When I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2024, I was eager to transition my interests and experience to a higher education setting-particularly in a role that emphasized writing, research, and service. The HigherEdMilitary Fellowship stood out as an ideal opportunity. Its call for undergraduate, graduate, and military spouse writers with 'a passion for higher education, the military, and how the two are integrated' resonated with my own professional trajectory. Recognizing the alignment between my background and the fellowship's goals, I promptly applied. I later interviewed and was excited to land the position as a 2025 fellow. The experience has been enriching as I transitioned out of the military. I was empowered to write articles about topics important to higher education and the military-affiliated community. The fellowship has assisted me with developing a new peer network and also fulfill an internship requirement for my Ph.D. program thanks to the flexibility and support of my supervisor, Dr. Monika Sziron, the Assistant Director of Editorial Strategy, Research and Coordination. Moreover, the opportunity to work completely in a remote capacity from home has been both enjoyable and helpful to my transition out of the military.

As advertised, "The HigherEdMilitary Fellowship is designed to feature and develop voices within the military-connected community in higher education. The goal of the fellowship is to provide support for emerging writers in the military-connected community. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to be published on HigherEdMilitary and work on other projects with editorial staff."

The fellowship has exceeded those expectations, offering opportunities for growth and professional development. Fellows can expect to write approximately one article per month, attend monthly meetings to review and pitch article ideas, and professionally network with peers. Fellows also get the chance to attend, participate in, and present topics at "Careers and Coffee," a professional development video conference venue. In some cases, fellows may get to attend conferences in person that are associated with the military-affiliated higher education community.

The fellowship increases an understanding of the intersection between military service and higher education, offering new perspectives about veterans, military spouses, and colleagues working across the military-affiliated community. In sum, it is an outstanding and rewarding professional experience. Here are some testimonials from current and former fellows about their experience:

As a current HigherEdMilitary fellow, Meaghan Gargin shared, "The fellowship is an amazing opportunity to collaborate with passionate educators and administrators. I valued the monthly meetings with my cohort, and looked forward to discussing trending topics in the higher education space.

According to Leigh Britton, "Serving as a HigherEdMilitary Fellow in 2024 gave me a new perspective as a higher education professional, allowing me to connect with veterans who shared their experiences transitioning from military to higher ed while also sharing my own insights as an admissions officer to strengthen those connections and conversations."

Denisse Jover described her fellowship experience with gratitude stating, "As a HigherEdMilitary Fellow and military spouse, I deeply valued the opportunity to build community with other fellows, expand my network and find meaningful mentorship that added to my personal and professional development. Dr. Monika Sziron, an essential voice and core champion for military-connected students, provided invaluable insights and leadership that were key to my growth. I am grateful for her and the program's support."

Regan Sweeney emphasized, "The HigherEdMilitary Fellowship allowed me to strengthen my writing skills by exploring challenges faced by service members and their families and resources designed to help this population throughout their journey in higher education. The fellowship also provided multiple opportunities to create meaningful connections with others working in the military and veteran space, enriching my perspective and fostering growth in my current career."

As Kim O'Brien, another current fellow, expressed, "The HigherEdMilitary Fellowship has provided a meaningful opportunity for me to engage deeper with the military-affiliated community and exchange our stories, ideas, and resources. I am now part of a wider network of people who share familiar backgrounds and can be a source of support for one another in higher education."

Reflecting on her experience, Bobbi Cumpston noted, "The HigherEdMilitary Fellowship provided an excellent opportunity for me to contribute to the conversation involving higher education and the military. I valued the contribution of my peers and their continued promotion of higher education within the military. Additionally valuable is the personal and professional benefit to participating in the HigherEdMilitary Fellowship. I enjoyed the interaction and learning from my military peers."

If any of the details about this important and fulfilling fellowship appeal to you and you are a match for the position requirements, you are encouraged to apply here. For further information, please use the "Contact Us" feature.

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Job Search Advice Serving Military in HigherEd Workplace Inclusion

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