MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For Middle Tennessee State University student Chastody “Kearra” Mullinax, the university’s outstanding support for its student-veteran and military-connected population through the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center is “a reflection of MTSU’s commitment to those who served” and “demonstrates that this university recognizes the sacrifices military families make and understands the value that veterans bring to campus.”

A professional studies major with a concentration in healthcare administration from Murfreesboro, Mullinax was the featured student veteran at the MTSU Board of Trustees meeting on June 16. 

“I am proud to be a soldier. I am proud to be a student. And most importantly, I am proud to be a part of a university that values both,” Mullinax said.

In introducing Mullinax, retired Lt. Gen. Keith M. Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives, noted that after completing training as a combat medic, Mullinax served as a traveling nurse during COVID, going to hospitals and clinics to care for those afflicted with the virus.

The single mother, active-duty non-commissioned officer in the Tennessee Army National Guard and full-time student plans to transition to a human resources specialist position to gain administrative experience while she finishes her degree with the intention of commissioning as a warrant officer. She expects to graduate in spring 2027.

You can watch Huber’s introduction and Mullinax’s remarks during the meeting below:

“Most veterans have faced deployments, the demands of military service, while trying to maintain a home life and pursue their education. Yet every day, veterans across this campus continue showing up, working towards a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities,” Mullinax said.

“While I do not wear a cape, trading my uniform for a backpack often requires an exact kind of daring that (author Paulo Coelho) mentioned. As I stand before you today, I represent more than just myself. I represent the veterans, service members, and military families whose lives have been positively impacted by the Daniels Center.”

Mullinax shared how she “shipped to Fort Sills, Oklahoma, two weeks after graduating high school.” It’s a reality faced by many veterans whose college careers don’t begin until completing years of service, sacrifice and life experiences that most traditional students don’t encounter. Support of Daniels Center staff like Director Hilary Miller and Jessica Piersonhas helped her stay on track as she’s taken online and on-ground courses, while the center itself provides “a sense of belonging” for student veterans because “going from boots on the ground to a classroom can be a significant culture shock.”

“Veterans arrive on campus carrying leadership experience, resilience, and discipline. We also arrive with our own unique challenges,” she said. “Military-connected students often carry the weight of their families, their units, their community on their shoulders while pursuing their degree. Success requires more than just determination. It requires support. The Daniels Center provides that support.”

About the Daniels Center

The Daniels Center, located in Keathley University Center in the heart of campus, assists approximately 1,300 student veterans and military-connected members annually. Celebrating its 10th year of service, the center is being renovated and expanded from 3,200 to almost 4,100 square feet; work will be finished before the start of the Fall 2026 semester.

The center’s mission is to provide transition services for veterans and their families as they return to civilian life after military service. It is the largest and most comprehensive veterans center on any Tennessee higher education campus and serves all veterans and military-connected families, regardless of affiliation with MTSU.

For more information about the Daniels Center, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/military/ or call 615-904-8347.

— Jimmy Hart ([email protected])