Strengthening Military Student Success in Europe

Talk to Robert Negley, advanced testing military education coordinator for University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), and one theme comes through immediately: everything starts with relationships.

For Negley, student support isn't a set of transactions; it is a daily practice built on presence, trust, and connection. That people-first approach, paired with practical innovation, is driving real momentum at two UMGC in Europe locations in Belgium where Negley supports military learners: NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and Chièvres Air Base.

Raised in a military family, Negley understands the unpredictability of life in service, including rotating schedules, relocations, and other demands that don't always mesh with traditional higher education. "I adjust to them," he said. "My goal is to make UMGC visible, accessible, and relevant for people whose lives don't follow the standard model."