In celebration of the experiences and sacrifices of those who have served our country, NAU is hosting Veterans Week events from November 6–11.
Most events take place on NAU’s Flagstaff campus, with live broadcasts available for our online, statewide, and community Lumberjacks who cannot attend in person.
Kass Robinson is one of many student veterans with a unique journey at NAU. Please join us in thanking him and his NAU student veteran peers for their service.
Name: Kass Robinson
Major: BS Political Science
Hometown: Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Graduation: Spring 2023
Military service: United States Marine Corps, 2012–2020, in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Japan, and more
What brought you to NAU?
I discovered NAU around 2015 as I was considering separating from the USMC. I wished to move to Arizona specifically and felt this university would be a great fit. It was military friendly but also seemed like a place that welcomed views from varied backgrounds and could serve as an institution to become a more well-rounded individual overall.
How has the Veteran and Military Services office supported you?
It is a platform that allows me, as a student employee, to help other students transition to higher education from the military. It is also a means to personally remain in contact with people with similar experiences.
What is unique about being a veteran and a student?
Personally, I feel it hurts and helps an individual to be a veteran in higher education. On the one hand, it is sometimes difficult to remain patient with others, and it is easy to fall into the trap of “they could not possibly understand what I have been through,” leading some of us to lack sympathy for the experiences of fellow students. It is drilled into us to act boldly even when in doubt, which can sometimes lead to unwarranted overconfidence. However, it also never fails to be a reminder that despite the worst challenges one may experience pursuing a degree, nothing is quite as bad as it seems. No one is getting hurt, and the latest of nights ends in relative comfort. Nothing can replace that feeling.
What has your NAU experience been like?
Northern Arizona University exceeded my expectations. Every day I feel I truly learn something new or experience a different perspective. The university facilitates the pursuit of knowledge in a way likely unmatched by larger institutions.
What are your plans after graduation?
My goal after NAU is to attend the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU. My hope is to become a public defender and eventually move on to private practice as an attorney.
Has NAU helped prepare you to reach your career and life goals?
I cannot stress enough how hearing different perspectives from students to faculty enhances my abilities overall. I feel it simultaneously promotes introspection while increasing understanding and compassion for others. The sense of community at this school cannot be bought or found in a textbook, and I will remain forever grateful for experiencing what this place has to offer in that respect.
Have you found particular support from a faculty or staff member?
While several individuals have contributed to my growth, there is no doubt that Professor Andrew Dzeguze, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Politics and International Affairs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, has served as my premier mentor while I pursue my higher education. A tough but fair taskmaster, he never ceases to push students to the best of their abilities. He is always available to ensure that we gain understanding of the subject matter. From a personal standpoint, he is the one that guides my thoughts back onto pertinent matters and never fails to throw out a much-needed lifebuoy when I find myself beyond my depth in the ocean that is public policy, law, and politics.
Is NAU a good college choice for student veterans?
NAU is a great transition point for veterans. A welcoming and familiar environment for most of us is balanced with one that challenges us to explore others.
What have you done at NAU that you’re most proud of?
Finding opportunities to help others. Interning at the public defender’s office, a peer TA position, my work at Veteran and Military services, etc.
Has anything in your NAU experience been life-changing?
My time during a study abroad in Spain forced me to live a different lifestyle than I normally would. It showed me the value of taking time to break the cycle we find ourselves in from time to time of a never-ending chase for success. It is good to appreciate the small things every now and then.
What would you say to encourage another vet to consider NAU?
There is opportunity to better yourself if you are willing to seek it out—more than you may realize. NAU has certainly done that for me. If I can do it, I assure you that you can as well.
Want to learn more about veterans at NAU? Read our Q&A session with Mechanical Engineering major Uriah Whitaker, a US Army veteran who served from 2004–2011.
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