HigherEdMilitary is excited to announce the recipient of the 2026 HigherEdMilitary Spotlight Award. The award highlights those working in higher education who are exceptional at finding innovative ways to change, grow, and support the military-affiliated population on campus.

The 2026 recipient is Jamie Pacheco. Jamie is the coordinator for the Veteran Success Center at California State University Bakersfield. Jamie has worked in higher education for more than 20 years across a variety of departments and programs, including financial aid, ETS/TRIO, student affairs, and now the Veteran Success Center. Jamie also served as chair for the Kern County Veterans Collaborative.

Jamie is a military spouse and dedicated champion of military-connected students on her campus and the veterans in her surrounding community.

Jamie has created many internal campus-wide programs and initiatives for military-affiliated students, including, but certainly not limited to, a first-year transition course for students, film festivals, and thoughtful Veterans Day tributes.

Jamie also works innovatively with external stakeholders, developing outreach (like presentations, tours, peer-to-peer mentoring) at the local community colleges to assist military-connected students transitioning into CSUB, welcoming nonprofits to campus to support military-connected students, including scuba diving for disabled veterans and employment internships for military-connected students, participation in community events advocating for higher education opportunities for military-connected students, and even helped build veterans services (Veteran Center) at the CSUB Antelope Valley Extension Campus.

The relationships she has created reach beyond her campus and into the local VFW, impacting thousands of students and community members throughout her profession thus far. Because of her work, CSUB is the first school in the CSU system to have a VFW post on campus.

Her nominators say:

"I worked for her for one semester, but she became one of the strongest leaders I have ever worked under. She recognized my strengths before I fully did, especially my ability to support others. She encouraged me to continue my education and pursue a path where I could support others. As a first-generation college student and a veteran, she told me I could make a real difference in people's lives."

"After more than 20 years of serving college students, she still approaches students with the same energy, care, and authenticity that made me feel welcomed when I first met her. That says everything about the type of person and leader she is."

Please join us in celebrating Jamie as the 2026 HigherEdMilitary Spotlight Award winner and her dedicated work and commitment to higher education and military-affiliated students!

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