2023 Fellows attend three-day leadership workshop

College students with military connections have a strong desire to serve, which often begins on their own campus by assisting other military-affiliated students. The NVLF recognizes students who take the initiative and support veterans and other military-connected students on their campus through the NVLF Leadership Fellowship program.

The 2023 fellows had the opportunity to attend an intensive, three-day workshop in Columbus, Ohio, designed to support and improve their leadership and communication skills. The NVLF is grateful to Major General Tim Zadalis (USAF, Ret.), the Dean of the leadership program, and a team of experienced leadership experts who volunteered their time to work with the fellows.

Workshops were led by Dr. Jason “JW” Womack, Development Branch Chief, U.S. Space Force, Lt. Colonel Doug Freeman, Chief, ISR & Cyber Transformation; Chief, Diversity & Inclusion, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), Dr. Ray Luther, Executive Director, Partnership for Coaching Excellence and Personal Leadership, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Jennifer Campbell, Director, Talent Management, Wexner Medical Center, Jody Davids, NVLF Board Member and former CIO, Pepsico, and Dr. Clark Backus, Global Head of Leadership Development, Willis Towers Watson.

The NVLF Leadership Fellowship recognizes students for their hard work and provides them with valuable skills to become better leaders in their communities. We applaud the 2023 fellows for their dedication to serving the military community and are excited to see the positive impact they will make in the future.

2023 Advancement Institute helps colleges support their military-connected community

The 2023 Advancement Institute was a valuable experience for dedicated professionals who work towards supporting the military-connected community on their campuses. Held in Columbus, Ohio, the event brought together teams from various colleges, each consisting of a Mil-Vet director, a development officer, and a communication professional. The objective of the event was to collaborate and work together to plan how programming for military students on their respective campuses can be improved and expanded.

The institute provided a unique opportunity for the participating professionals to gain new knowledge, insights, and inspiration from their peers. Through expert presentations and brainstorming sessions, the teams developed plans to enhance the support provided to military students on their campuses.

The National Veterans Leadership Foundation Honors Top Military-Connected Students

Columbus, Ohio (November 10, 2022)

Today, the National Veterans Leadership Foundation announced their 2023 National Fellows, recognizing top military-connected students (veteran, active duty, reserve, National Guard, ROTC, spouses and dependents) for both their service and their leadership potential.

The newly selected class represents colleges and universities from across the country. The 16 students will take part in a six-month development program designed to help them grow as leaders, continue their lives of service and make a positive impact on the military-connected community on their campuses. In addition, each fellow will receive a scholarship to help support their higher education studies.

The NVLF partners with a diverse range of institutions who are committed to serving veterans and other military-connected students. Each year, National Alliance partners nominate top students for the NVLF Leadership Fellow program.

The 2023 NVLF Leadership Fellows are:

“NVLF Fellows have a deep commitment to service and are dedicated to improving the higher education experience for the military-connected students on their campuses,” said James Miller, NVLF President and Founder. “The fellowship program brings together leadership experts to work with students who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those around them.”

“Returning to school after serving your country—or balancing schoolwork with the responsibilities of still serving in uniform—is a challenge,” notes Major General Timothy Zadalis (USAF, Retired), Dean of the NVLF Fellowship Program. “Student leaders play a critical role in helping create an inclusive campus that supports the military-connected community.”

Colonel Mike Carrell Joins National Veterans Leadership Foundation (NVLF)

Former head of Ohio State’s Military and Veterans Services Office will serve as the new Vice President for Strategy and University Engagement

Columbus, Ohio (August 8, 2002)

Retired Colonel Mike Carrell joins the National Veterans Leadership Foundation (NVLF) as the new vice president for strategy & university engagement. Carrell will lead the consortium of partner schools in the NVLF’s national alliance, partnering with university presidents, military and veterans’ offices. He will also work closely with university development offices, career services offices and others to deliver better services and outcomes for their military-connected students. Additionally, he will develop and execute plans to engage other higher education institutions in areas such as public policy, entrepreneurship, and career services as the NVLF grows their national footprint.

“The NVLF is so blessed to have Colonel Carrell join the team,” said Jim Miller, president and CEO of NVLF. “He is a nationally recognized expert in helping veteran and military connected students successfully transition into college life and then ultimately the next chapter of professional service.”

Colonel Carrell brings an extensive amount of experience and expertise to NVLF. Carrell completed a successful Air Force career in air operations, NORAD, which entailed operational planning, overseeing headquarters staff, and education. He retired as a Colonel after 23 years of military service.

Carrell then joined The Ohio State University where he developed and launched The Ohio State University’s Military and Veterans Services Office which is a top-tier national exemplar— rated first in the nation for two years. He also served as a senior academic administrator, professor and department chair in his 12 years at Ohio State.

Carrell was also instrumental in building cross-university organizations as the founder of the Ohio Veteran Education Council and the Big 10’s Military Office Alliance. He worked closely with state leaders to develop and co-chair the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Military Strategic Implementation Team (MSIT) to promote policy and programs for military members and their families across all 36 public institutions.

“I am excited to formalize my relationship with the NVLF after the last two years of serving with them as a volunteer,” said Colonel Carrell. “The work of the NVLF allows me to continue serving military-connected individuals and families and is really an extension of my life’s work over the last 35 years in the military and higher education. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with the dedicated professionals at NVLF, to give back to our service members and families, and to have a chance to make such a large impact at the national level.”