The Importance of Building Community with Student Veterans
Image Credit: Ryan Greene
Ryan Greene, a recent Golden Gate University (GGU) Law School graduate and US Navy veteran who served for more than a decade, describes his transition from the military into a graduate degree program as full of ups and downs. During his final military assignment in the DC area, Greene considered what he might want his next professional steps to be and where he planned to take them. He knew he wanted to continue public service and decided practicing law would align with his values to serve the greater community.
Word of Mouth
Greene gained admission to a variety of law schools. Still, the endorsement from military colleagues already established in their legal careers ultimately inspired him to enroll at Golden Gate University. Greene was moved by the stories of GGU's veteran alumni, who spoke about the support and personal attention they received. Word of mouth, or social proof, is powerful. Among the military community, word of mouth equates to camaraderie and trust.
Transitioning From One Community to Another
As a service member, Greene knew the value of having a community around him and how valuable camaraderie can be in all areas of life. Realizing his military service would soon end, Greene felt it essential to find another community to be part of. GGU offered "the most robust opportunity as both a student and a veteran, not only to continue my studies but to do it in an environment and with a community that supports me and my life goals."
A Community of Care
In 2021, GGU partnered with Virtual Veterans Communities to launch The Helen Diller Center for Veterans of US Military Service. Student veterans benefit from a support system that supports them during the transition to the classroom, out of school, into their careers, and beyond. A place like The Diller Center provides these needed resources. Green found his own experience with the Diller Center to be precisely that.
"I found the Diller Center to be friendly and intentionally engaging." The staff took a personal interest in Greene's success in transitioning to law school and continued that commitment to lead him to better prepare for his legal career.
The Diller Center provides coaching to assist with onboarding, student success and career planning. It also hosts events and forges community. There, students find friendly faces and people who know the diverse demands and difficulties of the unique military culture.
Paying it Forward
Greene's experience at GGU with his professors, peers, and support staff left him feeling so confident in the power of community that he became a VA Veteran Ambassador. As a student with prior military experience, Greene worked to connect and support other military-connected students and prospective students during their educational journeys at GGU.
Value Beyond Dollars and Degrees
The common denominator for Ryan Greene in his educational journey has been the people. He spent his military days surrounded by GGU alums who lauded their own GGU experience. He connected with The Diller Center's greatest resource– its caring people with a shared perspective. Today, Ryan Greene is setting himself up beautifully for his next chapter in the legal field. GGU hasn't just been a place to earn a degree but another opportunity to solidify community building and his steady path and passion for public service.
Gathering additional information about veteran students can help institutions tailor their services and programming and better understand the needs of their student veteran community. Details such as which branch of service military students are coming from, their last duty station, their MOS (military occupational specialty), and other demographic insights can provide valuable insights into the unique circumstances and needs of a university’s military student population.
To learn more about Golden Gate University’s efforts with The Diller Center,
read the Case Study linked here.