Veterans at Maricopa: Passing the Torch – Creating Opportunities

Content contributed by: Rick Galvan, MCCCD Assistant General Counsel, Sheri Klein, Legal Administrative Assistant, Rory Gilbert, MCCCD Diversity Initiatives

With the June 30, 2008 passing of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 our campuses will soon see an influx of returning veterans and their families. People will be eligible to use their benefits as of August 2009. 

What better time to reflect on the military service provided by our current employees as we prepare to meet the needs of our returning vets, some of whom may have sustained physical or psychological trauma?   Who can better understand the experience of the almost two million Americans who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, including an estimated 650,000 in our National Guard?

Although the homecoming for veterans of different conflicts varied, based on the political and social context of the times, many of the challenges they faced were universal.  Over one hundred board-approved employees are veterans, as well as any number of part-time, temporary and adjunct members of Maricopa’s community.  Their wisdom can help us serve our returning servicemen and women from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Every college has a Veterans’ Service Office to help our returning service men and women to be successful students. Many of these offices already informally network with employees who are veterans on their campuses.

In the spirit of One Maricopa, we welcome the opportunity to help connect employees who are veterans with others at colleges and across the district.  We also invite you to provide suggestions for ways to support our latest generation of veterans. 

We are interested in meeting with veteran employees to explore creating a group to support each other and students who are returning veterans. If you are interested in being a resource and/or being in touch with other veterans at Maricopa, contact Rick Galvan in the Legal Services office at 18875 (480-731-8875).