Middlesex College Helps Navy Veteran Set Sail to Success

After living in a structured environment for 13 years, transitioning back to civilian life can be disorienting for many veterans. For Ricardo Nazaire ‘24, civilian life meant returning to his education with a renewed focus on his goals.

“Regardless of which branch you served under, I believe the military has given us all a solid foundation for whatever we are looking to achieve,” said Nazaire.

Nazaire served in the United States Navy for 13 years. Prior to joining the Navy, Nazaire briefly attended Middlesex College looking for a path to the future. Once he returned home, he made it a priority to continue his education.

“It was important to me to finish what I started at Middlesex College after my transition,” said Nazaire.

This is not to say that this change was easy—Nazaire notes that maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a full-time student with a family was quite the challenge. But the Navy taught him the importance of time management, networking, and being resourceful. One resource that Nazaire took full advantage of in his time at Middlesex College was the Veterans Services office.

“Learning alongside fellow veterans and dependents in the student veterans lounge made for memorable experiences at Middlesex College,” said Naziare. “But I easily owe the most to Middlesex College’s Veteran Services administrators. People like Yovanka Rajkovic and Michelle Rubio Rincon, coordinating with VA representatives, made me aware of all the support resources available to students like me”.

Outside of the Veterans Services office, Nazaire participated in various activities on campus including the Blue Colt Radio, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and the National Society of Leadership and Success. In December ’24, he earned his associate degree in communications and media studies, and graduated with a 3.9 GPA.

“As a veteran, there are many things that you have already accomplished, so using that same proactive mindset at Middlesex College will take you a long way,” said Nazaire.

Nazaire is currently studying communications with a specialization in media and film at Kean University. He is already an accomplished author and plans to use his education to continue writing as well as helping others produce their own content.

More about Middlesex College Veterans Services

Middlesex College is nationally recognized for providing a comfortable environment for military veterans to further their education and assist with a transition back to civilian life. The College’s Veterans Service Center is located in West Hall to help student veterans manage their education benefits, explore vocations, locate community resources, and more. To learn more, visit the Middlesex College Veterans Services page.