Military and Veteran Student Support
Student veterans and military-connected students are a valued part of the North Park community. Whether you’re transitioning from service to student life, beginning your military career, or seeking to be a better ally to military students on campus, you’ve come to the right place to obtain resources, discover upcoming events both on and off campus, and find outlets for advocacy and self-advocacy.
Student Spotlight:
Joshua Ayala, ROTC Cadet
“ROTC here at NPU is one of the most pleasant and rewarding experiences I have ever had the privilege to participate in. There is never a day that goes by that I regret my decision to be part of the greatest team with the strongest camaraderie, and you will come to realize just as I did, that your family just grew a little bigger.”
Get Involved
Learn about upcoming events on and off campus to connect with other students, support groups, and additional resources.
Veterans Advisory Council
The Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) at North Park University provides support and guidance to active duty members of the military, military veterans, and military dependents for their academic success and growth and in mind, body, and spirit.
Council Members:
Dr. Sarah Doherty, Associate Professor of History
Dr. Linda McDonald, Associate Professor of Physics
John Born, Assistant Vice President for Athletics & Sports Management
Patricia McCanna, Academic Advisor and PLA Coordinator
Dr. Tim O’Brien, Director of The Academy of Church Leadership
LTC Nick Bugajski, Chair and Professor of Military Science, Loyola University Chicago
Teisha Barnes, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Loyola University Chicago
Rudyard Urian, Military Science Instructor, Loyola University Chicago
Student Veterans Association Advisor
Dr. Sarah Doherty
Associate Professor of History Dr. Sarah Doherty serves as the adviser to North Park’s Student Veterans Association and is a member of the Veterans Advisory Council. In these roles, she helps military-connected students connect with resources, advocates for greater campus awareness of these students, and is their liaison in navigating the University.
Contact Sarah:
Email: sedoherty@northpark.edu
Office phone: (773) 244-5742
Location: Caroline Hall 1st floor
Student Support:
“Coming from a military family, I have first-hand experience with the stress and difficulties that come with service. That is not to say that I know what you go through but that I see you, I value you and what you bring to this campus, and I’m grateful that you are here.”
-Deanna Crosby, Senior Senator and Chairwoman of the Council for Health and Wellness, C’18
Students Veterans of America (SVA)
North Park has an official SVA chapter called Viking Veterans. Throughout the academic year, Viking Veterans hosts a variety of events including a Veterans Day service, Christmas Cards for Troops, and a Military Student Recognition Dinner.
Some of our Viking Veterans also benefit from networking and professional development events hosted by Student Veterans of America-Illinois (SVA-IL), a statewide organization. Checkout SVA-IL’s Facebook page for updates about future programming.
Admissions Benefits
Active-duty members, veterans, and their dependents who attend North Park as undergraduate or graduate students may qualify for educational benefits including an institutional Military Tuition Grant. Learn more about the assistance available and your eligibility.
Faculty Support:
“I’ve had the opportunity of working with several veterans in my courses and other duties here at North Park. These veterans have been focused and hard-working: they knew what they wanted from school, and they knew how to set goals to get there. Even vets who came in feeling uncertain of their math abilities rolled up their sleeves, studied hard, had a great attitude, and made success for themselves in my math courses. I admired them and enjoyed getting to know them, and I’d be so happy to have more vets take my courses (math major, anyone?!!) any and every semester.”
– Dr. Rachelle Ankney, Associate Professor of Mathematics
Stories of North Park
If you would like to help advocate for veteran and military students by sharing a story about yourself or another campus community member, please fill out our story submission form. A staff member from University Marketing and Communications will reach out to follow up. We look forward to hearing from you.
Note: All students represented in uniform are Army ROTC Cadets.