Veterans are well-represented among the ranks of students, alumni, and faculty.
You sit next to them in classrooms, stand on line with them in the cafeteria, and enroll in the classes they teach. They are the veterans of Pace, a small but inspiring group whose military benefits fund their tuition and housing.
Many veteran students fall into the category of “non-traditional” students; they are a few years older than a typical college freshman, and some are married and raising families. All of them have significant life experience gained through military service. Your veteran classmates and professors may have lived and worked in a half-dozen countries, led platoons on challenging missions, or expertly repaired millions of dollars’ worth of military equipment in high-pressure situations. Their varied experiences and perspectives enhance Pace’s diverse student body.
The educational benefits offered by the GI Bill, one of the most well-known of the military’s educational benefits, were established because of government interviews with American servicemen fighting in Europe in the final years of World War II. When asked what sort of benefits they wanted, many cited tuition assistance for higher education as a top priority. At the time, college was often beyond the reach of even the middle class due to the cost of tuition and the economic necessity of full-time employment (according to the U.S Census, only 4.6% of Americans had college degrees in 1940). The GI Bill made college affordable for veterans and it was a significant part of the trend towards increased college attendance among all Americans.
The GI Bill is not the only educational financing option available to veterans. Other military educational programs include the Veteran Tuition Scholarship Program, Army Tuition Assistance, and the Air Force Tuition Assistance Program. For Pace student veterans and dependents who are at the 100% benefit level of the GI Bill, they can be eligible for the VA’s Yellow Ribbon Program. This program is for students enrolled at more expensive private colleges and helps to cover additional tuition expenses. It must be used in conjunction with the GI Bill. “Pace University has an unlimited Yellow Ribbon program,” explained Nicholas Lotto ’25, an accounting major and president of the Pace chapter of the Student Veterans of America. “Whatever benefits the GI Bill doesn’t cover, Pace covers the rest.” Navigating the paperwork to obtain these benefits can be complicated, but Pace has exceptional services for veterans. Staff members work diligently to help veterans complete the documents needed to process their benefits, fill out their admission applications, and get the most out of their educational journeys at Pace. Veterans are supported at every step of the process with Pace’s dedicated admission team, accelerated admission days, a veteran services team, military credit evaluations, tutoring and academic support, accessibility services, and an annual career fair just for them. And, Pace does not rely merely on its reputation as a ‘veteran-friendly’ school, but also actively seeks veteran applicants by recruiting at transfer fairs and military events.
Col. (Ret) Peter P. Riley is the director of Pace’s Veterans Services Office. With his 30 years of military experience, he is well-positioned to provide mentoring and career guidance to veteran students. He offers educational webinars just for veterans, assists with translating military resumes to civilian resumes, Census, only 4.6% of Americans had college degrees in 1940). The GI Bill made college affordable for veterans and it was a significant part of the trend towards increased college attendance among all Americans.
Not all students covered by the GI Bill are veterans; the benefits also extend to military dependents, such as spouses and children. Some veteran students are active duty, many among the ranks of the National Guard or Army Reserve. These students tend to enroll in online programs, which offer convenience and flexibility to accommodate the demands of military jobs. While most veteran students are in their 20s, a few are in their 50s and 60s pursuing graduate degrees or doctorates like (Ret.) Captain Derek Offer ’22. After 30 years in the Navy, he enrolled in Lubin’s Doctoral Program in Business, graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and received a prestigious Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year award.
Some student veterans have already earned college credits, while others take advantage of Pace’s academic tutoring to bolster their coursework. Just like the rest of the Pace student body, the veterans have a variety of backgrounds and experiences. They typically adjust well to university life, which offers less structure, but also less pressure than military service. Replacing their demanding schedule of military service with a provides references and recommendation letters, and has helped launch many Pace veterans into new and rewarding careers in the private sector or in government roles. Veterans with Pace degrees are highly desirable to employers. It’s not just a patriotic motivation; veterans have the skills, experience, and work ethic that makes them outstanding employees, and the Pace Career Services team works diligently to find the right fit for both graduates and employers. “It’s a great opportunity, and it’s a win-win,” says Col. Riley. “The veterans are getting jobs and the hiring companies are getting the best talent out there.”
It’s not all about help with paperwork. Pace also offers dedicated veterans’ centers on both campuses, where veterans can drop in to study, use the computers and printers, socialize with other veterans, or just relax and enjoy a cup of coffee in a comfortable hangout space. Pace hosts a chapter of the Student Veterans of America (SVA), one of the largest student organizations in the country, with 1,500+ chapters and 750,000+ members. The SVA provides the camaraderie and solidarity of a community of fellow members of the Armed Forces. As you might expect from a military organization, many of their activities are focused on charitable service, such as the annual Tunnels to Towers Run, which raises funds to provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families. Given the outstanding veteran services and the rich college experience offered, it’s not surprising that Pace was among the “Best for Vets Colleges” recognized by Military Times in September 2022. The criteria includes affordability and support services—metrics especially important to non-traditional students. But, the value of a Pace veteran student is not about dollars. Their unique perspectives enrich our classrooms, our student organizations, our social and professional events, and many become our lifelong friends, mentors, and colleagues.
Meet the Veterans of Lubin
Professor Andrew Coggins
Professor Andrew Coggins, PhD, clinical professor of management, is a retired U.S. Navy Commander and a frequently cited expert on the cruise industry. His lifelong love of ships inspired him to join the Navy, where he served for more than twenty-three years on seven ships, as well as in various diplomatic and international roles. After earning a PhD in Hospitality and Tourism Management, he taught at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He advises his students to be resilient: “Be like a ship in a storm: Keep going—even if you have to slow down, keep going, don’t sink!”
Professor Patrick McGuigan
Professor Patrick McGuigan, DPS, clinical professor of management and director of the Doctor of Professional Studies Executive Doctoral Program, has an unconventional career path. He dropped out of high school, joined the Marines, worked for General Electric, became an accountant, moved into financial services, then sales, started three businesses, earned a doctorate in business, and used his practical experience to launch a career in teaching. “You will spend your life trying to figure yourself out, so start now,” he advises his students.
Bryan Comandini ’22
Bryan Comandini ’22 is a Coast Guard Achievement Medal recipient who earned a BBA in Accounting and MS in Financial Management in Lubin’s accelerated combined degree program. Now retired from the Coast Guard, he is an investment specialist at Baron Capital, as well as an experienced real estate agent with a popular newsletter and YouTube channel. He praises Pace for being veteran-friendly, and advises other nontraditional students to “ask as many questions as possible to advisors at the school. In my experience, if they don’t have the answers, they will work hard to find them for you.”
Steven Montesantos ’19, ’21
Steven Montesantos ’19, ’21 graduated with a BBA in Marketing, then returned to Pace to earn an MBA. He is a veteran of the Marine Corps, a fellow of the highly selective Student Veterans of America (SVA) Leadership Institute, and a graduate of Paramount’s Veterans Immersion Program. He is a senior associate in Management Consulting M&A at RSM. He cites Pace’s Career Services Office with helping him make the connections to launch his impressive career. His advice to students: “Use your time wisely and take advantage of various resources during your tenure at Pace University… you only get so many years of college, so make the most of them. There are a number of astounding and insightful professors and staff eager to help you achieve your goals.”
