By John Robert Morton, Student and Alumni Affairs Liaison, and Jose and Maria Diaz, AMU Alumni
Every parent wants to see their children be successful in life, and many strive to pave that path through the example of getting a good education. For American Military University (AMU) alumnus Jose Diaz, his example was passed down to his daughter, Maria, who earned her own degree at AMU.
Early Foundations in Education
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Jose Diaz’s grandmother played a pivotal role in shaping his love for education. Jose’s grandmother was a rural teacher in a low-income sector of Puerto Rico and became the model he wanted to follow in life.
“She built the base of who I am now,” Jose says. Her commitment to education instilled in him a passion for learning and service, values that he later passed on to his own family.
Maria Diaz was also born in Puerto Rico, but she moved frequently after her father joined the U.S. Army. Growing up in a military family gave her the opportunity to experience different cultures and countries at a young age, an experience that inspired her to enlist in the U.S. Air Force after high school.
Following her military service, Maria began working as a career services specialist at a Texas A&M University satellite campus. It was there that she discovered her own love for education.
Getting Started While Serving
Both Jose and Maria started their education by taking advantage of educational benefits while serving in the Air Force.
Jose earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management information systems from Inter-American University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. He also holds a master’s in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Universidad Metropolitana. Later, he chose to pursue another lifelong goal: completing a bachelor’s degree in human resource management with AMU.
Maria earned her associate degree in information systems security from the Community College of the Air Force before transferring to AMU for her bachelor’s degree in human resource management. Now, she is pursuing a master’s degree in higher education administration.
“I decided to continue going to American Military University because it’s a university that is truly meant for working students. I love that I can complete assignments from anywhere, at any time of the day,” she says.
For both Jose and Maria, their education helped them to transition from military to civilian life more easily.
Helping Others
Both Jose and Maria have chosen to pursue career paths that involve helping others. Jose, who spent 14 years in military human resources, is passionate about using his HR experience to help others grow professionally.
Maria wants to use her education to help improve people’s lives. “I started working in an administrative role in the military. Receiving an education and wanting to learn is highly important to me, especially because I am bilingual. Not only have I learned new things related to my field through research, but I’ve also learned how to have intellectual conversations and improve my vocabulary,” she says.
The Diaz family’s legacy of learning continues to grow, fueled by a shared belief in the transformative power of education.
Advice for Future Students
Jose credits his military experience and education – as well as dedication to his goals – to his success. “Combine military service and education with a civilian career. Don’t give up!” he advises.
Maria emphasizes the value of honest, open communication. “Always be honest in giving and receiving feedback. That helps me to have meaningful and constructive discussions with my peers,” she notes.
“I had the chance to get into the school at the same time my daughter did. If I have the chance to do it again, I will look forward to continuing my education with AMU,” Jose says.
For Maria, studying alongside her father created a unique and supportive learning experience. “Being able to bounce ideas off each other helped us grow within our degree programs,” Maria observes.
The Diaz family’s story is a testament to AMU’s commitment to lifelong learning and a reminder that education can truly span generations.
About the Author
John Robert Morton is a Student & Alumni Affairs Liaison and has been with the University for 16 years. His bachelor’s degree in European history is from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He also completed master’s degrees in political science and sports management from American Military University. As a liaison, John Robert enjoys helping students and alumni achieve their personal and professional goals.
About Our Department
The AMU and APU Alumni Affairs Office is dedicated to sustaining lifelong relationships with university alumni by providing engaging opportunities to stay involved and connected. We work closely with various stakeholders to strengthen the alumni experience and offer numerous benefits, services, activities, and events throughout the year.
As a team, the Alumni Affairs team works to build and sustain relationships with alumni along their personal and professional journeys. We actively look for ways to recognize and showcase alumni, telling their stories to motivate and encourage students to pursue their goals.
If you are an alumni community member and looking for ways to remain actively involved, please get in touch with alumni@apus.edu and speak with a team member.
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