This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
UNIVERSITY PARK — For many veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life is a battle all its own.
At Penn State, the Office of Veterans Programs under the Vice Provost for Educational Equity has been helping student veterans navigate that transition for nearly five decades with one conversation, one classroom, and sometimes, one wagging tail at a time.
Founded in the 1970s, the office was initially established to help veterans access and manage their GI Bill benefits. But as Senior Director Renee Thornton-Roop explained, its mission has grown far beyond the paperwork.
“Since that time, it has kind of evolved into a more holistic sort of support office,” Thornton-Roop said. “We still do the GI Bill certification. You have to get folks paid before anything else can come into play. But now we focus on outreach, peer mentoring, advocacy and programming. We’ve got a lot of things in the fire.”
Today, the office not only serves Penn State’s University Park campus but also oversees veteran services across all Commonwealth Campuses. Through outreach programs, staff members contact recently discharged veterans across Pennsylvania to make them aware of educational opportunities not just at Penn State, but anywhere their benefits can take them.
“It’s part of our land-grant mission,” Thornton-Roop said. “We reach out to veterans statewide just to say, ‘Hey, have you thought about your education and using your benefits?’ We want them to know they have options.”
Thornton-Roop said three key programs have proven especially effective in helping veterans adjust to college life: a peer mentoring network, a veterans summer bridge program and a first-year seminar designed specifically for student veterans. The mentoring initiative pairs incoming student veterans with peers who have already made the transition successfully.
“Students engage far more with a peer than with staff,” Thornton-Roop said. “It’s a ready-made support network. They can show each other the ropes and make those early connections.”
The summer bridge program, nicknamed “boot camp,” offers a softer landing into academic life. Participants complete online coursework and then spend a week on campus before the fall semester. They visit the VA clinic, meet with local veterans’ service officers and get a head start on navigating campus resources. For those who can’t attend over the summer, the fall semester’s veterans first-year seminar covers similar ground while offering three academic credits.
Thornton-Roop said these programs all share one goal: helping veterans understand that the adaptability and resilience learned in the military can translate seamlessly into higher education.
“You’re dropped into a new place, learning and adapting. That’s exactly what they’re trained to do,” she said. “Once they see that connection, it’s a beautiful thing.”
The results speak for themselves. Thornton-Roop recalled one student who nearly left Penn State before classes even began. “He came here, walked the campus and felt like he didn’t fit in,” she said. “He came across our table at orientation, stopped by the office, got connected with other vets and ended up staying. He finished his undergraduate degree, started working with us and now he’s completing his doctorate.”
Another story she loves to share involves a Marine who reluctantly participated in an art project during the veterans’ seminar. “He was so ticked. He didn’t want to do it,” she said, laughing. “But he did the project, and he enjoyed it so much that he changed his major from criminal justice to ceramics and art. He graduated and found a whole new passion.”
These stories, Thornton-Roop said, show what can happen when veterans are encouraged to explore their creative side. “A lot of folks come here with a mission to get a degree and move on. But others discover something they never expected,” she said. “If we can provide opportunities for that, we’re all for it.”
One of the office’s most beloved “staff members” isn’t human at all. Padrick, a facility dog trained through Susquehanna Service Dogs, joined the office in 2022 thanks to a donor through Veterans Affairs and Services.
“Students just sit with him, pet him and start talking,” Thornton-Roop said. “He builds a bridge to communication and trust. He’s super therapeutic and helps students open up.” Padrick’s calm presence and intuitive nature have made him a favorite among student veterans, helping ease anxiety and foster connection in moments when words aren’t enough.
With Veterans Day approaching, the office will help mark several events on campus, including the Marine Corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony on Nov. 10, the Veterans Day ceremony at Old Main on Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. and the Military Appreciation football game on Nov. 8. For Thornton-Roop, these events aren’t just about ceremony; they’re about connection.
“I’d encourage any veteran thinking about college to reach out,” she said. “Even if they’re not planning on coming to Penn State, we can talk through their options and help them see what’s possible. This isn’t beyond their reach.”
At the heart of the program, she said, is a simple philosophy: “Veterans are trained to adapt and overcome. Here, we just remind them they still can.”
For more information about the Office of Veteran Programs, visit: equity.psu.edu/offices/veterans-programs
