One Rio Salado Grad’s Journey to Hope and Purpose
By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
For most non-native Arizonans, moving to the Grand Canyon State is a dream come true. Trading in months of cold, depressing winter weather for sunshine and warmth feels like a new beginning.
New Yorker Greg Nolan was looking forward to his move, but it didn’t turn out exactly as he had hoped.
“After getting out of the Marine Corps, I moved to Arizona, but addiction quickly took hold,” Nolan said. “That move marked the beginning of some of my darkest days, but also the start of my transformation. Arizona is where I lost myself and it’s where I found myself again.”
In those darker days, Nolan was in and out of prison while battling his addiction. Ironically, prison is also where the seeds of hope were planted.
“I knew I needed to do something different,” Nolan said. “While incarcerated, I found out about Rio Salado College’s Incarcerated Re-entry Education (IRE) program. For the first time, I saw an opportunity to invest in myself and do something productive with my time.”
Nolan began taking distance learning correspondence classes through the IRE program, sending his assignments and exams to Rio Salado through the mail.
“It was challenging because we didn’t have internet access and there was no such thing as instant feedback,” Nolan said. “It taught me patience, focus, and how to show up for myself every single day. That structure gave me purpose, even during a dark time.”
Once he was released, Nolan continued his education online at Rio Salado, where he could apply the credits he already earned toward an associate degree in addictions and substance use disorders.
“I chose that degree because I’ve lived that life,” Nolan said. “I know what addiction can do and I also know that recovery is possible. I want to use my experience to help others who are trying to turn things around.”
Nolan also landed a full-time job with New Freedom, an organization that assists men and women transition from prison back to society. He is already using his newfound knowledge from his Rio Salado classes.
“One class about trauma-informed care changed everything for me,” Nolan said. “It helped me understand my own story and gave me the tools to better support others. That class made me a better leader and mentor.”
Nolan completed his degree program in April, and attended Rio Salado’s commencement ceremony in May. He plans to continue into a bachelor’s degree program, although his path has slightly changed course.
“I had originally planned to attend a program at Arizona State University (ASU), but I have decided to enroll at Grand Canyon University,” Nolan said.
However, he hopes to earn a master’s degree in organizational leadership at ASU after completing his bachelor’s degree, and then continue in his career field.
“My goal is to help design and build effective reentry systems across the country,” Nolan said. “I want to create programs that combine education and behavioral health, and give people real second chances.”
Reflecting on his life journey, Nolan is grateful that Rio Salado College came into his life at a critical turning point.
“Rio believes in people,” Nolan said. “When I started, I was still struggling with addiction and trying to find a way out of the life I had been stuck in. Rio’s IRE program gave me hope and purpose at a time when I needed both. They saw potential in me even when I didn’t fully see it in myself.”