SNHU Spotlight: Lisa Rogers, BA in Anthropology Grad

Lisa Rogers ‘24 didn’t exactly have a typical college experience. From beginning to end, her path to Commencement took a total of 18 years.

“I started my degree in 2006, and I’ve now finished in 2024,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

She also earned her bachelor’s from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) while serving her country. “As of today, I’ve been an active-duty member of the United States Air Force for nine years,” she said at her Commencement ceremony in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Even though Rogers was studying from Nebraska, she wanted to go to a school from her home state of New Hampshire. So, she took a look at SNHU. 

“I saw that the tuition rate was really affordable, and I looked at the learning platform and it was really easy to use,” she said. “It was a very easy decision to make.”

She noted that SNHU also gave her the support she needed while serving. “I really do think Southern New Hampshire University understands what it’s like to be a military member,” she said. “My advisors knew that I was active duty, and they really helped me with the unique troubles that military members face.”

Rogers earned a bachelor’s in anthropology with a concentration in environmental sustainability. In the future, she said she hopes to work for the National Parks Service. “I think my concentration in environmental sustainability might help me get into that,” she said.

According to Rogers, her advisors regularly called and emailed her to check in. Her coursework also became a valuable outlet during this time. “Working on a degree kind of helps take focus off our busy lifestyle,” she said.

So, her message to others serving in the military? “My recommendation for other service members who are considering getting their degree is to just get started,” she said. “Get your foot in the door and take however much time you need.”

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. They're currently writing their debut novel, which was Longlisted for The First Pages Prize. Connect with them on LinkedIn.