New Albany, Ohio (September 30, 2023)

Today, the National Veterans Leadership Foundation (NVLF) announced the names of the 12 veterans and military-connected students who will serve in the NVLF’s first class of Entrepreneurship Military Community Advocates (EMCAs) program.

The newly selected class represents 11 colleges and universities from across the country. The 12 student leaders will each receive a service scholarship to help support their higher education studies as well as additional financial support to advance a project the students develop to establish a more veteran-inclusive culture on their respective campuses. Each EMCA will work with a faculty lead on their respective campus to develop and complete a project, based on local needs, to assist military-connected students interested in entrepreneurship on their campus.

The 2023 NVLF Entrepreneurship MCAs are:

• John McCabe Ashland University
• Gage Brunswick Columbus State Community College
• Nathan Eapen Cornell University
• Leslie “Nikki” Womack-Young LeMoyne College
• Tutu Wah University of Nebraska
• Nicholas Wolcott University of Nebraska

• Elizabeth KruggelThe Ohio State University
• Haze Orner Penn State University
• James “Andy” Burnett University of South Florida
• Jared Brooks University of Texas-Dallas
• Gabriella Leon University of Texas-San Antonio
• Desiree Melemai West Virginia University

“The NVLF is so blessed to have the support of Tim and Kathleen Keenan to help launch this program. Tim having served as a United States Marine is the perfect role model for any aspiring military-connected student,” said James D. Miller, NVLF President and Founder. “These student leaders most certainly will personally benefit from this experience but will also make a difference for other military-connected students on their campus interested in becoming entrepreneurs.”

“Kathleen and I are deeply committed to creating pathways for military-connected students to pursue careers as entrepreneurs,” said Tim Keenan, Co-founder of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.

The Entrepreneurship Military Community Advocates Program

The NVLF Entrepreneurship Military Community Advocates (EMCAs) program is a leadership opportunity for students to learn about entrepreneurship, build their professional network, and identify what service looks like in this chapter of their lives. The program consists of each EMCA working with a faculty lead on each campus to determine local needs and completing programming to meet those. Campus work is augmented by a national curriculum delivered by the NVLF team followed by an end-of-course event. Students are also part of the National MCA network affording opportunities to further develop their leadership skills.

University Entrepreneurship Allies

The National Veterans Leadership Foundation allies with universities with Centers for Entrepreneurship, and strong support for military-connected students. Current Entrepreneurship allies include Ashland University, Columbus State Community College, Cornell University, LeMoyne College, University of Nebraska (2), The Ohio State University, Penn State University, University of South Florida, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at San Antonio, West Virginia University.

About the Tim & Kathleen Keenan Centers for Entrepreneurship

Tim & Kathleen Keenan have established two Centers for Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University and at LeMoyne College, to grow and foster a culture of entrepreneurship, through the creation and support of new ventures and the education and encouragement of their founders. The centers provide a campus-wide hub for collaboration and engagement with early-stage capital, startup talent and robust programming resources to maximize opportunities for social and economic impact.

About the National Veterans Leadership Foundation

The National Veterans Leadership Foundation partners with America’s colleges and universities to advance the futures of our nation’s veteran and military-connected students through service scholarships, leadership development, and campuswide military community inclusion. For more information on the National Veterans Leadership Foundation and the impact of the EMCA program, please visit NVLFoundation.org.

College students with military connections have a strong desire to serve, which often begins on their own campus by assisting other military-affiliated students. The NVLF recognizes students who take the initiative and support veterans and other military-connected students on their campus through the NVLF Leadership Fellowship program.

The 2023 fellows had the opportunity to attend an intensive, three-day workshop in Columbus, Ohio, designed to support and improve their leadership and communication skills. The NVLF is grateful to Major General Tim Zadalis (USAF, Ret.), the Dean of the leadership program, and a team of experienced leadership experts who volunteered their time to work with the fellows.

Workshops were led by Dr. Jason “JW” Womack, Development Branch Chief, U.S. Space Force, Lt. Colonel Doug Freeman, Chief, ISR & Cyber Transformation; Chief, Diversity & Inclusion, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), Dr. Ray Luther, Executive Director, Partnership for Coaching Excellence and Personal Leadership, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Jennifer Campbell, Director, Talent Management, Wexner Medical Center, Jody Davids, NVLF Board Member and former CIO, Pepsico, and Dr. Clark Backus, Global Head of Leadership Development, Willis Towers Watson.

