Liberty graduate earns degree in honor of late husband, a Vietnam veteran and former Virginia State Police officer

When Liberty University graduate Victoria Williams (’25) crossed the graduation stage to receive her Master of Science in Master of Science in Criminal Justice, she not only fulfilled her dreams but also those of her late husband, Airborne Army Ranger Staff Sgt. Bernard I. Robertson.

Williams, a deputy director of human resources for the Virginia State Police in Chesterfield, Va., said her husband earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology after he returned home from the Vietnam War. He started his master’s in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and with only three classes left until graduation, he decided to postpone his education to care for both of his parents who were battling cancer.

Williams and Robertson met through their work with the Virginia State Police; Robertson served 30 years with the agency before retiring in 2004. He died in 2016 from cancer and health complications caused by the long-term effects of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Williams said she was always inspired by her husband’s selfless story of serving his country, pursuing a degree after enduring the harsh realities of jungle warfare and health problems from his time in service, and in caring for his family when they needed him most, and even though she was toward the end of her career, she wanted “to pick up where he left off by honoring the dream he did not get to finish.”

“This degree is more than just a personal accomplishment,” she said. “It is a tribute to my husband’s sacrifice and dedication, a symbol of resilience, and proof that it is never too late to finish what was once started with love, faith, and determination.”

After conversations with a coworker, mentor, and good friend Capt. Marilyne Wilson, who was a Liberty alumna, Williams began classes through Liberty University Online Programs in 2022. She said it wasn’t easy as she balanced her studies, a full-time job, and all of her other responsibilities. But she felt empowered by the dreams of her late husband and received constant encouragement from her loved ones.

“There were countless nights I thought about quitting,” she said. “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 … my family and friends’ encouragement carried me through the hardest moments, and I will be forever grateful to them for believing in me.”

Williams, who has spent 25 years working in public safety, said she was drawn to LU primarily for its mission of Training Champions for Christ.

“Liberty has a really good reputation; they seem to really care about their students,” she said. “Every time I had to (contact) Liberty with any kind of issue or I wasn’t sure about something … the people couldn’t have been any nicer, and they were just awesome to deal with. So, I give kudos to the staff there. They seem like they enjoy their jobs and really live the mission of the university. The experience was just great.”

As the spouse of a veteran, Williams attended Liberty’s Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony held in the Thomas Road Baptist Church Worship Center on Thursday morning, where more than 7,000 military-affiliated graduates (service members, veterans, and military spouses), including nearly 2,500 active-duty service members, were honored.

Like many graduates who earn their degrees through Liberty University Online Programs — 26,591 in the Class of 2025 — Williams’ trip to LU for Commencement was the first time she had visited campus.

She said her time at Liberty has better equipped her for her current administrative work with the Virginia State Police, which boasts a workforce of around 3,100 employees.

“My education helps me understand the public safety aspect of my job a little bit better,” she said. “It helped me understand the different technologies and terms in law enforcement. I took a lot of interesting classes. Really opening up and broadening my scope and learning new things was helpful.”