Meet the 2026 Service to Service Fellows

The Glenn College is part of a national effort to connect veterans and military families with public service education and career paths. Resources and programming for military-affiliated students enrolled in public affairs graduate programs support placement in fulfilling, professional roles in local and state government.    

This fall the college welcomed its 2026 cohort of Service to Service Fellows, who will gain access to exceptional public service education, personalized career support, internship opportunities and a national network of passionate, talented individuals who are seeking to drive positive change.   

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

My military service showed me what it means to be part of something larger than myself, and that sense of responsibility did not end when I came home from deployment. I want to continue serving by bringing the leadership, adaptability and commitment I developed in uniform into public service and using those experiences to make institutions work better for the people they serve. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

The Glenn College and Service to Service program are helping me translate my military and veteran leadership experiences into the skills needed to be an effective public servant. Through policy education, professional development, mentorship, and connections with leaders across the public sector, I am building a stronger foundation for a career where I can continue serving Veterans, military-connected communities, and the broader public. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

Serving the public is personal to me because my connection to the military community has shown me how public policy directly affects veterans, service members and their families. I want to use my education and public-service experience to help ensure those who have served can access the opportunities, benefits and support needed. Public service allows me to turn my commitment to the military community into meaningful, lasting action. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

The Glenn College and the Service to Service program will help me build the policy, leadership, and analytical skills needed to serve veterans and military-connected communities effectively. Through mentorship, experiential learning, and engagement with public servants, I will strengthen my ability to turn lived experience into tangible solutions. This opportunity will prepare me to lead and contribute to responsive, veteran-centered public institutions. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

My military service taught me the importance of discipline, accountability, adaptability and selfless service. Those are skills and values that have continued to guide me throughout my career and are a large part of why public service is so important to me. 

Serving the public means having the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the systems and communities that people rely on every day. I take great pride in being part of that process and knowing that the work I do can contributes to positive change in my community. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

Through the Glenn College I am gaining a deeper understanding of public administration and how thoughtful leadership can improve the systems that serve our communities. The Service to Service program will also allow me to build on the skills I developed in the military while connecting with others who understand military service and public service. Together, these experiences will help prepare me to take on greater leadership responsibilities and contribute to meaningful improvements within the criminal justice system. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

Service doesn’t stop just because you take off the uniform. We are all given skills that can benefit our communities, and it is up to us to take the initiative to put those skills to use to benefit the most people. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

The Glenn College and Service to Service will help teach me the skills I need to be successful. They will also provide me the opportunities to network and have the greatest reach possible to get into rooms I need to be in to be successful. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

Public service has been a constant throughout my career, from serving in the U.S. Navy to working in emergency preparedness. I enjoy knowing that the work I do helps people and strengthens the organizations and communities they rely on. Continuing that mission is what motivates me as I move forward in my career. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

The Glenn College and the Service to Service program will provide the leadership development, public administration knowledge, and professional network to help me grow as a public servant. I’m excited to build on my emergency management experience and continue serving communities in meaningful ways. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

I find service to be incredibly rewarding. Raised in a Marine Corps family and currently serving as a Marine Corps Officer, the principles of servant leadership were instilled in me early in life. Whether through military service, parenting, coaching, mentoring or contributing to the local community, living a life dedicated to serving others remains my primary motivation every day. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

Many of my peer service members often joke about needing to figure out "what to be when we grow up" after transitioning out of the military. I believe the Glenn College and the Service to Service program will assist like-minded individuals—those driven by teamwork and purpose—in learning the essential skills needed to transition effectively to civilian life and continue serving the public in our next chapter. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

During my time in the military, public service gave me a sense of purpose and the ability to contribute to something larger than myself. I learned the importance of dependability, accountability and working alongside others with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Public service gives me the opportunity to continue to doing meaningful work and contributing to making an impact on the community. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

The Glenn College and Service to Service program will help me take the experiences and skills I gained in the military and help transform them to apply to the next stage of my career. The Service to Service program is an opportunity that allows me to connect with other veterans going through a similar transition and learn from those who have already made it. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

The skills that were instilled in me during my time in the Marine Corps are irreplaceable. They give you the opportunity to lead from the beginning and allow their leadership principles to be engrained early on in your career. Individuals do not "manage from a desk," they Lead from the Front. Continuing to serve in this capacity gives you the ability to understand the human experience and bring light to the changes that need to be made for the greater good. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

Being at Ohio State is an honor in it's own right but to become part of the Glenn College is beyond description. These opportunities will aid my growth as a person, academic and public servant. Being able to network with the vast amount of partnerships and build relationships will allow me to be mentored by experts in the field and will provide unreal experience. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

This is important to me because I believe it is my responsibility to protect and serve not only my family and friends, but also my community. I want to make a meaningful and lasting difference, especially for my children and my daughter, by setting an example of perseverance, leadership and service. 

As a Hispanic woman, I recognize that I may face certain challenges, barriers and stereotypes along the way. Rather than allowing those obstacles to discourage me, I want to use them as motivation to continue growing and moving forward. If I can break down stereotypes, overcome barriers and help create opportunities for the younger generations who come after me, I will feel that I have successfully accomplished my mission. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

At this moment, I’m not entirely sure, but I know I will learn new strategies and approaches that will help me successfully accomplish the current mission. 

Reflecting on the skills that veterans and military-connected individuals bring to the workforce, why is it important to you to serve (or continue serving) the public? 

I deeply miss the strong camaraderie and shared mission focus of military service. Transitioning to the public sector allows me to rejoin a collaborative team driven by purpose. Building on my experience as a military instructor and evaluator, I want to apply my professional skills to support and strengthen my community. 

How will the Glenn College and the Service to Service program help you prepare for this next chapter of service? 

My time in the military taught me the value of honest self-reflection, which drives my decision to return to school. Through the Service to Service program, I will gain access to military-connected mentors who have successfully navigated this transition. This program will complement a world-class graduate education with specialized professional growth.