Community Advocates

ATI/Wooster Campus

Lima Campus

Ray Clark 
Service Branch: Marine Corps 
Academic Program: Business Management 
Hometown: Kenton, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I am participating in the MCA program to help other veterans and other military related students to be someone local they can reach out to if they have questions about VA benefits or educational benefits, and to direct them to someone that can assist with their questions.  Also, to be someone they can reach out to if they just need someone to talk to or someone who has an idea of where they are coming from.

Mansfield Campus

Eric Burkholder 
Service Branch:  U.S. Army 
Academic Program:  Radiologic Sciences and Therapy 
Hometown:  Massillon, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the MCA Program: I am participating in the advocate program to serve veteran students.  In doing so, I will be able to help my fellow veteran students navigate college life. Transitioning from military to civilian life can be very stressful; I did it 12 years ago.  Helping Veterans is what I do.

Marion Campus

Eric Bailey 
Service Branch: U.S. Marine Corps 
Academic Program: Mechanical Engineering 
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I am participating in the advocate program to serve military and veteran students. I believe that serving as an advocate is a way to give back and help my fellow military and veteran students navigate the college experience. Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging at times and I look forward to helping my fellow veterans and military connected students through this process.

Newark Campus

Roger Stevens 
Service Branch: Navy 
Academic Program:  Social Work and History 
Hometown: Heath, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: When I entered Ohio State, I was an older non-traditional student which is a challenge in its own right. I was also unfamiliar with the various programs that OSU and the VA offered its student veterans. I want to work with other former service members, to close the gap between the information and the student.  
Additionally, I want to connect veterans with veterans so that they can lean on each other as they once did in the service.

BATTELLE CENTER FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND PUBLIC POLICY

Carl Ey 
Service Branch: U.S. Army Retired 
Academic Program: Masters of Public Administration, John Glenn College of Public Affairs 
Hometown: Wethersfield, Connecticut 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: The Military Advocate program is a robust program that directly assists a Veteran or military member who is moving into a new mission. Transition is hard – I went through it when I retired. Unknowns from how to dress to what the business world/academic world will require can be intimidating. The Military Advocate program allows me to share my experience and offer salient advice on "the transition." I am looking forward to working with my fellow "sisters and brothers in arms" to ensure they have a great OSU experience.  

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (HISTORY)

William Harkins 
Service Branch: Army ROTC 
Academic Program: Political Science and History 
Hometown: Naperville, IL 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: Being involved in ROTC, I have had the chance to meet a wide variety of military-connected people in many different circumstances. It is my desire to bring people together from this group and create a community where veterans and military connected students are supported, welcomed, and involved, should they choose to be.

COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY

Jena Hickman 
Service Branch: Army  
Academic Program: Dentistry  
Hometown:  Tiffin, Ohio  
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I joined the Military Community Advocate program to be a voice and representative for our student military population, and to advocate for students mental health.

College of Engineering

Hannah Raterman 
Branch of Service: Army 
Academic Major: Civil Engineering/Minor: Military Science 
Hometown: Fort Loramie, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I love building connections, knowledge, and understanding through people and organizations. Creating the sense of community and involvement is very important for me, and it led me to guidance and leadership opportunities which this program is offering. I plan to engage myself in this organization while also finding my purpose to share what I have learned with others. This opportunity will open my eyes to allow me to grasp a deeper understanding of how so many other military personnel are reacting to everyday life, and I am excited to see what I can do to help others through this program.

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Allyson Fraley 
Service Branch: Army 
Academic Program: Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability 
Hometown: Findlay, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I went through the college process and had to figure everything out on my own and want to help others have an easier transition. I look forward to assisting fellow veterans build connections and have a great college experience.

College of Medicine - Outreach

Sarah Ellis 
Service Branch: Air National Guard 
Academic Program: Anatomy (Graduate) 
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: Between academics and military connections I find it important to build relationships with people that are involved in both as they can seem vastly different. Finding a common ground can build a community and help individuals find a sense of purpose between the two.

