Nov. 5, 2025
Contact: diedrichs@missouri.edu
Photos courtesy of Iris Cruz
U.S. Air Force Captain Iris Cruz only settles for the best. That’s why she chose the University of Missouri — a Military Friendly® School with Gold Award status and home to the nation’s top-ranked online programs.
As a 17-year member of the U.S. Air Force stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, Cruz was looking to sharpen her skills and advance her nursing education. She wanted a university that supported service members and veterans and offered an online program that was not only well-respected but also academically rigorous and flexible.
Her search led her to Mizzou Online where she’s now pursuing a doctor of nursing practice with an emphasis in family nurse practitioner degree (DNP-FNP).
“I focused on top-ranked graduate nursing programs, Yellow Ribbon schools and institutions that supported military veterans,” Cruz said. “Mizzou stood out as one of the top military-friendly schools. I even joined a Facebook group for military nurses to ask where others had gone, and many recommended Mizzou.
“On top of that, it’s an SEC school, and I love football,” she said, noting that she watches the Tigers when she can. “Everything just clicked. I knew Mizzou was the school for me.”
A path that led to Mizzou
As a teen, Cruz dreamed of a career in health care, but the cost of an education felt out of reach.
Then she met an Air Force recruiter who changed everything.
“My parents told me we could take out loans to help pay for college, but I didn’t want them to go into debt for my education,” she said. “After I met the recruiter, I decided to enlist just long enough to earn the GI Bill and go to college.”
But once she joined, Cruz discovered she enjoyed the opportunities the Air Force offered. She earned an associate degree in applied science with an emphasis in information management from the Community College of the Air Force and later earned her commission through the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP), obtaining a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of West Florida. She also completed a cosmetic injector and laser certification through the National Laser Institute. Last year, she added another achievement to her resume, becoming a legal nurse consultant training through the University of Georgia.
Cruz is currently serving as a flight nurse — helping transport patients all over the world —while pursuing her doctorate.
“I enlisted to get an education, to build a career in health care and to avoid student debt,” Cruz said. “I’ve gained so much more than I ever expected. And now I’m attending Mizzou, an SEC school. All these opportunities were there, all I had to do was take them.”
Mizzou stands out
With more than 185 degrees and certificates at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Mizzou Online delivers the same world-class education students receive on campus. Ranked the No. 1 best online college in the nation by Niche.com, a leading college search platform, Mizzou Online also provides students with access to libraries, tutors, academic coaching and other resources that support success.
“The flexibility of the program has allowed me to balance my academic goals with my Air Force duties, even while traveling and deploying,” Cruz said. “The faculty at Mizzou’s Sinclair School of Nursing have been incredibly supportive and understanding of the demands of military life. They’ve gone out of their way to accommodate short-notice missions and deployments, making it possible for me to stay on track and succeed academically.”
Equally meaningful to Cruz is Mizzou’s recognition as a Military Friendly School, earning Gold Award status on the Military Friendly Survey, which is based on both public data sources and responses to a survey that assesses the university’s services to help military-connected students and their families. Mizzou has also been named a 2025–2026 Military Spouse Friendly School, marking the first time the university has received both distinctions. Additionally, Mizzou is designated a Purple Heart University in recognition of the university’s support for military members, including veterans and their families. The achievements have not gone unnoticed.
“It was important to me that faculty understand the demands of being in the military,” Cruz said. "When I had a short-notice task to deploy overseas, I informed my professors that I had to leave in less than 72 hours. Mizzou worked quickly to adjust my schedule so I could continue my studies without interruption. They knew how to work with me because they’ve already worked with others overseas.”
A place for military-connected students
Keith Glindemann, director of Mizzou’s Student Veterans Resource & Support Center, and his team are dedicated to supporting veterans and military-connected students through comprehensive services, advocacy and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Located in Memorial Union, the center gives student veterans space to socialize, study and access resources as they transition from the military to academia. For online military-connected students, Glindemann and his staff offer support through Zoom sessions, emails and phone calls.
“Day in and day out, we work to create a truly military-friendly environment at Mizzou, not just in words, but through our deeds,” he said. “From attracting service members to our school, to welcoming them on campus, to supporting them throughout their time here, we strive to ease their burdens and help them feel at home. We want to be part of their journey, through the good times and the hard ones.”
Cruz deeply appreciates the support she’s received from Mizzou. She’s been taking two courses each semester and is on track to graduate in May 2028, the same year she will retire from the military after 20 years of service. Afterwards, she plans to settle in Las Vegas and use her advanced degree to open a health and wellness medical spa.
“I never imagined I’d be where I am today,” Cruz said. “I always knew I wanted to work in the health care field, but I didn’t realize nursing would be my path or that I’d go back to a school like Mizzou to earn my doctoral degree. Looking back, it’s a bit surreal to think, ‘Wow, you really did that.’ I’m so grateful I chose Mizzou. It has made balancing my military duties and education possible.”
About Mizzou Online
The University of Missouri (Mizzou) has invested heavily in online education since launching its online learning platform in 2012. Mizzou Online has since become a leader in online education, delivering the same world-class education students expect. Students have access to an ever-growing catalog of degree and certificate programs. Each of these programs opens doors for the curious to explore opportunities and experiences that will elevate their careers and empower them to excel.
