Veteran Spotlight - Jill Wolfe

By Amanda Renkiewicz

Grand Valley State University has named its first Military and Veteran Resource Manager! Meet Jill Wolfe, a Laker Alumna, faculty member, and former member of the US Army. GATHER Veterans interviewed Jill about her experience at the prestigious Midwestern school and the outstanding programs they offer.

When did you first become interested in the military?

I wasn’t even remotely interested in the military until I came home for Thanksgiving break my freshman year of college and my parents told me they wouldn’t pay my tuition the next semester unless I got a job. Not an hour later, a recruiter called and asked, “How would you like $30,000 for college?” He had impeccable timing! I said, “Tell me more!” - the rest was history.

How has your experience been in your new role?

My time as GVSU’s first-ever Military and Veteran Resource Manager has been phenomenal. From the food service staff to the students and faculty to President Mantella, the support from everyone at every level has been nothing short of “all-in”. Plus, the local veteran community, places like the VFW Post 311, American Legion Post 356, and individuals working for the local nonprofits and county governments have shown tremendous heart and support for the work I do. I love everything about this community.

What are some of the challenges veterans at GVSU face, and how is your role helping move them forward as students?

For many veterans, the transition from a military environment where almost everything is provided and structured for you — your job, where you live, how you dress, who you hang out with — to an environment where everything is pretty much up to you, is really hard.

I know my own experience as a student vet returning to college was so frustrating — I felt like none of my fellow students really cared about school or anything except partying (this wasn’t exactly true, but it’s what it felt like). I didn’t know how to talk to my classmates without sounding like a know-it-all. I had trouble finding work near campus, finding childcare for my toddler, and even figuring out what major I wanted to pursue. Student veterans need community. Many people don’t realize how critical it is that these students feel like they belong at the university, that there are people here who care about them and are invested in their success. It’s so easy to say, “This is stupid, I quit,” when the going gets hard. I know I almost did. You need people around you, including your own family, to cheer you on.

That’s probably my most significant role at Grand Valley. I want these students to know that there’s someone who genuinely cares about them, wants to connect them with something bigger than themselves, and has resources available to help them with whatever challenges they face.

What are you most proud of from the Laker community?

I’m proud of how Grand Valley takes everything great about the Midwest — the friendliness, the sense of community, the willingness to stop whatever it is you’re doing and help out a stranger — but leaves behind the close-mindedness and intolerance that, unfortunately, the Midwest is also known for. It creates an environment that truly feels welcoming. Plus, everyone here, including faculty, staff, and administrators, is so smart! It’s that unique combination: down-home warmth, combined with a serious dedication to the mission of providing a world-class education. It’s not necessarily specific to vets, but it’s why I came back to GVSU after I served, it’s why my own kids choose to go to school here, and it’s why I’m so proud to be an employee today.

Tell us about Grand Valley’s PAVE program.

Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) is a peer

Some of my favorite people in the world are the female veterans I met in various veteran groups.

support program that connects incoming GVSU student veterans with other student veterans trained as Peer Advisors. These volunteer “mentors” — who honestly are my heroes and epitomize everything I love about student veterans — help new veteran students navigate college life. They address challenges they may face, refer them to appropriate resources on and off-campus, and provide ongoing support.

The PAVE program gives new student veterans a resource – a vet student just like you — who can give you the same kind of support your platoon gave you back when you served.

What do you recommend for veterans who suffer from PTSD?

First, connect with other veterans — they’re the only ones that truly understand what it is like to experience. I recommend this for all veterans! Some of my favorite people in the world are the female veterans I met in various veteran groups.

Then educate yourself about what trauma actually is — you don’t have to have experienced combat or rape to be suffering from the effects of PTSD. I know a student who, as a kid, had her trailer broken into (she wasn’t home at the time) and still has anxiety and trouble sleeping because of it.

Next, you have to get help. Reach out to a trusted friend, or in Michigan, the 24-hour Vet Center hotline 877-9278387 (877-WAR-VETS) is a great starting point for anything veteran-related. Veterans don’t generally love asking others for help, but if you want to reach your goals — whether that’s getting your degree or having a good relationship with your kids — it’s the only way forward. Nobody accomplishes great things by themselves.

Finally, research Post Traumatic Growth and see if there’s something there that resonates with you. I’m a big proponent of Post-Traumatic Growth, the idea that you can have experienced something difficult or traumatic but then learn and grow from it and come out the other side with more resilience and compassion.

How can interested Veterans get in touch with GVSU about programs?

Student veterans are some of our most successful students! In fact:

• Veterans receive degrees and/or certifications at a rate of 72% compared to 66% of their peers. (Institute for Veterans and Military

Families)

• Veterans are 160% more likely than nonveterans to have a graduate degree or higher. (LinkedIn)

• Veteran students’ average GPA is 3.34, compared to 2.94 for nonveteran students. (Institute for Veterans and Military Families)

Visit us at GVSU.edu/veterans, or anyone can reach out to me at wolfeji@gvsu.edu. I always love collaborations!