Welcome our New Onboarding Coach, Robin Dungan
(Courtesy Photo)
With a decade of experience in education, Robin Dungan joins the Virtual Veterans Communities team as the new Student Veteran Onboarding Coach. Robin grew up on the California Central Coast and loves to be outside hiking, kayaking and visiting wineries. Robin's military connection is three-fold. Her husband retired from the Air Force, and her father and grandfather both served in the Army.
Robin started her college pursuits at a community college before transferring to UC Santa Barbara and earning a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a minor in education. She then earned a Master of Arts in higher education counseling at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She explains that this was all unexpected, a plan that unfolded as she became a parent. "As a kid, I struggled to stay in school because I had a hard time with traditional learning environments even though I've always loved to learn," she said. "Now, I take advantage of online learning to continue taking courses of interest."
As the student veteran onboarding coach, Robin strives to be a welcoming presence for veteran and military-connected students. "I want to be one of the first people to connect with a new student to walk through questions and eliminate uncertainty," she said.
She is a problem solver, helping students overcome obstacles or challenges that keep them from meeting their educational goals. Robin is very excited about the team she's working with at VVC. "It is incredibly fulfilling to work with a student from start to finish. Nothing beats celebrating their accomplishments and knowing all they overcame to get to the finish line."
A self-proclaimed introvert, Robin enjoys planning and hosting parties. She enjoys the details, coming up with themes and costumes that are a play on words. It's no wonder her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving when she can celebrate gratitude with friends and family. If you're lucky, you may catch Robin reading one of her favorite books, The Post Office by Charles Bukowski or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, while drinking her Starbucks vanilla late. She'll also be delighted to chat about historical documentaries or quirky people.
Want to provide an exceptional educational experience at your institution? Learn what military-connected students need to succeed with VVC.