vkc fall 2011/winter 2012 newsletter
DESCRIPTION
Fall 2011/Winter 2012 edition of the NASPA Veterans Knowledge Community newsletterTRANSCRIPT
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Fall 2011/Winter 2012
Veterans KC The Veterans Knowledge Community will advance Veterans Best Practices through the education and
activation of its members
NASPA
Inside this issue:
Farewell from Our Co-Chairs, Michelle &
Katrina
Farewell from Our Co-Chairs
……………… 1-2
Meet Our New Co-Chairs….….. 2
Get Connected…………… ……… 3
NASPA Annual Conference ……..3
Mark Your Calendars …...……4
Check this Out …………………...4
Call for Articles..……………….. 4
Dear VKC,
Since proposing the formation of the NASPA Veterans
Knowledge Community (VKC), my experience and work with VKC has
been challenging, rewarding, informative and exciting. I have learned so
much during this journey and have established many invaluable personal,
as well as professional, relationships. Since the inception of the VKC two
years ago, I feel that we have played a vital role in bringing student vet-
erans issues to the forefront of the academic landscape.
As I prepare to leave my current position as the VKC Co-Chair, I
look forward to the knowledge, research and best practices that will un-
doubtedly continue to set a precedence in academia. As a veteran, the
spouse of a retired veteran and the mother of a future veteran, it has been
an honor and a privilege working with so many caring, gifted and knowl-
edgeable individuals to further the cause for student veterans. I foresee
the VKC continuing to be a dynamic and powerful seat of advocacy for
the dissemination of important information and resources in higher edu-
cation.
Michelle Cyrus
NASPA Veterans KC Co-Chair, 2010-2012
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NASPA VETERANS KC FALL 2011/WINTER 2012
Welcome to Our New Co-Chairs
Farewell from Michelle & Katrina, continued from page 1
Dear VKC,
With both excitement for the future and appreciation for my experience, I say see you later but not good-bye to
a wonderful Knowledge Community. It was an honor to work with Michelle these last two years; she is a dynamic,
passionate and wonderful colleague. Michelle invited me two years ago to join her quest in establishing the Veterans
Knowledge Community. Of course I accepted since I’m from a military family, I have a commitment to individuals
who have served our country with honor and dignity.
As a military child, I appreciated the camaraderie in military culture that was provided to my family. The cama-
raderie was evident with each move our family made to a different base, to every gathering full of laughter, and the
times my mom would support another wife while her partner was out to sea. Because of my upbringing, I could not
pass up the opportunity to work with professionals who serve a community that had such a profound impact on my life.
This position has been a tremendous learning experience for me; from understanding how Knowledge Commu-
nities work, to the educational interactions with folks committed to student veterans. I want to thank all of those who
served on leadership teams, both nationally and regionally. Their insights, passion and commitment to making a differ-
ence in the lives of men and women who have served our country will unquestionably make a difference.
Katrina Whitney
NASPA Veterans KC Co-Chair, 2010-2012
I’m very pleased to be working with the Veterans
Knowledge Community. Over the last three years, I
have directed the Disabled Veterans Reintegration
Project at the University of Arizona. This project has
been integral in creating the UA’s Veterans Education
and Transition Services. What I have valued most over
the last few years is networking with colleagues from
around the nation as we all reexamine our
understanding of student vets and develop new campus-
based programs and services. I believe that the VKC
fills a great need in our profession. I look forward to
working with John to continue Michelle and Katrina’s
good work.
Amanda Kraus
I’m very excited to be working with the Veterans
Knowledge Community. Since retiring from the Army in
2004 and returning to school, first as a student and now
part of the staff, I have been working on fostering better
communications between different campus factions for
the advancement of Student Veteran issues. As we move
forward into 2012 I look to the VKC leadership (Past,
Present & Future) to be the voice of best practices and
innovation. See you all this spring in Phoenix
John Mikelson
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Get Connected Join the Knowledge
Community by clicking
"membership" from the
NASPA homepage, then
select "Update Member-
ship Profile & Preferences"
and scroll to "Knowledge
Community Preferences."
Contact your Regional
KC Chair to discuss how
you might be helpful in
your geographic region.
Everyone interested in
providing updates, infor-
mation, and other im-
portant information relat-
ed to Veterans are wel-
come to join our listserv.
You do not have to be a
member of this Knowledge
Community or a member
of NASPA; we welcome
everyone with an interest
in these issues.
Interested in joining
our listserv? Please email
Joseph DeSanto in the
NASPA office at jdesan-
[email protected] and specify
the name of the listserv.
NASPA will add you within
a few business days.
NASPA VETERANS KC FALL 2011/WINTER 2012
For more information, visit www.naspa.org/conf
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CALL FOR ARTICLES
If you are interested in sharing:
Your original work;
Suggestions for articles from outside sources that
you feel would be especially useful to readers
(please include citation);
Pictures;
Book reviews; or
Events taking place (please include title, descrip-
tion of event, date and time, and location)
Please contact Megan Ziegler, Veterans KC Newslet-ter Editor at [email protected]
Mark Your Calendars
NASPA VETERANS KC FALL 2011/WINTER 2012
Veteran Symposium for Higher Education
February 21-22, 2012 Louisville, KY
Information: http://stuaff.org/veterans/
The Department of Defense Worldwide
Education Symposium 2012
July 23-27, 2012 Las Vegas, NV
MGM Grand Hotel,
Information: www.ww2012.com
NASPA’s Veterans Knowledge Com-munity has added a NEWS section
to our website:
http://naspa.org/kc/veterans/news.cfm
There is interesting information to
be found on the new website, “Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Insti-
tutions:”
www.vetfriendlytoolkit.org
Check This Out
Military Experience and the Arts Symposium
July 5—7, 2012 Eastern Kentucky University
Information:
www.militaryexperience.org/symposium
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
Workshops
February 13, 2012 Orlando, FL
February 23, 2012 Cincinnati, OH
March 15, 2012 Atlanta, GA
Information: http://www.soc.aascu.org/
socgen/Workshops.html