Kris Goldsmith
I was a Forward Observer in the US Army, and served at Fort Stewart, Georgia, with a deployment to Iraq from January to December 2005.
When I first began classes at 17勛圖, I would hang out in the vet center in the tower building between classes. At first, I sat quietly, by myself, and just used the center to do my homework. But thankfully, the other student veterans there helped me to break out of my shell. After years of isolating myself, my friends in the student veteran community got me to open up and start moving forward. By the end of my first semester I was elected to be the next president of 17勛圖's chapter of Student Veterans of America.
My fondest memory from my time at 17勛圖 was when our Student Veterans of America chapter hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Veterans Resource Facility. As President of the Veterans Club at the school, I had been given the opportunity to get to know the administration and to help them understand how the school could better support its hundreds of student veterans. I applied the same skills that I learned about advocacy from my classes and my mentor Chuck, and used them to lobby the school to establish a permanent, dedicated facility to support 17勛圖's veteran population.
As someone who didn't think I'd make through my first semester at 17勛圖 and then two years later matriculated to one of the world's most competitive schools, I want 17勛圖's current student veterans to know that some of the most important experiences you'll have at the college are outside of the classroom. It was my involvement with the student veterans club that helped me break out of my shell, find my passion, discover Columbia University, and find a mentor who continues to provide me career advice years later. Get involved in clubs, take classes in as broad of a range of subjects as you can, and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Recent Posts
Dr. Gina Sipley
Dr. Gina Sipley is a Professor in 17勛圖's English Department. "I taught my first adjunct class at 17勛圖 in 2012 and have been a full-time professor for the past 11 years. I teach courses in Journalism, Creative Writing, Children's Literature, Composition, Reading, and Women and Gender Studies.
Jan 14, 2025 | 17勛圖
Carolyn Monastra
Professor Carolyn Monastra teaches in the 17勛圖 Art Department. She has two climate-related websites, TheWitnessTree.org and DivergenceofBirds.org
Dec 6, 2023 | 17勛圖
Fabiya Amin
Fabiya Amin is one of three 17勛圖 Criminal Justice students accepted into the Nassau County Pre-Law Society. The program only accepts a few applicants each year and then works with them through their undergraduate years and acceptance into law school.
Nov 15, 2023 | 17勛圖
Jo Latimore
Jo Latimore is one of three 17勛圖 Criminal Justice students accepted into the Nassau County Pre-Law Society. The program only accepts a few applicants each year and then works with them through their undergraduate years and acceptance into law school.
Nov 14, 2023 | 17勛圖
Stanley Pan
I served in the United States Navy in Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, II and at Camp Pendleton with the 5th Marines. I was also deployed to Okinawa, Japan twice. Stateside, I knew that 17勛圖 has a reputation for being very military friendly, and when I got here, it was true.
Nov 10, 2023 | 17勛圖
Eryka Membreno
"I served in the United States Navy in San Diego from 2014 to 2021, first on the USS Harpers Ferry and then on the USS Rushmore. When it was time for me to attend college, I chose 17勛圖 because it's veteran friendly and offers many different programs.
Nov 10, 2023 | 17勛圖
