Earlier this term, Drexel University students traveled to “the largest annual gathering of student veterans, advocates, thought-leaders, stakeholders and supporters in higher education in the world,” known as Student Veterans of America National Conference (“SVA NatCon”), to further connections and practices used back on campus.
SVA NatCon brings together students, alumni and higher education professionals to discuss issues of relevance to the student veteran community. This year, topics of discussion included women veterans' experiences, entrepreneurship and innovation, destigmatizing veterans on campus, veterans advocacy “from campus to Capitol Hill,” translating military experience to the civilian workforce and even writing personal statements that “pop.”
Five members of the Drexel Veterans Association (DVA) traveled to Orlando, Florida from Jan. 3–5 to participate in the national conference. DVA is a student organization that aims to “enhance the educational experiences of veteran students” here at Drexel while also “function[ing] as a support structure to help veterans cope with the unique challenges associated with transitioning from military life to student life.”
The DVA members who attended were: Jessica Huber, Anwar Hasan, Wolph-Ashton Clark and Zachary Ares-Deterding. These Dragons attended panels, met other student veterans from across the country and here in Philadelphia, making connections with student veterans in chapters from Temple University and the Community College of Philadelphia.
Jessica Wisniewski, assistant director of events & visitor relations for Enrollment Management & Student Success — herself a Navy veteran and president of Drexel’s Veterans Colleague Resource Group— serves as faculty/staff advisor for the DVA. She also attended the conference to engage from the perspective of a higher education professional seeking best practices for supporting veteran students.
“Our student veterans are amazingly talented and dedicated,” said Wisniewski. “We want to do everything we can to ensure their success.”
Student veterans looking to get involved can join DVA for standing meetings the last Friday of every month at 11:00 a.m., followed by lunch at Drexel Pizza. Those interested can email for more information or to connect, or check out additional resources offered through the Office of Veteran Student Services.