From Uniform to Classroom: Ryan Longo’s Mission to Promote Public Health

Turning Service into Scholarship  

Ryan Longo’s journey began long before he enrolled at the University of Florida. He served as an infantry Marine in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, a post designed to respond quickly in times of crisis. “My experience taught me how to adapt, achieve and overcome the obstacles life throws at us,” he said. “That resilience was crucial for my success in higher education.”  

Longo’s decision to pursue a health education degree stemmed from his passion for helping others. “I saw firsthand the importance of health and wellness, not just for service members but also for their families and the broader community,” he said. “I wanted to turn my life’s mission from defending my country to promoting the well-being of its citizens. Health education felt like the most direct and impactful way to do that.”  

Embracing the UF Online Experience  

When Longo discovered UF Online, he found a program that fit his life, allowing him to pursue his degree while maintaining his responsibilities at home or at work. While flexibility enabled him to balance family life, professional obligations and community involvement, finding balance was challenging. A father of two when he started the program, Longo and his wife welcomed two more children during his studies, while both working full time. 

“It required a lot of discipline, late nights and a very understanding family,” Longo said.  

The online format allowed Longo to learn from home while still building connections with his professors and classmates. Dr. Kristina Garcia-Guettler, an instructional associate professor, appreciated Longo’s participation in three of her courses and his ability to put the curriculum into practice.   

“Ryan brought a unique perspective to the online classroom environment — one rooted in discipline, empathy, and a deep sense of responsibility,” she said. “He constantly looked for practical ways to apply what he was learning, whether that meant modeling healthy behaviors at home, engaging his family in wellness practices, or thinking critically about how to promote health within his broader community.”  

Longo encourages other student veterans and parents to explore earning a degree through UF Online. He found that strategic time management and open communication with professors are key to success.  

“Plan your study time, but also plan your family time and stick to it,” he said. “Communicate with your professors when you’re struggling and with your family about your workload…it’s a marathon, not a sprint, but it is achievable.”  

Garcia-Guettler hopes Longo’s example shows other online learners that “learning is most impactful when it’s personal and applied.”  

“Ryan reminds us that being an online learner doesn’t mean learning in isolation,” she said. “His example encourages others to bring their whole selves to the learning process — their background, their challenges, their goals — and use health education and health promotion as tools not just for career advancement, but for everyday growth and impact.”  

Looking Toward Public Health Leadership  

With his undergraduate degree complete, Longo is focused on the next chapter of his mission: promoting public health through UF’s Health Education and Behavior online master’s program. His long-term goal is to work in a senior public health position, designing programs that support veterans and communities on a broad scale. “The master’s degree will allow me to deepen my expertise and qualify for leadership roles where I can design and manage health education programs on a larger scale,” he said.  

Longo credits his professors and support staff for helping him succeed as an online student. “They provided an incredible amount of support that made it possible for a non-traditional student like me to succeed,” he said. His dedication and perseverance paid off when he graduated magna cum laude, a milestone he described as a shared victory with his family. “Seeing my four kids in the audience as I walked across the stage—that’s a memory I’ll cherish forever. It felt like I was showing them that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.”