Army sergeant pursuing two bachelor’s degrees while serving in Operation Epic Fury

July 2, 2026

Indigo Pullen is balancing more than most college students ever will.

As a 46S sergeant in the U.S. Army, Pullen serves as a public affairs mass communication specialist, producing news stories, capturing photography and video, and sharing the Army’s mission with audiences around the world. 

“One of my favorite aspects of public affairs work is being able to capture authentic moments and humanize experiences people may never personally see,” she said. “I love telling stories that make people feel connected to others and understood.”

In addition to being deployed in the Middle East on active duty, she’s working toward earning two degrees at Columbus State University: a bachelor of business administration in entrepreneurship and a bachelor of fine arts. Together, they’re an intentional combination that reflects both her creativity and long-term vision.

“I wanted a school that would support both my creative ambitions and my long-term professional goals while still understanding the unique challenges that come with military life,” Pullen said. “I appreciated that I could pursue multiple passions instead of feeling boxed into one path.”

Her decision to double major stems from a lifelong connection to the arts and a desire to build something of her own. Her fine arts studies strengthen her visual storytelling skills, while her business coursework prepares her for leadership and her future entrepreneurial goals, noting that, “Art and storytelling have always been outlets for me to process experiences, emotions and identity.”

Currently deployed to an undisclosed location in support of Operation Epic Fury, Pullen continues to complete coursework alongside her military responsibilities, often adapting to demanding and unpredictable schedules.

“There have been times where I’ve completed assignments while deployed or worked around unpredictable schedules and training requirements,” she said. 

Despite those challenges, she remains committed to her education and long-term goals.

“It can be difficult at times, but pursuing my education has always been important to me because it represents my future outside of the military as well,” she said.

Pullen credits Columbus State’s faculty and academic environment for helping make that balance possible, especially through flexibility and encouragement during deployment. Faculty like Dr. Kirk Heriot have taken note of her dedication. 

“I have been fortunate to meet over 2,000 CSU students,” said Heriot, the Turner College’s Crowley Chair of Entrepreneurship in the Department of Marketing & Management. “However, I have not had a student who was required to balance her role as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in support of active military operations while also completing a double major in business and fine arts.”

As she progresses toward her future goals, Pullen plans to continue her military service while building a career that blends creativity, communication and leadership, with interests in the arts, museums and media organizations such as VICE Media. She hopes that her pursuits and journey will inspire others to follow their goals as well.

“Being both a military service member and a creative has taught me how to navigate two very different worlds at the same time,” she said. “I hope my story encourages others to feel empowered pursuing paths that may not traditionally go together.”

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Averi Morton of the Office of Strategic Communication + Marketing submitted this article for publication.

Media Contact:  Michael Tullier, APR