Faces of Global: Debra Rapozo

Key Takeaways

Hear from CSU Global alumni and former president of our Student Veterans Organization chapter, Debra Rapozo, on her student experience! Debra graduated from CSU Global in 2025 with her bachelor’s degree in business management, and a specialization in operations and supply chain management.

Finding My Way Back—And Forward

There was a time when going back to school felt less like a goal and more like a question: Could I actually do this?

I was a mom of two young kids, trying to rediscover who I was after some personal challenges. Life didn’t pause to make room for college—and honestly, traditional college just didn’t fit into my life anymore. Online learning wasn’t just an option… it was the only way I could succeed.

But I didn’t just want classes, I wanted connection. I wanted to feel like I belonged somewhere again.

I had tried other colleges before, both online and in person, but nothing felt right. In fact, it took three different schools and four separate attempts before I found the right fit. And even then, it wasn’t easy. There was a hiccup getting transcripts from my very first school, which added another layer of challenge to an already complicated journey.

CSU Global now helped complete that journey.

What made the difference wasn’t just the program, it was a conversation. My enrollment counselor didn’t treat me like a number. She listened, she genuinely cared, and she stayed with me every step of the way. That mattered more than I can put into words.

From my home in Grand Junction, Colorado, I began working toward my Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a specialization in Operations and Supply Chain Management. I officially graduated in June 2025, but something was unfolding behind the scenes before that.

When I first enrolled, my background was in hospitality and finance. I also come from a military family, so supporting veterans and service members has always been close to my heart. During my time at CSU Global, I joined the Student Veteran Organization, and just one month later, I became its president, serving from June 2020 to September 2021.

For an online school, that sense of community was incredible, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Student Veterans of America chapters across the country were transitioning to virtual environments. Our SVO became a place of connection, and I was later invited to speak at NatCon about how our chapter found success in that space. That experience gave me purpose, connection, and leadership skills I didn’t even realize I would need later.

Because life shifted again.

During my time in school, I became a military caregiver to my husband.

Suddenly, I wasn’t just balancing school, work, and motherhood. I was navigating an entirely new reality. And through it all, CSU Global showed up for me. Many professors and my last student success counselor worked with me, supported me, and made it possible for me to keep going when things felt overwhelming.

Did everything go perfectly? No.

Did I get every grade I hoped for? Also no.

But I finished.

And that matters.

Since graduating, doors have opened in ways I never expected. There are specific classes that still stick with me today—Principles of HR Management, Applying Leadership Principles, Principles of Management, Leadership in Operations Management, and Foundations of Emergency Management—all of which I proudly highlight on my resume.

While I have stepped away from returning to the hotel industry for not, I stepped into something even more meaningful. I now run a nonprofit serving veterans in Mesa County, providing service dog support—something that began because my own husband needed a PTSD service dog, and those resources simply didn’t exist locally. Collar of Duty is dedicated to pairing rescue puppies and dogs with veterans and providing the training needed for those dogs to become service animals, supporting independence and improving quality of life for those who have served.

In October 2025, I was honored as the Grand Junction Lion’s Club Hometown Hero and named an Honored Listee in Marquis Who’s Who for 2025–2026 in November. Those recognitions are meaningful, but what matters most is the impact and the lives we’re able to support.

If I could give advice to anyone considering going back to school, especially through CSU Global, it would be this:
You don’t need perfect timing.

You don’t need a perfect plan.

You just need to start.

Because sometimes, the path you’re trying to find… is the one you create along the way.

We love hearing from our students and learning more about their personal CSU Global experiences. We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us!