CSM Celebrates Veterans all Week; Welcomes Secretary Anthony Woods to Campuses

Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs & Military Families Secretary Anthony Woods visited the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Nov. 4 to help celebrate veterans across all CSM campuses. Woods toured CSM’s Center for Health Sciences at the Regional Hughesville Campus along with Charlotte Hall Veterans Home Administrator Sonia Bailey-Gibson and following the tour, he joined CSM leadership, student veterans, faculty and staff for a luncheon at the La Plata Campus.

“Veterans Week at CSM affords us with the opportunity to intentionally pause, honor, and recognize our own student veterans, and to highlight our gratitude and commitment to you,” CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson told those gathered for lunch. “Here at the College of Southern Maryland, we are proud to partner each and every day with our active-duty military, veterans, and military dependent students.”  

CSM saw 473 students using their GI Bill benefits in the last year, placing CSM as the sixth-largest institution of higher education in Maryland serving that population, including active-duty students, veterans, veteran’s spouses, or dependents. Wilson noted that the most popular study programs for military-connected students this fall are degrees in Arts and Sciences, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Management and Nursing.  

“At the College of Southern Maryland, we’re proud to have veterans, active duty, and their families as part of our campus community,” CSM Veterans Affairs Coordinator Rebecca Collins shared. “Our military connected population ranges across many age groups – beginning with many of our faculty and staff members, extending to dual enrollment high school dependents, and including our Vietnam veterans looking for lifelong learning opportunities. This diverse presence enriches our classroom experiences and inspires other students to achieve the impossible.”  

CSM student and six-year Navy veteran Keyanah Dobbins, pictured below with Woods, also spoke at the luncheon to share her experience returning to college.   

“The transition from sailor to student hasn’t been easy, but I am appreciative for the challenges and opportunities I’ve encountered thus far and look forward to the new ones that lie ahead,” Dobbins said. “I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive concerning this new phase in my life. Not only was I starting college again for the second time, but I also had just become a new mom. Despite these challenges, I can confidently say it was well worth it. I admire the care and consideration given to me by my professors; their commitment to my success is truly inspiring.”  

In his remarks, Woods thanked CSM for its commitment to veterans.

“Maryland is home to some incredible veterans,” he said, listing examples of veterans successfully working in Maryland government. He acknowledged that some veterans have a tough time in the transition from military to civilian life and explained that the Department of Veterans Affairs & Military Families is “laser-focused” on the issue. “If we get that right, we have positive things ahead,” he said. 

Wilson also thanked Woods for his support in helping CSM expand its clinical placements for credit and noncredit programs at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home where 31 CSM nursing students are currently providing care. Woods presented CSM with a proclamation for its commitment to veterans, and presented CSM Dean of the School of STEM and Professional Bernice Brezina, pictured left with Woods, with a Governor’s Citation for her work to build the strong partnership between the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home and CSM.

Before wrapping up the day’s festivities, veterans were presented with the CSM military challenge coin.

To view photographs of the day’s events, please visit https://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/p117054458.

Throughout the week, CSM has provided daily activities in support of veterans leading up to the Nov. 11 Veteran Day holiday where CSM will participate in the Leonardtown Veterans Day Parade. Other remaining activities include:

Microsoft Certification Training Tonight Nov. 7 

Microsoft certification training will be offered by Project Veteran House on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Business Building (BU), Room 203, at the La Plata Campus. Register at https://www.csmd.edu/calendar/2024/11/veterans-week-2024-day4.html.

Veteran Resource Day Nov. 8 

St. Mary’s County Department of Aging and Human Services will host a Veteran Resource Day at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at 44219 Airport Rd., in California. https://www.csmd.edu/calendar/2024/11/veterans-week-2024-day5.html.