Through robust programming, tailored support, and the generosity of donors, Northern Arizona University (NAU) is committed to supporting its veteran and military-connected students.
“It’s the entire university community—faculty, staff, students, and donors—that makes this possible,” said Pete Yanka, director of student life experience for NAU’s Veteran and Military Services.
The Veterans Success Center acts as a central hub for resources, providing guidance on accessing VA benefits, navigating university systems, and building community through peer support.
“Veterans come to NAU from a regimented environment and face the challenge of transitioning to a very different, more fluid one,” Yanka said. “The Success Center helps bridge that gap, making the shift less overwhelming.”
Career support is another cornerstone of NAU’s approach. Veteran and Military Services partners with NAU Career Development to connect students with veteran-friendly employers through job fairs, helping them translate their military experience into meaningful civilian careers.
NAU also offers tailored courses like FYS 131: Cultural Understanding for Veterans, which helps students explore the intersection of military and civilian cultures, focusing on critical thinking, writing skills, and connecting with community support.
Donor-funded initiatives have further strengthened NAU’s support for these students. Among the university’s standout programs is the New Student Veteran River Rafting Trip, a four-day adventure on the Colorado River that fosters camaraderie among new veteran students before their first semester.
Retired Navy Vice Admiral Robin Braun, ’77, began providing financial support for the trip in 2021. “It sets the tone for incoming veteran students, helping them connect with their peers and the university,” Braun said.
As a dedicated NAU Foundation Board member and alumna, Braun has contributed to the university through speaking engagements, student mentoring, and support for a wide range of programs including the rafting trip.
“I have tremendous respect for the experience and maturity that veteran students bring to the university,” she said. Braun emphasized that while education benefits provide support, they often fall short of covering all expenses. “My hope is that no veteran leaves NAU due to financial challenges,” she added.
Braun is joined by other donors committed to expanding NAU’s support for veterans. Dale Butcher, ’77, established the Veterans Emergency Fund in 2016 to assist students facing unexpected hardships. A Vietnam veteran, Butcher attended NAU after his military service and credits the university with providing a welcoming environment and an excellent education. Earl Matthews, ’83, a retired U.S. Air Force major general who held key leadership roles at the Pentagon and in cybersecurity, created a Military Spouse Scholarship in 2018 to support the families of veterans pursuing their educational goals.
This comprehensive support for veterans has earned NAU national recognition. The university was ranked No. 1 in the West and No. 3 nationally in Military Times’ 2024 “Best for Vets Colleges” rankings.
While the ranking is a significant milestone, Yanka pointed out that NAU’s commitment goes beyond accolades: “These are community members who have sacrificed quite a bit for all of us. They serve overseas, lose loved ones, and lose precious time with their families. Their commitment to service is more than wearing a uniform—it’s engrained in the tapestry of who they are. With or without the ranking, we have an obligation to support them, and we take that extremely seriously at NAU.”
