Welcome to the Veteran Student Success Center

You served…now we want to serve you!

Our Mission

To ensure student veterans at Pensacola State College are informed of all resources available related to their needs and are provided the guidance and support necessary for a successful transition, enrollment, and enriched educational experience.

The Veteran Student Success Center, which is open to all veterans, is located at 1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 and includes; lounge, computers, and equipped with WiFi. The space is designed to foster social interaction among student veterans and community-building.

The Veteran Student Success Center partners with the Pensacola State College Student Veterans Association Chapter for workshops, fundraising, career fairs, and other events.

decorative image of Military , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-04-01 07:46:17

PSC selected a Gold 2024-2025 Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media

Pensacola State College has been named a 2024-25 Gold Military Friendly school by Viqtory Media. This is the 15th year the College has received the Military Friendly school title and the third consecutive year earning the gold designation in the “Large Public” category. Pensacola State is one of the schools to receive the gold award for leading practices, outcomes, and effective programs that dedicate resources to military students to ensure classroom and graduation success.

2023 Veterans Day celebration at Pensacola State College

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decorative image of Military-Logo , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-06 14:56:32

PSC selected a Gold 2023-2024 Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media

Pensacola State College has been named a 2023-2024 Gold Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media.

This is the 14th year the College has received the accolade, and the first time earning the gold designation.

VSSC Ribbon Cutting and Marine Corps 247th Birthday Celebration

There was birthday cake and a ribbon cutting. There was a cookout and patriotic music.

Pensacola State College was closed on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11. So, a day earlier, PSC strengthened its commitment to student-veterans with the ribbon cutting ceremony for the PSC Veteran Student Success Center, which had its unofficial opening earlier this year.

decorative image of best-for-vets-plaque , Veteran Student Success Center 2022-10-26 08:00:56

PSC included in Best For Vets Colleges 2022 list by Military Times

decorative image of MilitaryFriendly2022_ig , PSC selected a Gold 2022 Military Friendly School by Viqtory Media 2022-03-08 11:37:48

PSC selected a Gold 2022 Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media

Pensacola State College has been named a 2022-2023 Gold Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media.

This is the 13th year the College has received the accolade, and the first time earning the gold designation.

Pensacola State is one of 282 schools to receive the “Gold” award status for leading practices, outcomes and effective programs that dedicate resources to military students to ensure success in the classroom and after graduation.

“Here at Pensacola State, we are committed to serving our active duty and retired military as well as their family members,” said Pensacola State President Ed Meadows. “The College continually strives to provide outstanding support to military service members and their families as demonstrated by Viqtory Media’s recognition.”

read more…

decorative image of MFS21_Bronze_600x600 , PSC named a 2021 Military Friendly School by Viqtory Media 2021-02-18 15:10:52

Pensacola State College has been named a 2021 Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media.

Pensacola State College has been named a 2021 Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media.

This is the 12th consecutive year that the College has received the designation awarded to U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that dedicate resources to military students to ensure success in the classroom and after graduation.

The College ─ one of 747 schools to be recognized ─ received the Bronze designation for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® designation were evaluated using public data sources along with responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey.

Pensacola State has more than 2,000 veterans, active duty personnel and their dependents enrolled in classes.

read more…

Academic Advising

Student veterans bring a level of diversity, structure, discipline, and leadership to college classrooms because their experiences and skillsets are closely tied to their time in the military. Those student veterans who feel supported have high success rates in completing their college degrees. The PSC Veteran Student Success Center provides veteran-specific academic support and advocacy to ensure student veteran academic success.

The Veteran Student Success Center (VSSC) has a dedicated academic advisor who is available to assist with interest, aptitude, and career-related assessments as well as advisement. Additionally, the advisor assists with enrollment processes, reviewing transfer requirements, military transcripts, financial aid needs as well as graduation and transfer functions.

