Stony Brook University professional staff member Jane York was featured in this month’s U.S. Veterans Magazine, and recognized for the creation of the Vets-4-Vets peer sponsorship initiative.
Currently serving as the coordinator of Military and Veteran Student Services at Stony Brook, York was interviewed by the magazine about the initiative, which works to pair military-affiliated students with student sponsors.
“That time from getting out of the military to becoming a student is overwhelming. We want to make it less daunting. I was lucky to land somewhere so supportive, and I want every veteran here to feel the same,” York told the magazine.
The article explains that the strategy used by Vets-4-Vets is to pair up student veterans with sponsors that share a “common ground,” whether that be serving in the same location or studying in the same academic program. This is done by taking each student’s information into account, including branch of service, major and duty station history.
Vets-4-Vets was launched at SBU by York as a graduate student back in 2018. York later returned to the university as a professional staff member following time served in the Navy.
“I’ve lived this experience myself,” York explains in the article. “I was so fortunate to intern with the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services during my first year. I never forgot the connections I made and the community I helped to build.”
Read the complete feature online at U.S. Veterans Magazine.
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