NAVPA, 1001 16th St NW, Washington D.C., DC (2026)

09/02/2026

🌟 NAVPA Member Spotlight: Ramona Taylor 🌟

NAVPA is proud to spotlight Ramona Taylor, SCO/Veteran Services Coordinator at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Ramona became involved with NAVPA shortly after stepping into her role and attending her first conference. What began as a professional development opportunity quickly became a passion, thanks to the supportive community of professionals dedicated to serving student veterans and military-connected students. Since then, she has remained actively engaged through NAVPA's annual conference, participation in the listserv community, and service on the Communications Committee.

At Kirkwood Community College, Ramona and her team support hundreds of veterans and military-connected students each semester. Their commitment to student success, strong partnerships, and veteran-centered resources help create an environment where military-connected learners can thrive.

One of Ramona's most meaningful NAVPA experiences has been connecting with fellow School Certifying Officials (SCOs) who understand the unique challenges and rewards of serving student veterans and navigating VA processes. These relationships have provided valuable support, collaboration, and shared expertise throughout her career.

What keeps Ramona passionate about her work?

🌟Supporting those who served
🎓 Helping students achieve their educational goals
🤝 Building a strong and welcoming veteran community

Her message to veterans and military-connected students is simple yet powerful: "You served the nation. Now let us serve your education."

Thank you, Ramona, for your unwavering dedication to supporting student veterans and military-connected students and for the positive impact you continue to make through your service to both Kirkwood Community College and the NAVPA community.

08/19/2026

NAVPA is proud to recognize the dedicated individuals who go above and beyond in service to the veteran education community. Three awards will be presented at the NAVPA Conference in Dallas, Texas, this October to honor the outstanding contributions of some of our NAVPA members. Nominate someone you know today!

All nominations must be submitted by EOD on September 6 to be eligible for consideration.

Nominees must be current NAVPA members and be nominated by a current NAVPA member. Award recipients are selected by the NAVPA Awards Committee.

08/19/2026

The military-connected team at the University of Virginia believe in the power of community. As you can see from their group pictures at NAVPA conferences, this is a group that gets involved! Perhaps you've seen them at one of these conferences or jumping into conversations on the NAVPA listserv. Whether you are at UVA or across the country, these SCOs are here to help.

Did you know that their team spans two different states? That doesn't slow them down! They came together to present at a NAVPA conference, which sparked a deeper desire to be more engaged and collaborative within the organization. They all serve on a committee at either the state or national level, with one member even serving as a Region II board member.

This team is dedicated to serving a community that has significantly shaped their lives whether as a veteran, spouse of an active-duty soldier for more than two decades, or a military child (and a combined 38 military moves between them!). They understand the challenges of navigating higher ed and wished that people knew that being an SCO is more than data entry! At its core, they know that their work is about removing barriers, building trust, and helping students feel confident and supported as they pursue their educational goals.

How do they make UVA a special place for veterans? By focusing on proactive ways to share information and be available for their students through a bimonthly newsletter, podcast, collaboration with campus partners, hosting office hours, attending in-person events, and offering virtual appointments.

UVA aims to bring that sense of community felt within in the military to their student. They admire the resilience and strong sense of purpose that their students bring to their educational journey. By participating in NAVPA and reaching out to their students and colleagues, UVA SCOs have contributed to their extended military family.

08/07/2026

NAVPA is proud to recognize the dedicated individuals who go above and beyond in service to the veteran education community. Three awards will be presented at the NAVPA Conference in Dallas, Texas, this October to honor the outstanding contributions of some of our NAVPA members. Nominate someone you know today!

All nominations must be submitted by EOD on September 6 to be eligible for consideration.

Nominees must be current NAVPA members and be nominated by a current NAVPA member. Award recipients are selected by the NAVPA Awards Committee.

07/28/2026

Grab your boots and mosey on down to Dallas for the 51st NAVPA Annual Conference!

Rub elbows with peers from coast to coast, unearth fresh ideas and top-notch practices, and dive into sessions crafted to turbocharge support for our military-connected students.

Don't drag your feet—regular registration wraps up on September 30 and the conference hotel block shuts its doors on September 28.

