military student feature one veterans journey to a degree

Around the World and Back: One Veteran’s Journey to a Degree

At Indiana Wesleyan University, we are forever grateful to the millions of servicemembers who have protected our freedom and made countless sacrifices on behalf of our country. We remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and we respect those who carry the weight of war with them.

In honor of Memorial Day, we’re proud to share the story of Command Sergeant Major E9 Steven Shepherd, a retired army veteran who served 35 years and traveled the world before earning his degree. This spring, he completed his associate degree in public service & management – and he even gave the commencement speech at his graduation. Today, he’s working on his bachelor’s degree and isn’t planning to stop until he earns his MBA. Here’s how he went from the army to the classroom.

After graduating from high school, Shepherd enlisted in the army immediately. He was stationed in Oklahoma, Alaska, and Kentucky before serving in Germany. “I was in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989,” he says. “That was an incredible experience. I still have a piece of the wall today.”

In the 90s, Shepherd took a break from the Army to stay in Europe. When he returned to the U.S., he enlisted in the Army National Guard. He found himself serving both at home and abroad in the wake of 9/11. He did peacekeeping tours in Kosovo and Bosnia, along with combat operations in Iraq. Back in the United States, he was part of response teams following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Shepherd retired from the military in 2020, and in June of 2021, a family tragedy reset his perspective. “I lost my younger brother to a 20-year battle with addiction,” says Shepherd. “His loss was one of those moments in life that made me think about my purpose. I go to church; I’ve toured ancient ruins in Philippi; I’ve seen soldiers baptized there. But I wanted to start taking a more personal approach to my faith.”

Before Shepherd retired, the military was his mission. After his brother’s death, he began looking for a new mission. “I started researching tons of colleges, but the connection just wasn’t there,” Shepherd says. “I was talking to administrators who weren’t veterans. They didn’t speak ‘the language’ or offer opportunities for me to put my military training toward degree credit.”

As Shepherd searched for the right fit, he stumbled across an ad for IWU. “When I reached out to connect, IWU was so responsive,” Shepherd recalls. “KC Haight [Executive Director of Military Relations] replied to me within 12 hours. Right away, it felt different. KC is a veteran, too, and he told me all about IWU’s programs.”

At 56 years old, Shepherd enrolled in his first college class. “I had some anxiety about starting college,” says Shepherd. “But my advisor framed everything for me and showed me how I could make the schedule work. The resources available to me were incredible.”

Shepherd specifically appreciates the way his classes allow him to integrate both his military experience and faith. “There’s always an experience from my life that I can connect to the concepts in my classes,” he says. “Plus, my classes always have a spiritual element, showing me how I can apply my faith to everything I do.”

Looking to the future, Shepherd is excited to earn his MBA through IWU and move on to the career opportunities ahead. He hopes to impact other veterans like himself. “I’ve fallen in love with IWU and what I’m doing with them,” he says. “I’d love to talk to soldiers who are retiring and help them make decisions about what’s next.”

Steven Shepherd is one of many veterans who have found the perfect degree program at IWU. We’re honored to be part of his story – and if you’re an active-duty servicemember or a veteran, we’d love to be part of yours. Learn about our military-specific programs and offerings here.


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