When Marine Veteran Glenn Satterthwaite first heard about Troy University, it was decades ago. 

 “I remember being in the Marine Corps when they started encouraging us to take online college classes,” he recalled. “TROY was one of the names that came up.” 

Years later, life led him from Norfolk, Virginia, to Andalusia, Alabama, where a chance conversation at a local coffee shop rekindled that connection.  

“A local attorney and I were chatting one morning, and he said, ‘Just go to TROY — it’s right down the road.’ I looked into the Social Work program, met some incredible professors, and the rest fell into place,” Satterthwaite said. 

Now 37, Satterthwaite is a father of twins, a former law enforcement officer and industrial diver, and a student in Troy University’s Social Work Program. 

For Satterthwaite, the transition from active duty Marine to social work student has been about redefining identity and purpose. 

“In the military, we were taught to push through anything. Seeking mental health support just wasn’t an option,” he said. “After Iraq, I actually tried to go to psych, and they told me if I did, they’d have to start separation paperwork. It wasn’t until years later, when I sought help through the VA, that I met a clinical social worker who told me, ‘You could do this.’” 

That moment became a turning point. “I thought, how could I, as a patient, ever do what she did? But she explained that many of the best providers start as patients. They go through the process, heal, and then help others. That stuck with me.” 

One of the most influential figures in Glenn’s journey was his former instructor, Daniel Shae, a veteran himself who transitioned from military service to clinical mental health. 

 “He showed me what that path could look like,” Satterthwaite said. “It was powerful to see someone who had lived that experience and was now guiding others.” 

Satterthwaite says his time at TROY has helped him not only academically, but personally. 

 “One of my professors, Dr. Roboski, told me something that stuck: ‘There’s no such thing as an academic emergency.’ It sounds simple, but it changed everything,” Satterthwaite said. “As a Marine and a cop, everything was urgent. Learning to decompress and approach school with balance was a big step.” 

He’s also found TROY’s social work culture to be uniquely supportive. “This University really values connection and the professors don’t just teach, they mentor. They genuinely want to see you succeed.” 

Now interning with Covington County DHR, Satterthwaite has found new meaning in service through helping children and families. “People here truly put their values into action,” he said. “I’ve seen firsthand how deeply communities in South Alabama care for one another. That’s been really impactful.” 

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Satterthwaite plans to pursue his Master of Social Work at TROY.