Register now!
https://www.accelevents.com/e/navpaconference2026

07/08/2026

It's member spotlight time!

At The Catholic University of America (CAU), supporting their military-connected community is a top priority. For Kevin Riley, Director for the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services, looking out for fellow veterans on campus and ensuring they receive the benefits they’ve rightfully earned is the driving force behind his work.

While the behind-the-scenes work of an SCO can be incredibly complex and time-consuming, Kevin’s commitment to excellence remains unwavering. To stay at the forefront of advocacy, he turned to the experts at , staying engaged through our active community and recently attending the impactful NAVPA 2025 Conference in Washington, DC.

Big things are happening at CAU: a University trustee recently made a significant pledge to support veteran initiatives on campus! This generous funding will directly support tuition assistance, team staffing, and community-building events, making CAU an even stronger home for military-affiliated students.

💡 Fun Fact: Did you know that CAU is the only U.S. university to have been visited by *3* different popes?

As Catholic University continues to grow and serve those who served, they look to their university motto for guidance: Deus Lux Mea Est — God is My Light. 🌟

07/01/2026

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

As we celebrate 250 years of independence, we honor the legacy of service, sacrifice, and opportunity that continues to shape our nation.

NAVPA President Camden Ege reflects: “As a veteran and NAVPA’s President, America’s 250th birthday gives me a chance to reflect on both service and responsibility. We honor our history not only by remembering those who served, but by continuing to support them and their families when they come home, transition, and pursue their goals through education. NAVPA is proud to play a small part in that ongoing commitment.”

Together, we celebrate the past and remain committed to supporting those who continue to serve and strengthen our future.

06/24/2026

This week’s NAVPA Member Spotlight highlights the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). The university demonstrates its commitment to veteran and military-connected students through its dedicated Veterans Hall, a space that reflects UNCW’s recognition of those who have served and their families. Veterans Hall is home to the Office of Military Affairs (OMA), supported by a team of four dedicated staff members.

A unique aspect of the OMA team is that three of the four staff members are also students. As Associate Director Camden Ege shares, this perspective allows the team to better understand and relate to student challenges: “We can relate to the challenges and frustrations more closely than our students may realize, and we love having the opportunity to make their experience a little easier.”

Camden, who stays active in NAVPA by serving as the current president, notes that one of the most meaningful aspects of his involvement with NAVPA has been connecting with passionate professionals from all four corners of the country, particularly during times of significant change in VA and education benefits for military-connected students.

UNCW calls upon Lorrie Spaulding, Director of the Military-Affiliated Student Hub and Primary School Certifying Official at the University of Southern Maine (). Interested in being featured? Reach out to have your institution highlighted in a future spotlight!

06/16/2026

The spotlight is shining—and we want to keep it going!

We’ve highlighted several incredible institutions—and we’re not done yet.

Now it’s your turn:
✅ Share your story
✅ Highlight your impact
✅ Inspire others

📩 We’re actively looking for more members to highlight—join us!
👉 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/50TXvPQFEQ

06/10/2026

Dr. Xavier Bruce, Assistant Vice President, Veterans Programs, continues to serve military-connected students alongside a stellar team at the University of Maryland Global Campus. This team includes the Veteran's Initiative Office and VetSuccess Campus Counselors to ensure that veterans receive the support and assistance needed to pursue their educational and employment goals.

Dr. Bruce embraces every opportunity to stay engaged in the NAVPA community. He currently serves as the Co-Chair for the Education Committee and helping to plan the 2026 Conference has been a very meaningful project. He aims to ensure attendees walk away with top-notch education and professional development to better serve their students.

In his daily work, Dr. Bruce loves helping students go from "app to cap!" Being part of military-connected students' higher ed journey is what motivated him to get involved with NAVPA in the first place. He wanted to be a significant contributor in getting their veteran-student population "squared away" with their educational benefits. He knows that this is a steppingstone to the life they were designed to live!

Dr. Bruce is extremely proud of his institution, especially of their Pillars of Strength Scholarship that includes full tuition, fees, and course-required resources for each term for caregivers of recovering servicemembers and veterans. He believes this reflects their unparalleled selflessness and extraordinary commitment of caregivers.

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