards, and it was mailed to me. My celebration for that was a lunch date with my father, Armando, at a pizza buffet in February 1998. He went to be with the Lord in 2020. My undergrad was a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management from Southern Illinois University, and I also received it in the mail while I was deployed to Diego Garcia in 2018. I retired from active duty in August 2022 after a 21-year naval career as a Navy Chief Petty Officer, and I started this master’s program from Liberty University in January 2023 and completed it in December 2024. I’m convinced that a true educational experience is a lifelong journey of seeing how God can redeem and use everything we go through to teach us how to be strong, responsible, and productive citizens and faithful servants in his kingdom. Through my academic journey, God has been incredibly gracious and faithful, and I’m thankful for everything he has helped me through.

Victoria Darlene Williams

Army Spouse

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

My journey to graduation has been one of perseverance, purpose, and tribute. My late husband, Bernard I. Robertson, served as a Staff Sergeant, an Airborne Army Ranger in Vietnam. He endured the harsh realities of jungle warfare and the long-term health effects of Agent Orange exposure. Despite the physical and emotional toll, he came home and pursued a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and began working toward a master’s in Criminal Justice. He was just three classes shy of completing that degree when life took another turn. His parents became gravely ill with cancer, and he selflessly stepped in to care for them until their passing. With the added demands of full-time work and his health complications, finishing his degree became impossible. But his passion for education and working in the criminal justice field never faded. Years later, I found myself inspired to pick up where he left off, not by continuing his coursework directly, but by honoring the dream he did not get to finish. I began my master’s degree in Criminal Justice later in life, near the end of my career. There were countless nights I thought about quitting. Balancing a demanding job, maintaining a home, caring for the yard, and tackling the never-ending papers and research was overwhelming. But I kept going. I had a strong support system, family, friends, and one friend in particular, Marilyn Wilson, who walked this entire journey with me, every step of the way. My family and friends’ encouragement carried me through the hardest moments, and I will be forever grateful to them for believing in me. This degree is more than just a personal accomplishment. It is a tribute to my husband’s sacrifice and dedication, a symbol of resilience, and proof that it’s never too late to finish what was once started with love, faith, and determination. Pursuing a master’s degree takes courage, commitment, and a lot of strength. You are investing in your future and continuing to push your limits. You may encounter long nights, competing deadlines, and may doubt yourself at times. There will be moments when you look back and see how far you have come. You are capable, and you are where you need to be. Take one step at a time, remember to breathe, lean on your support system, and celebrate your wins. You’ve got this. The Lord will provide the strength you need.