Veterans Initiative Moves Forward

Continuing a long tradition of serving veterans, Fairleigh Dickinson University has a wide range of veterans programs and activities under way.

A Veterans Services Advisory Board continues to oversee the recommendations made by the Veterans Taskforce and approved by the University. See New Initiatives on Campus http://inside.fdu.edu/otw/0904/veterans.html . Progress includes a Veterans Student Association; an Office of Veteran Services (OVS), staffed by a newly recruited director; and collaborations with other nonprofit organizations. GI Bill workshops are being planned on site and will be open to 125 veteran students currently attending FDU, as well as all veterans interested in attending. In addition, FDU was represented in the 2009 New York City Veterans Day Parade. Financial support for FDU’s recent veterans initiatives came from a $100,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation and the American Council on Education - one of only 20 such grants awarded to colleges and universities nationwide.

The FDU contingent marches past the viewing stand during the New York City Veterans Day Parade.

The Veterans Services Advisory Board (VSAB) is co-chaired by Jane Tsambis, University director of grants/sponsored projects (Metro/Flor), and Jason Scorza, philosophy/political science (Metro) and associate provost for global learning (Metro/Flor). The VSAB is focused on veterans’ issues that concern the University and serves, along with the director of the OVS, as veteran advocates. Other key members include Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, Petrocelli College (Metro/Flor); Stefanie Ulrich, director, Center for Psychological Services (Metro); Michelle McCroy-Heins, dean of students (Metro); and Ariel “A.J.” Luna, director, Office of Veterans Services (Metro/Flor).

FDU’s Office of Veteran Services offers one-stop resources for all veterans. Its services include Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit counseling, VA benefits counseling, referrals to on-campus psychological services as needed, disability-claims assistance, access to the FDU Federal Credit Union, referrals to the Career Center for job searching, assistance in résumé writing and e-mail blasts distributing useful information about veteran benefits.

Left photo: Ariel “A.J.” Luna, right, director, veterans services (Metro/Flor), was one of four veterans featured in a roundtable discussion on veterans’s issues on Lou Dobbs’, left, CNN show, on Veterans Day November 12. It was Dobbs last day on the network.

Right photo: Paul Rieckhoff, center, executive director and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, meets up with Glennena Haynes-Smith, left, nursing (Metro); and Ariel “A.J.” Luna, right, director, veterans services (Metro/Flor).

Luna is a six-year Army veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004–2005. Before coming to the University, he had been outreach coordinator and administrative assistant for the Brooklyn College Veteran Affairs and Counseling Center and veteran services coordinator at New York City College of Technology. He has a BA from Brooklyn College, City University of New York. He can be reached at — phone: 201-692-7085, fax: 201-692-7084, e-mail: ajluna@fdu.edu, mail code: H-DH1-06.

A student organization called FDU Veterans Association has been formed, and chapters are being created on each campus. The group seeks students (veterans and non-veterans) interested in governance, along with faculty and staff members to serve as advisers and contribute to the association’s mission. Its representative is graduate student Ryan Enriquez (United States Marine Corps Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran) who can be contacted at Ryan2757@student.fdu.edu. As one of its first activities, the association participated in this year’s New York City Veterans Day Parade. The University was one of three higher-education institutions to be represented in the event and the only one from New Jersey.

GI Bill workshops, focusing on educational benefits for veterans, will be offered for all veterans and their dependents. The first workshop — “New Post 9/11 GI Bill Workshop” — will be held on Thursday, December 10, in Room 1128, Dickinson Hall, Metropolitan Campus. Two presentations are scheduled: one from 2 to 4 p.m., and another from 6 to 8 p.m. The workshop, presented by the Office of Veterans Services and the FDU Veterans Association, will be conducted by Luna. Seating is limited, and RSVP is necessary (indicate which presentation will be attended). To RSVP and for information call 201-692-7085 or e-mail ajluna@fdu.edu.

The University is working in collaboration with several nonprofit organizations such as the United War Veterans Council, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Veteran Affairs, the Veterans Assistance Project, Vets4Vets, Student Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and others for the benefit of FDU’s student veterans. Also see College Happenings for Petrocelli College as supporting partner in helping in the training and education for women to ease their reentry into the civilian workforce http://inside.fdu.edu/otw/0911/happenings.html .

Posing with the FDU banner at the parade are, from left, Jeff Dunn, student and president of FDU Veterans Association (Flor); Glennena Haynes-Smith, nursing (Metro); Justin Manitta, student (Flor) and veteran dependent; Jim Driscoll, executive director, Vets4Vets; Juliette Brooks, University director of purchasing (Metro/Flor); Ronald Calissi, executive associate dean for off-campus credit programs, Petrocelli College, and director, administrative science (Metro); Claire Lorenz, office coordinator, purchasing (Metro); Amery Vasso, student (Metro) and retired first sergeant, U.S. Army; Donna Ganley, assistant to executive associate dean, Petrocelli College (Metro); and Ariel “A.J.” Luna, right, director, veterans services (Metro/Flor).

This holiday season, the University’s campuses in New Jersey have organized a donation drive in support of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen stationed overseas. It will run until Friday, November 20.

The Office of Enrollment Services at the Metropolitan Campus is collecting donations in cash or in kind for Operation Care Package. Some of the care packages will be mailed directly to specific platoons and addressed to one of its soldiers. Additional care packages, which will be brought to McGuire Air Base in South Jersey, will be sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Suggested donations include: candy, chocolates, Lipton tea mixes, dried fruits, graham crackers, travel-size board games, magazines, aspirin, bar soaps, toothpaste, pretzels, new or used books and playing cards.

Drop-off boxes have been placed throughout the Metropolitan Campus, including the Provost’s Office in Robison Hall; Office of Residence Life; Room 300, Becton Hall; in the MBA Office and School of Nursing and Allied Health, Dickinson Hall; Edward Williams Hall; and Kron Building.

For a list of other suggested items for donation or to make a cash donation, contact Lea Ronchi, associate director, enrollment services (Metro), at 201-692-2491 or ronchi@fdu.edu, or Aurora Bugallo, associate director, enrollment services (Metro), at 201-692-2492 or aurora@fdu.edu.

At the College at Florham, the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Office is spearheading an FDU Supports the Troops Drive. Some of the requested items are as follows: snack foods and treats (no chocolate or homemade items) such as individually wrapped hard candy, granola bars, instant oatmeal, ramen noodles and instant coffee; personal items and toiletries such as lotion, mouthwash, shaving cream, lip balm, dental floss, hairbrushes, eye drops, packaged disposable razors and nail clippers; and entertainment-related items such as CDs and DVDs, disposable cameras, books, personal fans (with extra batteries), handheld electronic games and prepaid phone cards; and other miscellaneous items like Ziploc bags, small American flags and small unbreakable holiday decorations.

Students will be distributing collection bags to various offices, with pick-up dates indicated on the bags. Contributions can also be brought directly to the EOF Office. For information call 973-443-8566.