The NVLF Leadership Fellowship recognizes students for their hard work and provides them with valuable skills to become better leaders in their communities. We applaud the 2023 fellows for their dedication to serving the military community and are excited to see the positive impact they will make in the future.

The 2023 Advancement Institute was a valuable experience for dedicated professionals who work towards supporting the military-connected community on their campuses. Held in Columbus, Ohio, the event brought together teams from various colleges, each consisting of a Mil-Vet director, a development officer, and a communication professional. The objective of the event was to collaborate and work together to plan how programming for military students on their respective campuses can be improved and expanded.

The institute provided a unique opportunity for the participating professionals to gain new knowledge, insights, and inspiration from their peers. Through expert presentations and brainstorming sessions, the teams developed plans to enhance the support provided to military students on their campuses.

Today, the National Veterans Leadership Foundation announced their 2023 National Fellows, recognizing top military-connected students (veteran, active duty, reserve, National Guard, ROTC, spouses and dependents) for both their service and their leadership potential.

The newly selected class represents colleges and universities from across the country. The 16 students will take part in a six-month development program designed to help them grow as leaders, continue their lives of service and make a positive impact on the military-connected community on their campuses. In addition, each fellow will receive a scholarship to help support their higher education studies.

The NVLF partners with a diverse range of institutions who are committed to serving veterans and other military-connected students. Each year, National Alliance partners nominate top students for the NVLF Leadership Fellow program.

The 2023 NVLF Leadership Fellows are:

• Gwendalyn Smith – Ashland University
• Dwight Williams II – Columbus State Community College
• Christopher Mahn – Cornell University
• China Abron-Roots – Howard University
• Nikki Morse – Norfolk State University
• Edwin V. Juarez, Sr. – The Ohio State University
• John Buckley – Penn State University
• Adiba Hassan – University of California, Los Angeles

• Aurora Turner – University of Kansas
• Jenalee Wimer – University of Nebraska
• Chad Lutz – University of South Florida
• Cat Kim – University of Texas-Dallas
• Onica Stapleton – University of Texas-Dallas
• Gabriel Zavala – University of Texas-San Antonio
• Leah Henning – University of Wisconsin
• Benjamin DeRoos – West Virginia University

“NVLF Fellows have a deep commitment to service and are dedicated to improving the higher education experience for the military-connected students on their campuses,” said James Miller, NVLF President and Founder. “The fellowship program brings together leadership experts to work with students who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those around them.”

“Returning to school after serving your country—or balancing schoolwork with the responsibilities of still serving in uniform—is a challenge,” notes Major General Timothy Zadalis (USAF, Retired), Dean of the NVLF Fellowship Program. “Student leaders play a critical role in helping create an inclusive campus that supports the military-connected community.”

Retired Colonel Mike Carrell joins the National Veterans Leadership Foundation (NVLF) as the new vice president for strategy & university engagement. Carrell will lead the consortium of partner schools in the NVLF’s national alliance, partnering with university presidents, military and veterans’ offices. He will also work closely with university development offices, career services offices and others to deliver better services and outcomes for their military-connected students. Additionally, he will develop and execute plans to engage other higher education institutions in areas such as public policy, entrepreneurship, and career services as the NVLF grows their national footprint.

“The NVLF is so blessed to have Colonel Carrell join the team,” said Jim Miller, president and CEO of NVLF. “He is a nationally recognized expert in helping veteran and military connected students successfully transition into college life and then ultimately the next chapter of professional service.”

Colonel Carrell brings an extensive amount of experience and expertise to NVLF. Carrell completed a successful Air Force career in air operations, NORAD, which entailed operational planning, overseeing headquarters staff, and education. He retired as a Colonel after 23 years of military service.

Carrell then joined The Ohio State University where he developed and launched The Ohio State University’s Military and Veterans Services Office which is a top-tier national exemplar— rated first in the nation for two years. He also served as a senior academic administrator, professor and department chair in his 12 years at Ohio State.

Carrell was also instrumental in building cross-university organizations as the founder of the Ohio Veteran Education Council and the Big 10’s Military Office Alliance. He worked closely with state leaders to develop and co-chair the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Military Strategic Implementation Team (MSIT) to promote policy and programs for military members and their families across all 36 public institutions.

“I am excited to formalize my relationship with the NVLF after the last two years of serving with them as a volunteer,” said Colonel Carrell. “The work of the NVLF allows me to continue serving military-connected individuals and families and is really an extension of my life’s work over the last 35 years in the military and higher education. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with the dedicated professionals at NVLF, to give back to our service members and families, and to have a chance to make such a large impact at the national level.”