Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m an international relations major with a minor in history. I’m also involved with the Veterans Upward Bound program and Student Veteran Organization (SVO). The SVO has provided me with a community and friendships that I have missed from my time on active duty in the US Marines. My job in the Marine Corps was serving and protecting our diplomatic facilities abroad, so I received first-hand experience watching American foreign policy in action which inspired me to pursue my area of study.
What practical experiences have you had in your program that have affected you postively?
I was fortunate enough to attend the Presidential Inauguration Seminar at the Washington Center in coordination with the Department of Political Science & Legal Studies.
I am also able to use my monthly housing allowance from the Post-9/11 GI Bill as my way to pay for rent and groceries, allowing me to commit as a full-time student.
What has working with the Center for First-Generation & Educational Equity meant to you?
Through my work with the Center for First-Generation & Educational Equity, I am allowed another opportunity to help my fellow veterans in their personal and professional lives, something I loved doing as a leader in the Marines.
Why did you choose Suffolk?
Back in the summer of 2023, I called Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) looking for more information on the schools in the surrounding area. Nick Charrette, (recruitment and educational advisor for the University’s Veterans Upward Bound program) answered and we began discussing veterans' benefits. I learned that VUB wasn’t exclusive to Suffolk University; instead, the university hosts their organization on campus. The organization is designed to assist veterans with applying to schools, crafting application essays, and finding the best solution for their specific situations. Throughout the conversation, Nick showed me his empathy for veterans and made me feel welcomed. I decided I wanted to get a tour of the campus and we made plans for the following month when I would take annual leave and head back to Boston.
Fast forward to that day, Nick and I walked around campus as he showed me their office on the seventh floor of 73 Tremont. There, I had the opportunity to meet some of the students who are part of the Suffolk Student Veteran Organization and learned about the support structure that they have created on campus around each other. At that point, it was clear to me that Suffolk met my needs of location and offering a strong supporting structure for veterans such as myself. Most importantly, I’m achieving the goals that I set for myself by establishing roots back in Boston.
What course has been the most compelling, for you so far?
Literature of War with Professor Bryan Trabold has been my favorite class so far at Suffolk. The course examined a wide range of writers and filmmakers who have sought to bridge the gap that exists between those who have experienced war and those who have not. Some stories we examined were told from an American perspective; some were told from the perspective of soldiers who fought against Americans; and some were told from those who experienced life under US military occupation.
Are there any faculty or staff who have significantly affected your experience, or who you would consider a mentor?
Ashley Booker and Corey Lefavor are both individuals who worked at Veterans Upward Bound as Veteran Affairs work studies. Ashley has shown me the amazing restaurants around the area and made me feel welcome in the Center for First-Generation & Educational Equity where she will work full time after her graduation. Corey was my RAM Supporter before I started classes in fall 2024., He answered all my questions regarding Suffolk, Veterans Affairs, and Veteran Readiness and Employment. Most of all, Nick Charrette is the sole reason most veterans want to come to and stay at Suffolk University.
What are your future career ambitions or goals and how will your studies at Suffolk help you achieve them?
My future goals are to join the US Foreign Service or the Diplomatic Security Service and return to my job protecting diplomats abroad. Receiving my degree at Suffolk will allow me to successfully transition back into the civilian world with my wife and the rest of our family.