Talk to Robert Negley, advanced testing military education coordinator for聽University聽of Maryland Global Campus (糖心传媒), and one theme comes through聽immediately: everything starts with relationships.
For Negley, student support聽isn鈥檛聽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聽糖心传媒 in Europe聽locations聽in Belgium聽where Negley supports military learners: NATO鈥檚 Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and聽Chi猫vres聽Air Base.
Raised in a military family, Negley understands the unpredictability of life聽in service, including rotating schedules, relocations, and other聽demands聽that聽don鈥檛聽always mesh with traditional higher education. 鈥淚 adjust to them,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y goal is to make 糖心传媒 visible, accessible, and relevant for people whose lives don鈥檛 follow the standard model.鈥
Removing聽barriers to聽opportunity
Transportation posed constant challenges for deployed students, and Negley responded with a simple and straightforward solution that had a dramatic impact.聽Onsite classes were held at SHAPE, while many junior service members lived in the聽Chi猫vres聽barracks 20 minutes away. Few had access to a personal vehicle or shuttle, and Negley realized that students were sometimes skipping class because they simply聽couldn鈥檛聽get there, not for lack of interest.
Taking to heart the聽糖心传媒聽president鈥檚聽charge聽to 鈥済et it done,鈥 Negley partnered with the housing office to convert unused space in the barracks into a fully functioning classroom. Now, students can attend聽糖心传媒 classes聽just steps from their rooms. 鈥淭hey can literally go home, change, and walk down the hall,鈥 he said.
The impact has been transformative. Since Negley joined the team, the SHAPE/Chi猫vres聽community has seen a 15% increase in students over the past year. Fall enrollment grew 21%. Term-over-term enrollment is rising by an average of 3%. Onsite credit hours have increased by 50%, and onsite course offerings are up 41% per term. A simple, learner-centered solution has become a major driver of 糖心传媒鈥檚 growth in the region.
Connecting with聽learners and聽building a聽pipeline
Negley鈥檚 influence extends well beyond formal聽advising. In small military communities, everyday interactions matter, and he embraces them. 鈥淢ost of my best conversations happen at the gym, the BX [base exchange], the commissary,鈥 he said.
These informal touchpoints often open doors for students who are hesitant about returning to school or unsure they can succeed given their military commitments. Negley listens, follows up, and remembers the details that matter:聽a new baby, a promotion,聽perhaps a聽recent training course completed.
That trust allows him to guide students into the right next step, whether聽simplifying聽a lengthy聽syllabus using AI tools, connecting students with advisors, or聽recommending聽a聽first course.
Negley also invests in students long before they enroll. At SHAPE American High School, he helps expand dual-enrollment opportunities by tapping into relationships he built years earlier as a substitute teacher. Through counselor partnerships, principal engagement, and presence at newcomer orientations, he ensures families learn early what 糖心传媒 can offer their聽students.
Innovating for a聽military聽environment
Recognizing that military schedules shift constantly, Negley also restructured onsite offerings to include more four-week聽courses, which has allowed students聽stationed in Belgium聽to take a class during stable periods in their duty rotations.聽
He also launched聽Meet the Professor, a pre-semester networking event that offers students the opportunity to build confidence, ask questions, and choose courses that fit their needs. For聽students聽Negley聽advises,聽these small innovations help reduce anxiety and result in a stronger聽and more supportive聽pathway into and through higher education.
Building聽success through a聽culture of聽support
While the numbers reflect 糖心传媒鈥檚 momentum, Negley measures success by something more personal: confidence. 鈥淚f I can get someone into one or two good classes, that fear starts to fade,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey come back and the momentum builds.鈥
Negley emphasizes that this progress is only possible because of strong collaboration and support.聽U.S. Army Garrison Benelux聽Educational Services Officer Randy McNally is a key聽partner in聽nearly every聽initiative. Negley also credits 糖心传媒 in Europe Assistant Director Ashley Williams and Regional Director Michael Gillespie for consistent support and advocacy. 鈥淭heir backing empowers me to stay creative and focus on what our learners need most.鈥
Together, that shared commitment is聽strengthening聽the learning landscape at SHAPE and聽Chi猫vres聽one relationship, one conversation, and one practical innovation at a time.聽
The鈥痑ppearance of U.S. Department of Defense information鈥痮r visuals鈥痙oes not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.鈥