MAYS LANDING – Constance Cotton spent 17 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Sergeant First Class and serving, at the age of 22, in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm before retiring in 2004. Her personal experiences on the battlefield were life–changing and led her to author a personal memoir, On the Battlefield, of her time stationed overseas in the Persian Gulf.
It wasn’t until she registered for Atlantic Cape Community College’s free 12–week online Clemente Course in the Humanities, which examines the themes of war and reconciliation through the study of literature, philosophy, art, history and writing in the fall of 2025, that she fully began to understand military history while connecting with others and sharing her real–life experiences.
“My experience with the Clemente Course was outstanding because it was my first military history course, and I really enjoyed interacting with everyone involved. The course material was interesting and a good amount of female veterans were involved as well,” said Cotton, whose father served in the Army as well during the Korean War.
Cotton was astounded by the courses’ curriculum, and found its readings and personal discussions about those readings to be very beneficial to her.
“The course exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed the diversity of the students representing different branches of the military, various wars, some active-duty personnel and the age demographics. The professors, presenters, and facilitators in the Clemente Course are remarkable, professional and engaging,” said Cotton.
This fall, starting September 24 and running through December 17, Atlantic Cape is proud to once again offer, for our dedicated United States military veterans, regardless of discharge status, this free 12-week online Clemente Course in the Humanities on Thursdays from 6 –7:30 p.m. via Zoom. It will be taught by four of Atlantic Cape’s humanities professors who have planned a relevant and engaging learning experience.
Students will be expected to complete a written lesson assignment each week and those who successfully complete the course may earn three college credits for Introduction to Humanities II, which may be applied towards an associate degree. All books and course materials are provided free of charge.
“This course is a safe space for our veterans to gather together and reflect about the themes of war and reconciliation through the study of philosophy, literature and history,” said Senior Dean of Liberal Studies and Culinary Arts Dr. Denise-Marie Coulter. “This course is designed to help students develop stronger communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills, which are all essential in making one marketable to future employers.”
Today, Cotton supports veterans and their families through community advocacy, organizing women’s veteran events, leading a Women Veterans Virtual Book Club and teaching military families about veteran benefits. In 2024, she was named the Burlington County Outstanding Woman of the Year in the veteran category for her efforts.
“My military experience has provided me with leadership opportunities, the ability to travel, earn three degrees for free, and I've learned to be resilient and take care of my family on active–duty as a veteran despite my disabilities, which was very difficult,” admitted Cotton. "The Clemente Course gives the veteran community an opportunity to collectively learn about military history in a supportive way. It also brings women and men, who served in the military, together to learn about military history together."
For more than 25 years, the Clemente Course in the Humanities’ free college humanities courses have empowered adult students around the United States to further their education and careers, become effective advocates for themselves and their families, and engage in cultural and political life.
This free course is made available thanks to the generous funding of New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Clemente Course for the Humanities, LLC. A high school diploma or GED is not required to register. Visit atlanticcape.edu/clemente to complete your free application form today.
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About Atlantic Cape Community College
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States-accredited, Hispanic-serving institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and 34 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City, and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and to its highly acclaimed Nursing program for more than 60 years. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
