March 18, 2026

Luke Hixson ’25 is driven to serve. His journey began as a medic in the Marine Corps and continues today as a student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Princeton helped him bridge the gap in between, preparing him for the rigors of medical training — at no cost to him. Share Luke’s story.

Princeton has a long tradition of engagement with the U.S. military and is proud to have active-duty members of the military, reservists, veterans and their families as part of the University community. The Princeton Graduate School has been a dedicated partner in the professional and intellectual education of the military’s rising leaders, as is our Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. Our commitment has grown in recent years with the establishment of an undergraduate transfer program focused on attracting and supporting veterans and community college students.

• Princeton recruits and supports veterans as undergraduate students through its transfer and veteran programs, which currently support more than 100 undergraduate student veterans on campus. The University recruits veterans through partnerships with Service to School, the Warrior-Scholar Project, and the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Emma Bloomberg Center for Access & Opportunity provides mentorship and support to these students during their time at Princeton.
• The Princeton graduate student body proudly includes active-duty service members, reservists, veterans and their families. These students bring valuable experience and perspectives to the University community, and leave Princeton even better prepared to serve.
• Princeton’s ROTC has trained generations of military leaders of character and commitment since 1919. Today, Princeton students participate in Army, Air Force and Navy ROTC programs and commission as officers in the U.S. military upon graduation.
• Princeton scholars pursue research that contributes to national security and diplomacy, including projects identified as priorities and funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Hadi Kamara is a first-generation college student and veteran who served three years in the Air Force as a C-130 crew chief before enrolling in community college. At Princeton he inspired his peers and professors and earned a Rhodes Scholarship, which will enable him to continue his studies at the University of Oxford in the fall. Kamara’s interest in international affairs began in the midst of an international crisis in 2021 when he was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He and a group of junior enlisted airmen were awoken in the middle of the night to begin building a makeshift city that would house 30,000 Afghan evacuees after the withdrawal of U.S. troops and allies from Afghanistan.

• Four students reflect on how their military service led them to the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) and how Princeton will enhance their service careers.
• With 15 years in the Marines and a Purple Heart to his name, Shaun Cason came to Princeton in 2019 as a distinguished military leader. A husband and father of two, Cason thrived and was named a Sachs Scholar, one of Princeton’s highest awards, to support a master’s at the University of Oxford.
• After five years of service in the Marine Corps and two associate degrees, Ridge Jaco transferred to Princeton, bringing his wife and two young daughters. After graduation this spring, Jaco aims to serve the veteran community in a center similar to the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity.

• U.S. Navy veteran Jacob Shapiro, professor of political science and international affairs, shares how university research and training underpin U.S. national security in this Stand Up video.
• Authors of a Washington Post op-ed argue that the civil-military-academic ecosystem is the foundation of American geopolitical power. Read the story, “Why U.S. military officers need to go to Harvard. And Columbia. And …”.

Online
TigerSide Chats are virtual conversations in which the Princeton community hears directly from faculty and administrators.

March 19, 4:30 PM ET
Tune in for “Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right” featuring President Eisgruber in conversation with Gadi Dechter, the University’s vice president for communications and government affairs.

April 8, 4:30 PM ET
What makes Bob Dylan not just a great musician, but also a defining voice of modern America? Hear from Sean Wilentz, the George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History, who will present “Bob Dylan in America.”

Coming to NYC: April 16
At this final “Forward and Beyond” all-alumni event, President Eisgruber will share the successes of the Venture Forward campaign and what’s next for Princeton. Alumni can purchase a copy of the president’s new book, get it signed, and end the evening with a fun reception where they can take Stand Up portraits with friends! Check out registration details and see recaps of previous events from around the world.

Stand up for Princeton by participating in this year’s Annual Giving Forward Together March Challenge. It’s a special opportunity for Tigers of every stripe to come together and support Princeton students today and for generations to come. Because of budget uncertainties associated with federal funding, the University will need to draw even more heavily on Annual Giving and other sources. Every gift counts, and the first $50 of your gift during the month of March will be matched dollar for dollar.

How are you standing up?

Share your success stories with us and we’ll feature them in future editions of this newsletter. Email us at standup@princeton.edu.

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