The Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) aims to ensure that every degree-seeking enlisted veteran and transitioning service member has the resources and knowledge to succeed in a higher education community. This organization partners with universities across the country to host educational workshops that prepare prospective, incoming, and current students for the intensity of academic programs. Emphasizing the importance of supporting students before, during, and after their time on campus, Mac Manning helped Brown University's Office of Military Affiliated Students host its first WSP Academic Bootcamp. Three individuals with a close knowledge of the WSP academic bootcamp share more about the specifics of the program and the influence it has on all involved.

CEO POV: Ryan Pavel

Ryan Pavel, Marine veteran and WSP's chief executive officer, attended University of Michigan after initially being rejected from every school that he applied to following his transition outside of the military. After graduating with his bachelor's degree, his friend called him to let him know about a new program with the goal of assisting transitioning service members with applying and succeeding at higher education institutions. Describing the experience working on his first academic workshop as "chaotic and amazing," Pavel began to work with WSP in 2014. Following law school, Pavel was eventually able to join the team full-time and stepped into the CEO role in 2019.

Pavel currently handles all aspects of the program. He begins by building a relationship with prospective universities and colleges, to see if their overall landscape is a good fit for an academic bootcamp. He also leads the charge to help find funding sources for program aspects such as lecturers and student housing. It is crucial to begin the planning process early, as there are many details to figure out prior to the weeklong workshop.

"One of the biggest indicators of success is if veterans have confidence to apply to these highly selective schools," Pavel says. Many veterans transition out of the military without an idea of how their skills can translate to the real world, and it is important to help these individuals find a sense of home at highly selective universities to succeed. WSP has recently started a women veterans initiatives to host all-women cohorts at some campuses. "Representation really matters," Pavel continues, "women can derive additional value, particularly in the community-building aspect."

Pavel notes his favorite aspect of WSP as the "direct and constant impact of WSP." He continues, "It is so obvious that this program transforms people's lives."

Current Student Veteran POV: Nigel Evans

It is quite apparent that the WSP academic workshop did transform the life of Army veteran and current Brown University student, Nigel Evans. Returning to college after joining the Army, Evans fortuitously landed at Brown University and was offered the opportunity to join the latest WSP academic workshop for prospective and current Brown University students while working as a VA Work Study.

When asked what the biggest challenge faced by student veterans is today, Evans indicated that the initial integration into the college environment can be a challenge coming from a more structured military environment. Although this change can be shocking, he also stated it is an opportunity to "choose your own adventure." He also discussed how WSP positively affects the view of military-affiliated students on campus. Evans recognized how higher education professionals are "definitely acknowledging the non-traditional backgrounds" of student veterans and how they differ from the usual undergraduate student on campus.

Evans attended the humanities track of the bootcamp, focusing more on traditional undergraduate liberal arts lecture styles. Topics include American democracy and the relationship between military and civilian worlds. Not only did Evans learn from professors, but he also learned from his peers and their experiences. Next, Evans enjoyed the academic bootcamp so much that he would love to partake in the business & entrepreneurship bootcamp as well.

Fellow POV: Billy Jordan

Billy Jordan, Marine veteran and alum of Georgetown University's WSP, joined the WSP team as a humanities fellow this year. Currently studying at Cameron University, Jordan echoed the sentiments of Pavel and Evans, considering confidence to be the biggest challenge currently facing student veterans. He notes that attending the WSP bootcamp "opened his eyes and gave him the confidence that [student veterans] can succeed at these universities outside of the military."

His current role entails leading small groups to discuss historic documents of the United States (e.g., the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution) and different perspectives on them. Ultimately, Jordan aims to help prospective and current students learn how to retain the most out of lengthy, dense academic readings. Additionally, he teaches a fellow-specific curriculum for college success. These lectures focus on transitioning veterans and how they can avoid different pitfalls and common obstacles encountered by student veterans in higher education.

When asked about how schools can support the increasing number of student veterans on campus, Jordan says that while it is not expected that higher education professionals will have all the answers for student veterans, it is most important that "if they don't know, they can find someone that knows." Pointing student veterans in the right direction can help address some of the answers that veterans may not have access to when they begin their journey in higher education. Additionally, he calls attention to the fact that "everyone has their own personal struggles and have things they are going through, and viewing student veterans as individuals rather than a collective is important to their success."

Host/Attend a Bootcamp

Pavel mentioned that it is most essential for a campus to be actively working to recruit veterans and improve the experience of military-affiliated students on campus to be considered for a bootcamp. Currently, there is not a form for schools to register their interest in hosting a workshop due to overwhelming interest. However, if schools are interested in sending students to a bootcamp, student veterans can apply to attend a bootcamp at another university.

The work that WSP currently does to assist student veterans in their transition from military culture to the campus lifestyle is necessary and crucial to the present and future success of student veterans. There are many ways to become involved with WSP, either as a higher education professional, student veteran, or supporter of their mission. What other types of resources would you like to see in support of student veterans?

Article Topics

Military Focused Events Military Friendly Institutions Serving Military in HigherEd Veterans Academic Success Women Veterans

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