Student feature: From service to student life, veterans at YSU find purpose, support and a new path forward

Feature Story

Story by: Aicha Sawaneh, Professional Communication Graduate Student
Video by: Omar Frazier, junior, Multimedia Communication major

Youngstown State University supports student veterans, service members and their families through resources designed to enhance academic, professional and personal success.

Through the Office of Veterans Affairs, YSU provides assistance with military education benefits, academic success, career development and overall well-being. The university remains committed to serving those who have served, offering services such as priority registration, VA education benefit certification, counseling access and dedicated student support programs.

At a largely commuter campus, many student veterans balance coursework with careers, families and other responsibilities. Their paths to higher education are often nontraditional, shaped by military service, personal growth and life beyond the classroom.

For students like Adam McCann, that journey reflects both challenge and transformation.

A graduate student in criminal justice, McCann served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry machine gunner. During a deployment in Iraq in 2005, he was wounded in combat when shrapnel from enemy mortar fire caused severe injuries to his neck and legs, including significant damage to his Achilles tendon and lower leg muscles, before being discharged in 2006. Now balancing graduate school with family life as a stay-at-home parent, his path to higher education has been anything but typical.

“I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to school at first,” McCann said. “I was searching for purpose and meaning in life.”

It took years before McCann began his academic journey, earning his associate degree before transferring to Youngstown State University through a partnership program. Along the way, his experience was shaped by both personal and academic challenges.

“My college experience has been pretty interesting,” he said.

His military service continues to shape how he approaches both life and school. One of his proudest moments came after his service, when his story was recognized on a national level.

McCann said he had his portrait painted by former President George W. Bush and was featured in Bush’s book, “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors,” an experience that reflects both his service and resilience.

At YSU, however, that experience began to shift.

McCann credits the university’s supportive environment, from faculty to campus resources, with helping him find stability and success, particularly through the Office of Disability Services.

“It took me a long time to learn how to ask for help, and even longer to accept it,” McCann said. “But once I did, it truly helped my academic success skyrocket.”

Now a graduate student, McCann balances his academic responsibilities with family life. He and his wife, Sarah, have been married for six years and are raising their young son, Hunter, while managing the demands of school and daily life.

Now in graduate school, McCann says he has grown significantly as a student, especially in his writing and critical thinking skills, while gaining confidence in his academic abilities.

His career goals have also evolved. While he once planned to pursue federal law enforcement, his priorities shifted after starting a family. Today, he is considering a future in higher education, where he can apply his knowledge while maintaining balance at home.

“My wife and son come first,” he said.

For McCann, the support he found at YSU has been central to his journey.

“Everyone here wants to see you succeed,” he said.

Jacob Sullivan finds purpose through service, discipline and community at YSU.

For Jacob Sullivan, a senior marketing major in the Williamson College of Business Administration, the transition from military service to college was not just about earning a degree. It was about rediscovering his “why.”

Sullivan served four years in the U.S. Army as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist, where discipline and a commitment to serving others shaped how he approached both his work and his life. After completing his service in 2020, he returned to the Youngstown area searching for direction, unsure of where he fit next.

That search ultimately led him to Youngstown State University.

“Something inside of me had changed,” Sullivan said. “I didn’t feel like I fit the same way anymore, but I knew I wanted to better myself.”

At YSU, Sullivan began to reconnect with the sense of purpose that first led him to the military — something bigger than himself.

“Service and discipline are everything,” he said. “My motivation comes from being able to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

That mindset now shapes his daily routine. Sullivan spends much of his time at the Carl A. Nunziato Veterans Resource Center, where he supports staff and connects with other student veterans before and after attending classes.

His experience at YSU has also been defined by opportunity. Through programs such as the Ohio Procurement Internship Program and his involvement with the National Veterans Leadership Foundation, Sullivan has been able to continue serving others while building his professional path.

Equally important, he said, are the people who have supported him along the way.

Sullivan credits faculty and staff across campus, including Rick Williams and Jeremy Firm at the Veterans Resource Center, as well as professors in the Williamson College of Business Administration such as Michelle Green, John Rossi and Doori Song, for helping guide his transition and growth.

“Every time I’ve asked for help, I’ve received it,” Sullivan said. “There are people here who genuinely want to see you succeed.”

