I served in the U.S. Army as a Petroleum Supply Specialist from 2004 to 2008 based out of Fort Hood, Texas with the 4^th Infantry Division. Outside of my occupational specialty in fuel, I served in many different capacities including flag folder for over thirty veteran funerals across the state of Texas; rifle bearer in the 4^th Infantry Division Honor Guard protecting and presenting the division’s colors for unit ceremonies; deploying for over a year and working as a Commandant’s Aide during Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07 based in Bagdad, Iraq at Camp Liberty; and as a personnel clerk for a company of over sixty soldiers.

I had joined the military to provide myself a way to pay for college, but my service has led to so much more. I have developed rich friendships with fellow veterans and others with a military connection, earned a bachelor’s degree and masters of public health using my VA education benefits. I have also had the honor of being a military spouse to an Army infantryman, assisting him with his transition from the military to become a registered nurse. I feel that higher education has been my home away from home since leaving the military, and I have been able to find many of the things that I loved about the military here, such as a rewarding career, friendship, mentorship, and further discovery that I am always ready to learn more. 

As the Veteran Success Coach and sponsor of the Bruin Vets chapter of Student Veterans of America, I work with a wide array of student veterans and love to empower them to obtain their educational and career goals. 

I have worked in higher education for more than 24 years - all of that time at Belmont! A diehard Bruins fan, I hold season tickets to the Belmont basketball games and love connecting our student veterans to our rich campus life. 

I came to Belmont as a traditional student right out of high school and I earned my Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Marketing. I am currently working on my M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and am proud to be completing my practicum at Operation Stand Down, a local organization serving Nashville's veteran community. 

I have served on Belmont's Veteran Success Team since 2015. I am passionate about helping veterans, service members, and their families achieve academic success and transition to the next steps in their career. My door is always open - stop on by!