College of Pharmacy 
(vacant)
 

College of Public Health 

Selin Timur 
Service Branch:  U.S. Navy 
Academic Program:  Master of Health Administration 
Hometown:  Solon, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: As an advocate, I hope to facilitate genuine connections within the College of Public Health for our military-connected students and their loved ones. I am eager to see just how big the military community is here at Ohio State, especially at CPH. A guiding passion of mine is 'service above self,' and I cannot think of a role more fitting for me to acquire during college. Being a leader as an MCA will push me personally and professionally while also fulfilling my passions for continuing to serve the military community.

College of Social Work

Eric Sowers 
Service Branch:  Army 
Academic Program:  Ph.D. - Social Work 
Hometown:  Columbus, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I have been in a school for a while and amassed much experience and knowledge. Sharing these is my way to give back to fellow Buckeye Student Veterans. Lincoln once said you can have anything you want if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose. I am rooting for you.

College of Veterinary Medicine 
(vacant)

Fisher College of Business - Graduate

Devin Kelly 
Service Branch:  U.S. Army 
Academic Program:  Masters in Business Administration 
Hometown:  Boston, MA 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: My first-hand experience will provide insights to current problems and dilemmas that face today's modern veterans that may not be seen by more senior veteran advocates. I also represent a generally underserved demographic of single under 30-year-old soldiers, this demographic historically struggles to transition their benefits from the military into academia. I look forward to helping ease the transitions into the Buckeye family.

Fisher College of Business - Undergraduate

Carson Craig 
Service Branch: Ohio Army National Guard & OSU Army ROTC 
Academic Program: Finance 
Hometown: Washington, PA 
Reason for Participating: I joined this program to be a voice and a representative for my brothers and sisters. I joined this program to try to give back to the veteran community as they have given up so much for the rest of us. Being a veteran has its own sense of struggle, and I believe that we as MCA's can play a part in making their lives easier.              

Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship

(VACANT)

Office of Research - Traumatic Brain Injury

Anne Marie Todd 
Service Branch:United States Marine Corps 
Academic Program: Masters of Business Administration 
Hometown: Cleveland, OH 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I want to learn how best to advocate for our military connected students and how best to support.

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 
(vacant)

Athletic Fan Experience

Cameron McCullough
Service Branch: Army
Academic Program: Biochemistry for Pre-Med
Hometown: Zanesville, Ohio
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I wanted to participate in the advocacy program to create a welcoming environment at Ohio State for our veterans and to give back to my community. I also wanted to become more involved with the student-veteran community to make connections and provide support to those who need it.

Buckeye Careers

Nathan Lutz
Service Branch: Ohio Air National Guard
Academic Program: Dentistry
Hometown: Celina, OH
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: The military has given me many benefits and I wanted a way to give back and help veterans that need some direction in where to go. I went through the college process and had to figure everything out on my own and I want to help provide helpful information to those who need it to steer them in the right direction

OFF-CAMPUS and COMMUTER STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Cordel Rubio
Service Branch: Army National Guard
Academic Program: Neuroscience / Pre-Med
Hometown: Wellston, Ohio
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: This program brings many like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds together to support the military community here at The Ohio State University. That is the exact type of environment I want to be involved in. I look forward to building connections, helping others, and learning from everyone.

LGBTQ+ Initiatives

Hanbum Kim
Service Branch: Army
Academic Program: Doctorate in Pharmacy
Hometown: Centerville, Ohio
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I attended Ohio State in 2010 and then joined the military after one year. After getting out of the military, I wanted to contribute my familiarity of campus and Columbus to fellow veterans who may not have had the same experience I have had. I still feel very connected to the veteran community and want to utilize organizing and studying skills to non-traditional students who have also been out of school for years. Through this experience, I also want to hone leadership skills and build rapport with fellow veterans. This program is personal to me, as I have once thought in the past that gay marriage would never be legalized and now we have a MCA position dedicated to advocating for students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community and educating those who support them. To participate in such a niche program like a LGBTQ+ group is a special honor for which I am very grateful.