Other advisors that provide supportive services to veterans, under our Veteran Student Support Services and Veteran Upwards Bound TRIO programs, are also listed below:

decorative image of Biran-Spears , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-20 14:19:17

Brian Spears

Veteran Student Advisor
Veteran Student Success Center

bspears@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 658
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850)484-2019

decorative image of Tilden2 , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-20 14:37:08

Tilden Whitfield

Academic Advisor/Life Skills Coach
Veteran Student Support Services

twhitfield@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 657
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850)484-2050

decorative image of john-woods , Veteran Student Success Center 2022-02-14 10:20:04

John E Woods, EdD, USAF (Ret)

Academic Coordinator – Veterans Upward Bound
Student Veterans Association Advisor

jwoods@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 654
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850)484-1715
Fax: (850)471-4553

Events Calendar and Newsletter

Veteran Student Success Center Newsletter

April-2024-Newsletter

PSC Student Veteran Success Stories

decorative image of Horn , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-03-20 07:57:11

Meet Christopher J. Horn:  Chris served in the United States Marine Corps on active duty from 2008-2012. He graduated Cum Laude from Pensacola State College, receiving his associate degree in 2023. Chris is currently enrolled at the University of West Florida pursuing his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science. Upon graduating, Chris will attend P.A. school and find his calling locally. He also plans to go to flight school and pursue a career in commercial flight. Chris maintains an active presence in the veteran community through his work with the Student Veterans Association. He finds the S.T.E.M. classes at UWF extremely challenging, but very rewarding. Chris’s never give up and never say die attitude will carry him through his academic challenges. When asked what his biggest challenge was, Chris stated, “Organic chemistry,” is for this semester.

decorative image of Matinez , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-03-20 08:00:27

Meet Erick Martinez, he served in the United States Navy on active duty from 2014- 2020. Erick graduated Magna Cum Laude from Pensacola State College, receiving his associate degree in 2023. He is currently enrolled at the University of West Florida pursuing his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and his master’s degree in biology. Upon graduating, Erick will attend medical school and commission in the United States Navy. Erick maintains an active presence in the veteran community through his work with the Student Veterans Association. He continues to serve others through his volunteer work at the Health and Hope Clinic and as a mental health technician at Baptist Hospital. When asked what his biggest challenge was, Erick stated, “Time management, it has been a career-wide effort managing my coursework, volunteer time, clinical time, research time, and family time”.

decorative image of image_6483441-copy , Veteran Student Success Center 2022-08-16 08:42:06

CONGRATULATIONS Dominic McQueen for getting your bachelor’s degree in cyber security from PSC!
“The biggest challenge was going back into the school environment after so many years and coming up with a new life plan. I had expected to be in the military for years until retirement. I felt lost and foreign. I made a new plan to have a successful life so that I can also be proud of my work. Making friends along the way also helped and built confidence in my schoolwork. My proudest moment in school was making friends with two of my instructors and them saying how well I was doing in the classes. I will be even more proud when I get my bachelors and my uncle being proud of what I accomplished because I will be the first in the family with one.”
-Dom

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Angela Boyce

Meet Angela Boyce, she served in the U.S. Navy as an AS3 (Petty Officer Third Class). She is currently enrolled in Pensacola State College’s General Studies Associate in Arts program and is set to graduate Spring 2022.
Angela shared with us some of the challenges she faced with returning to college after discharge from the military, “It had been a while since I graduated high school, so I had forgotten a lot of what I had learned, while in school. College was a new world to me, and I was very nervous about finding my classes, etc.”
Angela tells us that her solutions to meeting those challenges were “I participated in the tutoring services offered at PSC and had the opportunity to retake my Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) for math. Which placed me in college Algebra and helped bring up my confidence with starting a college level math class.” Angela goes on to say, “I made sure to find my classes, books, and supplies, before the semester started and utilized both the Veteran Student Support Services (VSSS) and Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) programs at PSC.” She adds “I asked a lot of questions, and pushed my fear to the side and just jumped in.”
Angela adds that grades are very important to her. Her proudest moments experienced while returning to college were making the Dean’s and President’s lists. She looks forward to the pride she will feel after completing her degree.

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Lisa Marshall Velez

Meet Lisa Marshall Velez, she served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army. Lisa is currently enrolled in Pensacola State College’s Pre-Clinical Laboratory Sciences Associate in Arts (AA) degree program. Lisa is expected to graduate in December 2022.

