The NVLF Leadership Fellows Program is a premier leadership experience designed to elevate talented, service-driven students who are committed to strengthening support for military-connected communities on campus.

Through this transformative program, Fellows are recognized not only for what they’ve accomplished but for the impact they are poised to make.

A Program Built for Impact

The NVLF Leadership Fellows Program empowers students to take their leadership to the next level by providing opportunities to:

• Learn from experienced leaders and develop practical skills that translate directly into career success
• Collaborate with campus decision-makers to enhance programs and resources for military-connected students
• Engage in a national network of like-minded peers from colleges and universities across the country
• Lead with purpose, continuing a lifelong commitment to service beyond self

Being named an NVLF Leadership Fellow is both an honor and a responsibility, recognizing individuals who exemplify service-driven leadership while preparing them to create meaningful, lasting change.

2026 Program Details

The 2026 NVLF Leadership Fellows Program will be held June 15–17, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, at the Blackwell Inn & Pfahl Conference Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.

Building on past successes, the program will again partner with the NVLF Leadership Forum on June 17th for a dynamic day of collaboration, connecting student leaders, campus Mil/Vet directors, and national partners for shared learning, planning, and innovation.

Travel Arrangements

Each of you will need to please register here ASAP (Fellows registration link)– registration is due by May 15th!

Travel stipend checks will be mailed directly to your school/ Mil-Vet Office. Your Mil-Vet office director will be notified once the checks have been processed and mailed.

• Please be sure to secure your flight and travel information as soon as possible through your university travel system and provide any updated information with your registration. You can also note on the registration survey form if you are still working on it and can email your flight details to me and I can update your registration.
  
• For those flying, plan to arrive and depart at the John Glenn International Airport
  • Please note that you will be responsible for your own transportation from the airport to the hotel

For those flying, since we will wrap up late on Wednesday (6/17), please let Laura Gaines at Laura@nvlf.us know if you have a Thursday flight so I can ensure you have a hotel room for Wednesday night.

NVLF will be booking your hotel reservations at The Blackwell Inn- 2110 Tuttle Park Place, Columbus, OH 43210 

Questions? Contact Laura Gaines at Laura@nvlf.us

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Monday, June 15, Blackwell Hotel, Pfahl Hall, Room 202

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.	WELCOME, REGISTRATION and INTRODUCTIONS NVLF Staff Major General Timothy Zadalis, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), NVLF Leadership Dean
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.	WELLNESS & RESILIENCY  – Part 1 Scott Kelsey, CEO, Shareapy
2:45 – 3:00 p.m.	BREAK
3:00 – 4 p.m.	WELLNESS & RESILIENCY – Part 2 Scott Kelsey, CEO, Shareapy
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.	OVERVIEW and WRAP UP NVLF STAFF   Major General Timothy Zadalis, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), NVLF Leadership Dean
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.	BREAK
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.	DINNER IN HOTEL 2nd Floor Outside Classroom 202

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Tuesday, June 16, Blackwell Hotel, Pfahl Hall, Room 202

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. vvvvvvvvvvvvv	WELCOME and CAMPUS UPDATES Major General Timothy Zadalis, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), NVLF Leadership Dean
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.	CHARACTER, COMPETENCE, AND CONNECTION Jason Warner, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret) As a leader, how do you stay true to your values? How do you bring out the best in others? Learn what effective leadership requires and how you can rise to meet the opportunity.
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.	BREAK
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.	LEADERSHIP IN ACTION: Leading Change on Campus Cynthia Turner, Associate Dean, Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University Academic institutions are open to new ideas but can be slow to embrace change. Gain insights on change management from proven campus leaders.
11:15 – Noon	FELLOWS IN ACTION: Leading Change on Campus & Beyond Emily Caldwell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, current Fellow and MCA Carlos Zaragoza, Bowling Green State University, former Fellow and current MCA Current and former Fellows/Advocates share what they’ve learned from their time on campus and—for those now in the workforce—how their MCA role impacted their career journey.
Noon – 1:30 p.m.	LUNCH | Video Stories
1:30- 1:45 p.m.	CAMPUS UPDATES II
1:45 – 2:15 p.m.	PLANNING What are your priorities as an Advocate? What other changes would you like to see on campus? Take some time to plan…and share your ideas with your peers.
2:15 – 4:00 p.m.	PRACTICAL ISSUES FACED BY MCAs Janet Steinbacher, Director, Programs, Ohio State Military & Veterans Office
4:00 – 4:15 p.m.	BREAK
4:15 – 5:00 p.m.	LEADERSHIP IN ACTION Jody Davids, NVLF Board Member, former CIO of Pepsico Jason Vazquez, Director Product & Business Development, Nationwide Financial
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.	MIA CASE and WRAP UP Major General (Ret) Tim Zadalis
6:00 p.m.	Dinner at Varsity Club and evening on your own

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Wednesday, June 17, Blackwell Hotel, Pfahl Hall, Room 140

NVLF STUDENT LEADERSHIP FELLOWS + MIL-VET ALLIE
This day’s agenda is still being finalized and may be adjusted.

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. vvvvvvvvvvvvv	WELCOME and INTRODUCTIONS
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.	KEYNOTE:  LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND IMPACT D’Juan Wilcher, Deputy Director, Veterans and Military Families, George W. Bush Presidential Center How does the work we do on college campuses impact military-connected students?  Where does this fit in higher education, our communities, and the nation?
9:45 – 10:00 a.m.	BREAK
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.	THE STUDENT SUCCESS JOURNEY Russ Klein, former CEO, American Marketing Association Apply customer experience thinking to higher education—map the student journey, identify friction points, and design more intentional, supportive campus experiences.
10:45 – 11:00 p.m.	BREAK
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.	TELL YOUR  STORY | CASE STUDIES Gain insights and ideas on how to “uncamouflage” military-connected students and highlight their contributions to campus life.
11:45 – Noon	Connection and Engagement
Noon – 1:00 p.m.	LUNCH + Reporting Out (1:00-1:15 p.m.)
1:15 – 1:45 p.m.	OWN YOUR CAREER Mary Whitney Ferriter, Project Communications Lead, Bechtel Corporation Practical guidance on navigating your path—clarifying goals, building your story, and taking ownership of what comes next.
1:45 – 2:00 p.m.	BREAK
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.	THE EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE Mike Lanese, Co-Founder/CEO, OnSeen, Inc. Hear directly from employers on what matters most—how to better align campus efforts with workforce needs and prepare students for successful transitions.
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.	BREAK | GROUP PHOTOS
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.	BUILDING UNIVERSITY ALLIES Joseph A. Alutto, former Dean, Fisher College of Business; twice interim President, The Ohio State University Strategies for gaining buy-in, building partnerships, and creating campus-wide support for the success of military-connected students.
4:00 – 4:15 p.m.	BREAK
4:15 – 5:00 p.m.	LEADERSHIP ON CAMPUS Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, former president, Youngstown State University Bill Johnson, President, Youngstown State University A candid look at leadership at the highest levels—how priorities are set, influence is built, and initiatives gain traction across complex institutions.
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.	RECEPTION