MVS Mentoring Programs

Dave Hibler
Service Branch: Army
Academic Program: Ph.D. in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: "My brothers and sisters in the armed forces have given me a lot, and the reason that I've taken on this advocate position is because I was to do my part in paying it forward. After living through the difficulties that being a student-soldier can bring, and seeing firsthand how help and support could have made things so much better, I want to try to give that help and support to the other military and veteran students around me and hopefully keep them from some of the difficulties that I had to experience. I know student-soldiers will never be the same as "normal" students and we shouldn't be expected to be; but if I can help lighten the load that our military students have to carry and possibly give them a more traditional experience that will set them up for success after school, I want to."

MVS Military Family Engagement

Magdalena Wiedie
Service Branch: Air Force Dependent
Academic Program: Social Work and Spanish
Hometown: Washington D.C.
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: My dad has been in the Air Force for my entire life, and I grew up on a variety of military bases. I attended DODEA schools for high school and middle school while living overseas. When I decided to come to Ohio State, I was nervous about the change because I had not lived stateside for a while and I was so used to living on a base. I was worried I would not find people who could relate to my experiences growing up in a military family. I want to help give military-connected students a sense of community at Ohio State so that they feel connected and feel that they have a support system.

Parent and Family Relations

Will Lopez
Service Branch: US Navy (Active-Duty)
Academic Program: Political Science
Hometown: La Grange, Kentucky
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I want to be an advocate for a community that I know well and care for. There are a lot of challenges in college, and I want to be the person that supports our veterans through them, creates community, and ensures everyone feels welcome here.

Recreational Sports

Brian Finley
Service Branch:  U.S. Army 
Academic Program: Air transportation 
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program:  Veterans represent a very small demographic at Ohio State. With that being said, it's very easy for them to be underrepresented. I want to help create a safe, fun and comfortable environment for veterans on campus, as well as service their needs.

Student Legal Services

Dylan Page
Service Branch: U.S. Army
Academic Program: Master of Public Administration and Master of Applied Economics
Hometown: Washington Court House, OH
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program:  I decided to participate in the Advocate Program to start making a difference in the lives of our military service members and their families on campus. I plan on being a public official in elected office and this opportunity will make me a better advocate and leader. Our troops, veterans and military families deserve nothing less than our unwavering support, and they will get just that at The Ohio State University!

Student Life Disability Services

(VACANT)

The Student Veterans Association

Matthew Dressel
Service Branch:  U.S. Coast Guard 
Academic Program:  B.S. in Biology (Pre-Health) 
Hometown:  Ft. Myers, FL 
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: As the President of the Student Veterans Association at THE Ohio State, I am in charge of a student run association that advocates for and helps student veterans here in our Ohio State community. One of the many privileges that comes along with that is to be able to advocate for student veterans as an official MCA. As President of SVA, my goal is to help veterans (like myself) who have hung up the uniform but want to be able to transfer the skills and experiences they have through their service into the civilian world whether that be finding a career, working with veterans as a career, or even just enhancing their experience here at THE Ohio State University.

Suicide Prevention Program

Marisa Mattoni
Service Branch: Army ROTC
Academic Program:  Exercise Science
Hometown: Perrysburg, Ohio
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I became a Military Community Advocate specifically in the Suicide Prevention position for a few reasons. I want to meet, support, and connect individuals in the military community. I want to advocate for their mental health and provide resources for them. I also love making connections with other military connected individuals. It is an honor to have this position and I cannot wait to meet everyone!

Undergraduate Admissions

Ty Sloan
Service Branch: Navy ROTC
Academic Program: Major: Mechanical Engineering, Minor: Naval Science
Hometown: Mason, OH
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I want to create a welcoming environment for other military members as they deal with problems faced while changing from a military to student mindset. I want to be a useful resource for others to make their lives easier through this difficult time in their lives.

Student Wellness Center

Ryan Vespi
Service Branch: Army ROTC
Academic Program: Exercise Science
Hometown: Syracuse, New York
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: I look forward to participating in this program not only to work in an area that I am passionate about, but to also enhance the student-veteran community around me. I enjoy being involved with the veteran community and through this program I am able to show my support and appreciation.

Women’s Initiatives

Marcella Pfaff
Service Branch: Army 
Academic Program: Nursing
Hometown: Ft. Myers, FL
Reason for Participating in the Advocate Program: Support and empower women veterans, service members, and family of service members.