Lisa faced some challenges while transitioning to college after discharge. She states, “One of the biggest challenges I have encountered has been the age gap between the traditional students, and myself. Since they are straight out of high school, the material is still fresh in their heads, unlike me. I’ve been out of the classroom for more than twenty years.”

Lisa states that one solution she found to this challenge was “understanding that it will take me a bit longer to study and to ask for help when it is needed. I just try to keep a positive mindset about this entire college experience that I am going through.”

Her proudest moments so far have been getting accepted into the Robinson Honors Program at Pensacola State College as well as her induction into the Phi Theta Kappa international honors society for achieving a 4.0 GPA.

decorative image of BrianPhoto , Veteran Student Success Center 2022-01-31 07:46:13
Brian Andrews

Meet Brian Andrews:

Brian retired from the U.S. Navy as a Petty Officer First Class (E-6). He is a graduate of Pensacola State College and received his BAS degree in Business & Management: Organizational Administration in December 2021. Brian currently works as an administrative assistant for the Veteran Student Support Services program at PSC, while pursuing his master’s degree.

When asked about the challenges he encountered when transitioning to college student after military retirement, Brian stated, “Initially, the biggest challenge with returning to school was adjusting to the various formats for education distribution. When I first entered college back in 1995 (yes, I’m dating myself), the traditional in-person method was the preferred (and only) available method. Fast-forward twenty years later and we’re adjusting to several computer-based formats including virtual, live online, hybrid, etc. If these formats are challenging to the average student entering college directly from High School, imagine how much more terrifying they must appear for someone who hasn’t been in that environment for two decades or so.”

Brian added, “one solution which I still hold near and dear to me today is the utilization of resources. It’s impossible to ask anyone to know everything; however, it doesn’t hurt to know what you have at your disposal during those moments of uncertainty. To the best of my knowledge, instructors are put in place to help students succeed. Taking advantage of the invaluable resources they have to offer will only benefit us in the long run.”

He also states that “As an older student, being able to rely upon my worldly experiences played a pivotal role in my success as a student. On some level, I had a noticeable advantage over younger students who had yet to experience the workforce. From an educational standpoint, I found it easier to incorporate my life and work experiences into many of the assignments.”

Brian states “For me personally, walking across the stage to shake hands with the presiding official and collect my degree was tops on the list. Having my family in attendance to witness this event made the ceremony all the more meaningful. That moment provided the perfect punctuation mark to all the hard work and commitment I dedicated to this goal. Gazing upon my certificate with my name embedded in it was my second proudest moment. It was truly the culmination of a special yet personal achievement. Very few things in life can bring one to the feeling that I felt on graduation day.”

Contact Us

decorative image of Kropp , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-21 12:40:36

Kevin Kropp 

TRIO – Veterans SSS Director, Veteran Student Success Center

kkropp@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 662
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850) 484-2005

decorative image of abe-clark , Veteran Student Success Center 2022-02-02 08:12:56

Abe Clark 

Coordinator, Veteran Services Office

aclark@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 609
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850) 471-4688
Fax: (850)484-1486​

decorative image of rob-gregg , Veteran Student Success Center 2022-02-02 08:13:09

Rob Gregg 

Project Director, Veterans Upward Bound Project

rgregg@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 665
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850) 484-1438

decorative image of Brian , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-21 13:22:17

Brian Spears

Veteran Student Advisor
Veteran Student Success Center

bspears@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 658
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850) 484-2019

decorative image of nikki , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-21 13:13:46

Nikki Wilson

TRIO – Veterans SSS
Administrative Assistant / Retention Specialist

lswilson@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 659
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850) 484-1970

decorative image of Lexi , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-21 13:16:03

Alexis Hooks

TRIO – Veterans Upward Bound
Recruitment / Retention Specialist, Veterans Upward Bound

ahooks@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 659
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850) 484-2087

decorative image of Andrew , Veteran Student Success Center 2024-02-21 13:18:24

Andrew Matthew

Veteran Student Success Center – VSSC
Administrative Assistant

anmatthews@pensacolastate.edu

1000 College Blvd. – Bldg. 6 Rm 659
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tel: (850) 484-2100