After serving their country and exiting the military, many veterans question what their future holds as they transition into civilian life. Thanks to an upcoming partnership, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ is preparing to help them answer that question.
ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ is one of 12 universities nationwide β and the only school in Florida and the southeast β that will participate in the new Service to Service initiative. The national pilot program is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership. By encouraging service members to pursue higher education in public administration affairs, this military-to-public-service pipeline is intended to help veterans leverage their military experience in rewarding new roles.
Participants can apply for scholarships and use their GI bill toward the program. Recruitment starts in Spring 2025, and the programβs launch is scheduled for Fall 2025.
Service to Service is a collaboration between two nonprofit organizations: The Volcker Alliance, which supports public service education, and We the Veterans, which aims to empower service members and their relatives. ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ joins Cornell University, Arizona State University and others in having been selected as a pilot site for this initiative.
, director of the and the schoolβs representative to The Volcker Alliance, says he believes Service to Service is an excellent opportunity for veterans who want to transition into a civil service career.
βThe military is always an untapped resource,β Goodman says. βMany veterans leave the military with a lot of experience, and they want to continue that level of experience by serving their communities. We want to provide quality education that engages our veterans, and the Service to Service program can better connect us with that group of people.β
Students who join the initiative, known as Service to Service Fellows, can further their education through ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs graduate programs in public administration, emergency and crisis management, nonprofit management, public policy, and regional and urban planning. Goodman says the fellows will also enjoy various program benefits such as mentorship, community-building, professional development opportunities and even facilitated job placement.
βStudents in the Service to Service program will have access to resources such as seminars, online workshops and trainings across the country,β Goodman says. βTheyβll be able to network not just locally but nationally with cohorts at other participating universities.β
, a 23-year Army veteran and director of ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs , adds that the program serves as an avenue for veterans seeking guidance in their next chapter.
βVeterans often leave the service feeling lost, not knowing who they want to be or what they want to do,β Kepner says. βTrying to become a civilian overnight can be very difficult, and finding work after military life can feel like trying to find your first βgrown-upβ job. Service to Service is a fantastic way for veterans and their families to find their footing in local or state government roles where they can continue serving the community.β
Looking ahead, Kepner says he is excited about the Service to Service initiative and thinks it will have a highly positive impact on the service members and military families who decide to enroll.
βFlorida is a great state for veterans,β Kepner says. βA lot of veterans and retirees come down to Florida, and as more veterans move here, Service to Service will allow them to explore new career options. I think itβs going to pay huge dividends for transitioning service members to discover who they want to be.β
In January, U.S. News & World Report ranked ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ No. 8 for Best Online Bachelorβs Programs for Veterans. In 2024, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ received the Collegiate Purple Star CampusΒ designation, which recognizes the university for its efforts to support military and veteran students through 2027.
Those wanting to learn more about the Service to Service program should contact the School of Public Administration.
