North Columbus News

The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University has been selected as one of 12 public service schools to participate in a national initiative aimed at connecting veterans and military families with education pathways in public service. This program, known as Service to Service, is a collaboration between the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans and Military Families. It seeks to recruit military-connected students into master’s degree programs starting in fall 2025, offering them cross-campus experiences that promote networking and professional development, ultimately facilitating their entry into state and local government roles.

Trevor Brown, dean of the Glenn College, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative: “The Glenn College strives to inspire citizenship throughout our community and develop the next generation of public and nonprofit leaders.” He emphasized the college's commitment to supporting veterans in their continued leadership efforts.

Ellen Gustafson, co-founder and executive director of We the Veterans and Military Families, highlighted the significance of this partnership: “We hope future veteran graduates of the Glenn College will follow in his footsteps and continue their service to the country.”

The program aims to leverage veterans' high levels of public trust—approximately 70% confidence among Americans—to enhance trust in government institutions. Sara Mogulescu, president of the Volcker Alliance, noted that "the veteran community is a diverse, highly trusted and service-oriented group" well-suited for leadership roles in government.

Preston Phillips will lead Ohio State's involvement in Service to Service. A retired U.S. Air Force major with a Master’s degree from Glenn College, Phillips believes that many military positions are akin to state and local government roles.

Kevin Cullen, assistant vice provost at Ohio State, stated that veterans are more likely than non-veterans to pursue careers in public service due to alignment with their military experience. Cullen added that Ohio State has been a leader in serving student veterans by providing comprehensive resources for academic success.

Service to Service will bring together students annually for networking opportunities and workshops focused on state and local government careers. The participating schools include Arizona State University; Cornell University; Pepperdine University; Syracuse University; The Ohio State University; The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Arkansas; University of California, Berkeley; University of Central Florida; University of Kentucky; University of Michigan; and University of Missouri.

For further details about Service to Service at Ohio State, visit https://glenn.osu.edu/graduate-programs/service-service.