Mother and Military Spouse Earns Magna Cum Laude Honors

For the First Time, Education Fit Into Her Life

For years, Karen McMullen’s path seemed set: a future in criminal justice, possibly in law enforcement. But life had other plans.

“I got my associate’s degree in California and completed the first phase of the Reserve Police Academy, earning my POST Level III Reserve Peace Officer Certificate,” McMullen recalls. “Then I found out I was pregnant with my son, and so at that time, becoming an officer was off the table. That felt like a detour, but it ultimately became the foundation for everything that followed.”

And what followed wasn’t a straight line, but a journey shaped by resilience and timing.

After entering the workforce, McMullen took a job at a bank and discovered her employer offered a tuition assistance program. She enrolled in a cybersecurity certificate program, but quickly realized it wasn’t enough.

“I realized I needed more. That wasn’t enough for my goals,” she says. “I reached a point in my life where I said, ‘You have no choice, you have to do it now,’” she explains. “It had been 17 years since I got my associate’s degree, and I knew my waiting period was over.”

That decision led her to Bellevue University through Guild, a leading education platform. Bellevue University is one of the schools in Guild’s academic network.

For the first time, education fit into her life—not the other way around. Bellevue’s online format made it possible to balance two jobs, motherhood and life as a military spouse. “I had never taken online classes, and I was terrified. But now that I’m older, learning this way works for me as it is convenient and flexible.”

A Support System That Made the Difference

A key part of McMullen’s success was the support she found at Bellevue, especially from her Student Coach, Val Henderson.

“Val was wonderful. She’s an amazing person who gets me. She understands me. Her constant communication and confidence in me made all the difference.”

Together, Karen and Val charted a path not just to graduation, but to excellence. With Henderson’s guidance, McMullen added a minor in Computer Information Systems and prepared to graduate with honors.

That support became even more critical when her husband’s military deployment required the family to relocate to Germany in November 2025.

“I was worried about whether I could keep going,” she says. “But again, Val assured me that being there and continuing in my classes would work.”

With help from Bellevue staff, early technical challenges were resolved, leaving only the adjustment to time zone differences.

“Throughout my journey, everyone—from my family to my student coach to my professors had this mindset of ‘we are getting this degree together.’ Of course, my biggest supporter has been my husband. His encouragement and unwavering belief meant everything.”

Earning her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and graduating magna cum laude holds academic significance, but for McMullen, the honors she earned were deeply personal, as well.

“I want to go to law school, so yes, GPA matters,” she says. “But personally, it means something more.”

She reflects on earlier setbacks, including being placed on academic probation in community college. “When I came to Bellevue, I told myself, ‘You made mistakes before, but you can be as close to perfect as you want to be now.’ This was personal. I wanted to make up for the past.”

Although Karen had made the Dean’s List throughout her time at BU, she didn’t realize she had earned magna cum laude honors until the day of commencement.

“I was sitting there and saw it, and I was so excited. I took pictures in my chair and sent them to my family,” says McMullen. “After the ceremony, I kept my graduation cap on. I kept looking at myself and saying, ‘You are superwoman. You did it. Magna cum laude.’”

A Season of Milestones

Graduation came during a remarkable season in her life.

“My son graduated high school this month, I graduated this month, and I’m pregnant with another child,” she shares. “My husband and I will be returning to Germany soon. It’s been a wonderful few years.”

She is also the first among her siblings to earn a college degree. “I’m one of seven kids, and I’m the first to get my degree.”

Her accomplishment is already inspiring others. Shortly after graduation, her older brother became emotional, sharing that her success is motivating him to return to school and finish his own degree.

As for her, she’s more committed than ever to her goal to help victims in the criminal justice system.

“My passion is connected to domestic violence advocacy and helping individuals and families who have experienced abuse, trauma, and injustice,” she explains. As she looks toward law school, she wants to advocate for victims, strengthen legal protections and drive meaningful reform.

Her Success Is ‘Right on Time’

Reflecting on her education and career journey, McMullen emphasizes that success doesn’t follow a single timeline.

“School is not for everyone at a certain time,” she says. “It has to be in your time. It doesn’t matter your age or life circumstances, but you can do it when the time is right. I returned to school 16 years later at 39 years old and finished at 40. Don’t allow your age to determine your destiny. Instead, use it as a multiplier to achieve greatness.”

Finding that time also meant finding the right place. “I’m so thankful I found the right institution for me. I had gone to other schools, and they didn’t fit. Bellevue did. I didn’t give up on my goals, I just found somewhere better to accomplish them.”

When that moment came, she didn’t just finish, she excelled – as a mom, military spouse, college graduate and magna cum laude honoree.