Student Spotlight

Antonio Kiefer

Emory, TX

From High School Dropout to Earning Multiple Degrees

Antonio Kiefer (MSM expected '25, MSHS '21, MSCJ '20, BSCJ '21, ASCJ '10)'s education journey, from being a high school dropout to earning multiple degrees, is a testament to his resilience, determination, and the impact of the University of Management and Technology (UMT).

His pursuit of higher education began while he was on Active Duty in 2009. Encouraged by fellow service members who had successfully balanced their studies with military life, he decided to explore UMT's programs. "Other online colleges I had tried were harder to navigate and didn't fit my schedule," Antonio recalled. "Being Active Duty, deployed, married, and raising my children made it challenging, but UMT made it possible."

Antonio, who lost his parents at a young age and left high school at 15 to work and support himself, was determined to rewrite his future after he and his wife experienced the heartbreaking loss of a pregnancy. After earning his high school diploma online at the age of 23, he began his college journey. However, the road wasn't always smooth. In 2013, after 10 years of service and 3 deployments to Afghanistan, Antonio was medically retired from the U.S. Navy. "I faced a lot of medical challenges and felt lost after retirement," he shared. "But thanks to UMT and my degree in criminal justice, I was able to secure a new job immediately." In March 2013, just one month after retiring, Antonio was hired by the State of Texas as a U.S. Marshal, working in the Office of Violent Sex Offender Management (OVSOM). His criminal justice degree laid the foundation for his new career, and his passion for learning didn't stop there. Over the years, he went on to earn three master's degrees in multiple fields.

Antonio praised the exceptional support he received from the university, noting how the communication and guidance from UMT personnel made the registration process seamless. He also appreciated the user-friendly platform, which provided easy access to coursework and resources, making studying more manageable. Most importantly, the flexibility of the program allowed him to complete assignments and exams at his own pace, enabling him to balance his studies with the demands of military service and family life.

Antonio also acknowledges the evolution of UMT's academic processes over the years to better serve students. "When I started in 2009, most exams and assignments had to be submitted via mail, email, or fax—it was very time-consuming. Since then, UMT has come leaps and bounds further than I could have Imagined 15 years ago, making it easier for students to succeed."

His extraordinary journey is best summarized in his own words: "I grew up extremely poor, lost my parents as a kid, and had to drop out of school to survive. I worked at Walmart from 14 to 21 and only joined the military after my wife and I lost our pregnancy. I had no diploma, no clear career path, and many unforeseen obstacles, but thanks to the U.S. Navy and UMT, I came home to a great career and never had to beg for a job again."

"I can proudly call myself a college graduate. Thanks to the full support of my wonderful wife and two daughters, one of which is currently serving in the U.S. Airforce, stationed in Washington DC; I was able to focus on my education. Thank you, UMT, for giving me the opportunity to improve my life."


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