New, returning MTSU student veterans invited to Jan. 11 newcomers briefing

New and returning MTSU student veterans and their families are welcome to attend a “newcomers briefing” provided by the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, in Hazelwood Dining Room of the James Union Building, 516 Alma Mater Drive. To find the location and parking, visit http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap.

As MTSU Daniels Veterans Center staff member Shane Smith, right, holds her child in this January 2017 file photo, student veteran Nashelly Larmon registers during the newcomers briefing. This year’s event will be held Thursday, Jan. 11, in the James Union Building. (MTSU file photo by Eric Sutton)

The briefing is to ensure veterans and their families are up to speed on campus resources, said Hilary Miller, center director.

Miller and her staff are targeting new-to-MTSU student veterans and family members, but it is open to all military-connected students, she said.

Dr. Hilary Miller

“The newcomers briefing is an opportunity for our new military-connected students to meet people who can absolutely make a difference in their academic career,” Miller said. “It is a chance to start out on the right foot and to stay on the right foot. It is an important event.”

The agenda includes:

• Dinner from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

• Welcome, introduction of staff and center’s mission, led by Keith M. Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives and retired U.S. Army lieutenant general.

• Veterans’ introductions.

• Current center programs and spring semester events, led by Miller.

• MTSU and the veterans’ relationship, led by Derek Frisby, veteran, MTSU alumnus and faculty member in the Global Studies and

Cultural Geography program in the College of Liberal Arts.

• Discovering campus resources (includes information about G.I. Bill, VetSuccess on Campus, tutoring and more).

• College challenge from Miller, emphasizing graduation and employment expectations.

Student veterans can RSVP for the event by emailing Teana Harle at Teana.Harle@mtsu.edu or call 615-904-8347.

MTSU has more than 240 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)