The transition from active duty to civilian life brings reflection and reinvention. UNLV's more than 2,350 enrolled military-affiliated students can find both academic and wellness resources that will empower them to rediscover both purpose and community as they take on their next mission — the classroom.

Resources like the Military & Veteran Services Center help service members translate years of leadership and discipline into new careers and opportunities.

Two such students in Lee Business School's MBA program — Samantha Kennedy and Colin Covitz — turned to graduate business education to help them bridge military experience with the demands of today’s business world.

Finding Purpose Beyond the Flight Line

Samantha Kennedy

MBA student 

After 14 years in the U.S. Air Force, Samantha Kennedy was used to clear expectations, constant movement, and the kind of purpose that comes with serving something bigger than yourself. She deployed to multiple war zones and later trained new airmen, experiences that shaped her ideas about leadership and resilience. 

When she left the military, the shift to civilian life was unexpectedly humbling. Much of her earlier education has been completed online while serving, so walking into a college classroom for the first time at age 33 felt unfamiliar. She initially struggled to adjust, unsure where she fit in and hesitant to connect with classmates who were years younger.

But as she began to open up, things changed. Kennedy found her footing through conversations with other students and faculty members who recognized her discipline and drive. “Once I dropped my guard, I found amazing people, lifelong friends, and mentors from my years at UNLV,” she says.

She chose UNLV because it offered what she was looking for: a strong veteran community, approachable professors, and an MBA program that would challenge her to think differently. More than that, she saw the degree as a bridge to her long-term goal — opening a small business that supports fellow veterans, animals, and minority-owned entrepreneurs in the Las Vegas Valley. The New Venture Management concentration in particular appealed to her entrepreneurial side. 

The contrast between military precision and business innovation has been transformative, Kennedy says. The Air Force had taught her structure; graduate school taught her creativity. Together, those experiences have shown her how to build something meaningful on her own terms.

Now, she hopes to use those lessons to launch her business and to encourage other veterans to pursue their higher education goals. “Use your benefits. Try something new. The hardest part is deciding to start. Once you do, you’ll find your people.” 

Translating Intelligence Into Insight

Colin Covitz

Dual MBA/MIS 

For more than a decade, Colin Covitz served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, leading teams of analysts and aircrew in support of combat operations.

“I joined to see the world and for the education benefits,” he says. “But after my first four years, I fell in love with the mission and stayed.”

His last assignment was with the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron, where he helped plan missions and manage training standards. His many years in service, he says, is what helped to shape how he leads and works with others.

“I’ve worked for some great leaders and some truly awful ones,” he says. “Both kinds teach you something, how to treat people, and how not to.”

When Covitz decided to pursue graduate school, UNLV’s dual MBA/MIS program immediately stood out, a blend of management and technology that matched both his analytical side and his leadership background.

“It’s rare to find a program that balances management with technology,” he says. “It’s exactly what I needed to build the next phase of my career.”

After graduation, Covitz plans to move to the Pacific Northwest and work in business intelligence or data analytics, combining operational insight with data-driven decision-making.

Outside of the classroom, he keeps his sense of service alive. He volunteers at a local cat shelter, mentors youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, and spends weekends designing custom furniture and playing tabletop games with friends. “You’ve got to find balance,” he says. “Service doesn’t stop; it just changes shape.”

He also hopes other veterans will make the most of the support available to them. “Take advantage of every program you can,” he says. “There’s so much help out there if you ask for it.”