Sheila McNeill has passionately served and protected her country for more than 20 years as a member of the Army National Guard stationed at McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. At 56 years old, with retirement in sight next year, she is ready for her next career challenge.
Earning a Master’s in Integrative Health from Georgian Court University solidified her lifelong interest in holistic healing and helped her chart a clear path for her future. “In high school, I started sprouting — growing nutrient-packed seeds — and brewing my own kombucha, a healthful tonic packed with vitamins and minerals. I intuitively dabbled in holistic health, even though I didn’t know it had a name at the time,” McNeill says.
As the years went by, she gained certifications in forest bathing, sound healing and yoga, but it was training to become a Reiki Master (III) that led her to Georgian Court. “During my Reiki training I met some people who told me about an amazing program run by Dr Komagata Sachiko at Georgian Court, so I met her and that was it,” she says, adding, “The universe had been giving me hints all my life and I finally listened and realised this is what I was meant to do.”
McNeill’s dream is to start a wellness business, and her education and experiences at Georgian Court have set her on that path. “The curriculum is excellent and the professors are always on point. The program is well-rounded and introduces you to different techniques that you didn’t even know existed. It really opens up the world.”
In addition to her academic research, McNeill also participated in the university’s annual health fair, where this year she presented her research on “mindful munching.” The study looked at improving people’s relationship with food in order to reduce stress and increase health and well-being. “The six-week study inspired people to make better food choices, and some of the participants are still eating more fruits and vegetables, so it appears to have made a lasting change,” she explained.
Georgian Court University was one of the first universities in the country to offer a graduate-level Holistic Health degree (now called Integrative Health) and was the first to offer this type of program 100% online.
As an active duty military member, being able to take her graduate degree program online was a game changer. “I was deployed to Kuwait in 2020-2021 and took two classes online. I then had to take a year off, but was able to easily resume my studies in the fall of 2022,” she said, adding, “The professors have been incredibly supportive and the university is very military friendly, which makes a big difference.”
Her commitment to the military and desire to help others led her to become president of the National Student Veterans Association-GCU chapter on campus, where she revitalized the chapter and worked with Dr. Joshua Barnes, Director of Military and Veterans Services and Outreach, to establish a new Veterans Lounge on campus and explore new programs and activities for active duty military, veterans and their families.
Surprisingly, McNeill didn’t enlist in the National Guard until she was 35. She ran a successful landscaping business and owned a retired military dump truck, which she brought to veterans’ events as part of a collectors’ club. In June 2001, her life changed when she attended the Reading World War II Weekend.
“I had the opportunity to talk to (Virginia) Scottie Goff, a female Air Force pilot. She was the first female World War II veteran I had ever met. She was a wonderful person. That’s what got me started thinking about becoming a member of the military. After I talked to her, I started talking to a friend of mine who was a recruiter. And then on September 11th,Number “It happened, and that was the clincher for me,” McNeill said.
She has served since 2002, first as a non-commissioned officer and then promoted to staff sergeant, then to warrant officer, where she has served for the past six years, and has deployed to Iraq, Kosovo and Kuwait.
As one chapter ends and a new one begins, McNeill encourages other military and non-military students to consider earning a degree from Georgian Court.
“I love Georgian Court, I really love it,” she said. “The support you get is fantastic for anyone looking for a place to study and the low teacher-to-student ratio is fantastic – you’re really treated as a person and not just a number. The education is exceptional and I’ll miss it… but I’ll be back!”
