NSU Fall 2012 Horizons Magazine

28 HORIZONS 29 HORIZONS Fred Roger joined the U.S. Marine Corps at age 19 because he “needed some direction in life.” Honorably discharged as a sergeant from his military ser- vice at age 27, Roger was ready to attend college. He chose Nova Southeastern University because “NSU is veteran friend- ly. They offered quite a few benefits for veterans, plus they had a great curriculum,” said Roger, who received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administra- tion in three years and then completed his M.B.A. in Entre- preneurship from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. By the time Bobby Simeone was 21 years old, he had been to more places around the world than people three times his age because he was attached to a Navy SEAL unit. Now, at age 42, he is pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Organization Management with a minor in Conflict Resolution. A deputy for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office, he plans to go into politics with dreams of becoming a state representative. “Being in the military taught me so much. My time at NSU has educated me in many ways, too, especially helping me to know what I want to do in the future— where I want to go.” Natalie Gutzman joined the Army immediately after high school. Now 27, the undergradu- ate psychology major will finish her degree by the end of the fall 2012 semester. She’ll pursue her master’s degree and Ph.D. from NSU with a very definite goal in mind. She believes that the Center for Psychological Studies has the right resources to help her fulfill her dream of becoming an Army psychologist specializing in post-traumatic therapy. This goal stems from Gutzman’s conversations with several active-duty soldiers who were suffering after returning from deployment. “They told me that they felt many people didn’t understand what they had gone through,” she said. From student veterans to community outreach programs to research to concern for veterans’ health and well- being, NSU has a long-standing history of working with veterans. The university currently has more than 1,000 students either actively serving in the military or who are veterans. The university’s location in South Florida positions it as a veritable hub for veterans. According to a 2009 report issued by the Florida Depart- ment of Veterans’ Affairs, by 2020, Florida is projected to be home to the largest population of veterans in the nation. Today, Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with 120,000 veterans in Broward County alone. NSU offers opportunities to military personnel, veterans, and their families. By Michelle F. Solomon Valuing our Vets