05/27/2026
At National University in San Diego, Dr. John Santos, Veteran Center Coordinator, remains motivated by focusing on his goal of helping military-connected students feel like they belong on campus. He knows that navigating both higher education and the VA can be difficult, and ensuring students receive (and understand!) their education benefits is crucial for their success.
John has appreciated networking with his peers through NAVPA, and contributing to professional development opportunities for administrators . He brings that sense of community and support back to his campus, driven by his enthusiasm to create an inclusive community for veteran and military-connected students. In fact, fostering camaraderie is his favorite part of his job! True to his belief in the power of community, John uses every resource at his advantage when helping students. One of these tools is the professional relationships built through conferences and communicating with his NAVPA colleagues.
Not all veterans and students are alike, and John is an advocate for more people to understand that patience and empathy are important when meeting military-connected students where they're at. This makes a place like the National University's Veteran and Military Community Center a home for their students because they can meet peers with similar experiences and understanding for where they are in their transition to civilian life.
As for John, his sense of community extends to every veteran he comes across. He swears he can always spot a veteran - even across a crowded room - just by the way they carry themselves. Don't be surprised if you see John at the next conference or event reaching out to those around him, creating the community that he knows is critical for all veterans, military-connected students, and higher ed professionals who advocate for them!
