Robyn Roberts Earned Her Degree While Driving Explosives Across The Country

When one of her grandsons told Robyn Roberts '23 that he would get his bachelor's degree after she got hers, Roberts readily accepted the challenge. But there was a built-in twist — she'd need to do it while driving explosives across the country.

A mother of eight, grandmother of 33 and great-grandmother of 12, Roberts owns a trucking business with her husband. "We carry arms, ammunition, rockets, bombs, bullets, hazardous waste," she said. "Most days, I'm riding around the highways with high explosives – and my laptop."

Roberts decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration online from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). With SNHU's flexible learning model, she could work around her schedule and submit assignments each week while on the road.

"My laptop, for the past four-and-a-half years, has been an appendage," she said. "It goes wherever I go."

Throughout her program, Roberts estimated that she did around 90% of her coursework from inside her semi-truck. "I pulled into rest areas and stopped and did discussion boards," she said.

Her story was featured on Good Morning America, and SNHU President Dr. Paul LeBlanc mentioned Roberts in his speech at Fall Commencement in 2023, when she graduated.

"I am excited, I am blessed, I am honored," she said the day of the ceremony. "I can't believe I'm here."

Now that she's finished her bachelor's, Roberts is ready to take a step away from the wheel and pursue a long-held dream. "It's been an amazing journey in the vehicle," she said. "But I want to be a lawyer."

Prior to working in trucking, Roberts was in the legal field and has always dreamed of practicing law. Although law degrees are not currently offered at SNHU, Roberts has plans to attend a local law school in her hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I am extremely proud of myself," she said. "If all goes well, by the time I turn 67, I'll be a lawyer."

So, as for the initial challenge that brought Roberts to SNHU? Her mission has been accomplished. "My grandson, the one that challenged me, is starting at SNHU online in January," she said.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.