VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff

Empire State University serves over a thousand military-affiliated students—more than any other school in the SUNY system. Now, a new initiative aims to prepare more faculty and staff to support this unique population of learners. That’s the goal behind UNITE, a professional development series created by the Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC).  

“The hope is that it helps integrate a wider contingency of the university into military and veteran programming because the more support and understanding we have, the better our students are going to feel,” says Desiree Drindak, director of the VMRC.  

Launched this fall with backing from the university’s Special Projects Fund, the program centers on five pillars: Understand, Nurture, Inspire, Transition, and Empower. Participants must engage in events and/or trainings related to each. To satisfy requirements for the “Nurture” pillar, for instance, participants must attend panel presentations on military student success and funding. The “Understand” pillar, meanwhile, includes training in mental health first aid. 

Overall, the program—which takes about 15 hours to complete—is designed to be flexible. There are in-person and virtual options to help address scheduling challenges, plus a variety of ways for participants to work through each pillar. 

“It’s mostly set up like a choose-your-own-adventure,” Drindak says of the curriculum, which encourages participants to explore and report back on local resources for active military and veterans. “It’s meant to let people delve into things they’re interested in learning about and give them a wide range of opportunities.” 

Open to all faculty and staff, the program currently has 40 participants, but Drindak notes that more enrollees—including those with military affiliations—are welcome.  

“I think actually it’s valuable to have people who are connected to the military community participate because they bring that voice to the table when we’re in conversation,” says Drindak, a military spouse. “Every person’s experience is going to be different. A child of a veteran is going to bring a different perspective than a military spouse or a military member. I think all those voices are important to help our community learn more about supporting our military families.” 

As a UNITE participant, Jacob “JayJay” Johnson offers one such voice. The graduate recruiter/admissions coordinator, whose father (among other relatives) served in the military, says the program has been “incredibly meaningful” for him.  

“Each part of the journey has shaped my understanding in a different way,” Johnson says, noting his participation in events like Honoring Our Heroes. “Along the way, I’ve seen how dedicated we are to supporting both current military and veteran students and their families through flexible learning options, knowledgeable staff, and a genuine commitment to making sure they feel valued and understood. Altogether, these experiences have given me a richer perspective and a profound respect for the communities we serve.”