Travel and Tours led to ASU degree, career change for high school teacher

TEMPE, Ariz. – A life changing vacation across the globe awaits you.

Two upcoming ASU Travel and Tours trips will introduce you to exotic locations, culture, history, cuisine and more:

• Easy Company: England to the Eagle’s Nest
  September 12 – 19, 2024
  Made famous by The New York Times best-seller Band of Brothers and the critically acclaimed miniseries that followed, the stories of the Easy Company members were immortalized by the National WWII Museum founder Stephen E. Ambrose. On this unforgettable, 13-day travel experience, you will follow in the footsteps of Easy Company, from England to the hedgerows of Normandy, along "Hell's Highway" in the Netherlands, through the foxholes surrounding Bastogne, and atop the Eagle's Nest.
   
• Experience The Victory
  October 21 – 24, 2024
  Travel to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to explore, remember, and reflect on World War II through exclusive access to the Museum’s campus. The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.

Just as it did for Robin LaCorte, a longtime high school teacher and mother of four, who unearthed a passion and, ultimately, a career change after receiving a letter in the mail in 2019 from ASU Travel and Tours experience.

A pretty innocuous flier from ASU arrived in her mailbox, advertising an upcoming trip to France and Germany that would coincide with the Band of Brothers series, – a favorite of LaCorte and her husband, Brian – the 10-part dramatization about a team of paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

With tours given by world-class historians and actors from the original Band of Brothers,

LaCorte's interest was piqued.

Given their shared love for history and travel, plus Brian’s Sun Devil ties as a Trustee of ASU, this was a trip tailored for the LaCortes.

“We’re not those people who sign up for group tour stuff,” LaCorte said. “But, I showed it to my husband and said, ‘What do you think? Are you interested?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ Totally took me by surprise.”

A 15-day excursion took her and her husband from Normandy, France, to Landsberg, Germany, towns rich in war history, with daily stops in between. It was as informative as it was thrilling, and LaCorte quickly felt life’s next calling come to her.

“A light switch turned on for me.” she said. 

Once she returned home, still buzzing from her travels, LaCorte learned of ASU’s master’s degree in World War II, a 30-credit program that studies the causes and effects of the war, the evolution of global governance, human responses to conflict, violence and genocide and more.

She applied immediately, was accepted the following month and graduated two years later in the program’s first class.

After graduation, LaCorte was inspired to pursue a different role, one that tied into her newly-acquired degree.

It has since led her to Northern Arizona University, where she currently serves as the Holocaust education coordinator.

She has the Travel and Tours experience to thank for her newfound purpose and passion.

“The thing that is fabulous about this program is that the way it is conducted is top-notch. You’re on beautiful air-conditioned buses. You have amazing, world class historians. The accommodations are fabulous, the food is wonderful. Everything is planned down to the smallest detail, even to the point of if there’s an issue, whether it’s health or something you have to deal with, they are so attentive to the individual person’s needs. It’s just the easiest thing you can do. 

Write a check and show up. You’re going to have an amazing time.”

Eager to find the perfect trip for you? Contact the ASU Travel and Tours Office, at

[email protected], to learn more.