Two UMGC alumnae highlight resilience and continued impact
June 12 marks Women Veterans Day, honoring women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and the impact they continue to make.
The day commemorates the 1948 signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which granted women the right to serve as permanent members of the U.S. military, though they have played vital roles in conflicts as early as the American Revolution. Today more than 2 million women veterans live in the U.S. and its territories.
Veterans like Ginger Miller ’12 and Jinjer Beza ’26 highlight that impact. They represent different stages of life after service while sharing a commitment to growth, leadership, and support for others.
Leadership beyond the uniform
Miller, a former boatswain’s mate in the U.S. Navy, has translated her service into sustained community impact. After earning a master’s degree in nonprofit and association management from University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), she founded the Women Veterans Interactive Foundation, which supports servicemembers navigating the transition to civilian life.
Miller’s journey reflects a key dimension of Women Veterans Day: service that evolves but does not end. She has also shared her story on UMGC’s Unstoppable Stories podcast, highlighting how education can support veterans as they transition to civilian careers and continue serving their communities.
From service to new beginnings
For Beza, who earned her bachelor’s in health services management in May 2026, the transition from active duty in the U.S. Navy to civilian life has been grounded in growth and reflection, aided by professors who understand—and in many cases have themselves lived—the military experience. As a new veteran, she describes her service not just as an achievement, but as a foundation for what comes next.
At first, Beza said, she was skeptical about the connections she would make at UMGC, since her classes were online and was pleasantly surprised by the close friendships she built as part of the UMGC experience.
“The community of women veterans and active-duty military members is a sisterhood that is unbeatable,” she said. “You learn so many life and networking skills that can make future planning easier.”
Ultimately, Beza’s proudest moment at UMGC was passing her capstone class, which, to her surprise, was led by a fellow former Navy corpsman, Adjunct Professor James Alexander, DBA, who spent 23 years in the Navy, beginning as a medic and advancing into health care administration.
While Beza and Miller represent different stages of a shared trajectory—one just beginning her post-service career, the other already having created a platform to support thousands—both show how women veterans can continue to lead through learning, resilience, and service to others.
Jinjer Beza ’26 BS, Health Services Management
For servicemembers exploring or transitioning to civilian careers, UMGC offers a range of resources and dedicated support, including one-on-one coaching, tuition savings, credit for military rank, and flexible online programs.
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