UHCL’s Office of Veteran Services loses new director after a little over three months

Captain Wendell M. Wilson Office of Veteran Services (VSO) is where “military-affiliated” students, or roughly 10% of UHCL’s student population, are able to go for educational support, help and advice, or if they simply want a chill spot to hang out and get a cup of coffee. This past year the VSO experienced the loss of two directors and one coordinator, but that has not slowed down the efforts of Natasia Pilling, interim coordinator of veteran services at UHCL, and the other student-staff who have been holding down the fort at the VSO. 

Pilling assures students all is well. So far this semester Pilling has certified roughly 700 students and the office has maintained processing schedules with no decrease in any programming. Pilling said the Office’s first priority is ensuring that veterans and service members have access and the opportunity to succeed in higher education. 

“Natasia has experience being the staff person to keep the lights on,” said David Rachita, dean of students. “The Division of Student Affairs has been very impressed with Natasia’s level of professionalism and the knowledge and experience she brings to the office.’’ 

After months of planning and effort led by a group of veteran students, the VSO emerged in 2013 as a full-time office on the UHCL campus. Trisha Ruiz and Jay Hernandez were hired as the VSO director and coordinator respectively. Ruiz stepped down as director in July 2018. Subsequently, Hernandez stepped up as head of the VSO until he too left Oct. 19, 2018, approximately two and a half months later.

Pilling, who graduated from UHCL as a veteran student using the Post-9/11 GI Bill with a bachelor’s in anthropology, was hired on as the VSO Program Assistant in August 2018. Pilling, serving as interim coordinator, was in charge of the office during the search process for a new director: Oct. 19, 2018- June 3, 2019. 

UHCL welcomed new VSO Director Phil Gore, a former director of Military and Veteran Affairs at Georgia Southern University, June 3, 2019. In a July 2019 article of The Signal titled, “New UHCL VSO director aims to create culture shift, increase understanding for military-affiliated student’s needs,” Gore expressed excitement to make UHCL a center of excellence for military student success, including four new programs to be implemented. 

Gore left UHCL and the VSO Sept. 13, a little over three months after accepting the position. Once again, Pilling stepped up to head the VSO. 

 “The University as a whole and the Student Affairs Division has been open-handed in offering and providing support to our office in any way we need, “ Pilling said. “I feel secure that everything is going to be okay.”

Pilling said because of doing a lot of the work by herself and with her 6 student-staff, there have been no office closures, other than the normal university closures.

“She did a fantastic job last year when the then Director and Assistant Director took positions elsewhere, which means she knows exactly what to do this time around,” Rachita said. “In fact, students probably won’t even feel the difference because she now knows from experience what they will already be needing, and she knows how to make that happen.” 

The VSO helps veteran students with everything from issues with a Blackboard syllabus to assistance for students facing homelessness or financial issues. For example, the office has a personal hygiene pantry and can provide referrals to university and community resources. They also help to administer parking permits for disabled veterans with qualified license plates, VA disability reps, and graduation cords. 

“My services haven’t been impacted at all,” said Daniel Ewing, management information systems major and Air Force veteran. 

Services apply to those in the student population who are “military-connected,” this includes veteran students and veteran dependents who may also be eligible, assuming they meet all the service requirements and qualify. 

 “The VSO is in place to help solve any and all questions and issues concerning military education benefits,” Pilling said. “All federal education benefits, such as and the Post 911 GI Bill, as well as state benefits like HB 269 for undergraduates and the State Hazelwood benefit, are processed through the VSO.”

For students on benefits such as the Post 911 GI Bill, as well as for students on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, pay tuition fees directly to the institution. So a considerable amount of money comes into the institution from the one-tenth of the student population who are using those kinds of education benefits.

Anthony Fogg, who is the president of the Veteran Students Association, said he has had a hard time getting students to join or even respond to his emails. 

“I have noticed that Veterans often take a hands-off approach to the institutions that they attend until their education funds are affected,” Fogg said. “I believe that the students need to be the ones to step up and become involved in the program and the office that represents them.”