That support, combined with his own commitment to growth, marked a turning point in his college experience. In 2024, Sullivan made the decision to refocus on himself, which opened the door to new opportunities and strengthened his sense of direction.

“College helped me realize that when you show up for yourself, opportunities start to show up too,” he said.

Now preparing to graduate, Sullivan is exploring the possibility of pursuing a master’s degree abroad, an opportunity he discovered through connections and networking at YSU.

“If I hadn’t built those relationships here, I wouldn’t even know these opportunities existed,” he said.

For other veterans or military-connected students considering YSU, Sullivan encourages them to embrace the transition, even when it feels uncertain.

“There’s a strong community here, and people are ready to support you,” he said.

“Some of the best opportunities are on the other side of that uncertainty.”

When asked to describe his experience at Youngstown State University in one sentence, Sullivan didn’t hesitate:

“Life-changing.”

Gina Saetan finds purpose in dental hygiene through a deliberate path at YSU. 

For Gina Saetan, a dental hygiene major at Youngstown State University, her journey to college was intentional.

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a machinist, Saetan returned to civilian life and continued working in the same field. While she valued the experience, she realized the career path no longer aligned with her long-term goals.

“I loved the people I worked with, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do forever,” Saetan said.

Instead of rushing into a decision, she took a step back, cutting her work hours and enrolling in classes to explore her options. That process ultimately led her to dental hygiene, a field she discovered through research and hands-on shadowing.

“I wanted to take my time and figure out what I actually wanted to do,” she said. “Once I found dental hygiene, I knew that was it.”

Her search for the right program brought her to Youngstown State University, one of the few institutions offering a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. For Saetan, that distinction mattered.

“I wanted to use my GI Bill in a way that made sense for me long term,” she said. “YSU gave me that opportunity.”

That decision was solidified during a visit to campus, where she connected with staff at the Carl A. Nunziato Veterans Resource Center.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can see a future here,’” she said.

Now a student in the competitive dental hygiene program, Saetan describes her experience as both challenging and rewarding. While the prerequisite coursework required intense focus and strong academic performance, she said the support she has received has made a significant difference.

“The faculty are amazing — they really want you to succeed,” she said. “And the students in the program support each other too.”

Beyond the classroom, the Veterans Resource Center has played a central role in her transition. As a student worker, Saetan has found both flexibility and a sense of belonging.

“I’m just really grateful to have that space,” she said. “It works around my schedule as a student, and it’s a community that understands me.”

Saetan also credits her military background with shaping how she approaches her education. The discipline and leadership skills she developed in the Marine Corps continue to influence her work in the classroom.

“I’m definitely more mature and more focused,” she said. “I take school a lot more seriously now than I would have right out of high school.”

That perspective has helped her navigate one of the more difficult aspects of returning to college: being a nontraditional student.

“It can be hard not to compare yourself to others,” she said. “But I remind myself that my path is different, and that experience still matters.”

Looking ahead, Saetan plans to begin her career in Northeast Ohio after graduation, with long-term goals of building a life rooted in both professional stability and personal fulfillment. She is also open to continuing her education in the future, potentially exploring opportunities in teaching.

She credits YSU with preparing her for that next step.

“The program really sets you up for success,” she said. “I feel confident going into clinical practice.”

Branson Saalinger builds a second career in nursing through discipline and perspective at YSU.

For Branson Saalinger, a senior nursing major at Youngstown State University, returning to school meant starting over, this time with a clearer sense of direction.

After more than a decade in the U.S. Army, where he served as an intelligence analyst and later as an advisor, Salinger made the decision to transition into civilian life with a long-term goal in mind: health care.

“The military helped me reset,” Saalinger said. “It gave me the opportunity to start over and build something new.”

Before leaving the Army, Saalinger took a proactive approach to his transition, connecting with the Carl A. Nunziato Veterans Resource Center nearly a year in advance to ensure he was prepared.

“I wanted to set myself up for success,” he said. “I followed the steps, checked all the boxes, and when I got out, I was ready to start.”

That preparation led him to YSU, where he enrolled in the nursing program in fall 2022.

Saalinger chose Youngstown State in part because of the program’s strong outcomes and accessibility.

“The NCLEX pass rates were high, and the tuition was affordable,” he said. “It made sense.”

Now in his final year, his focus is on completing his coursework and preparing for licensure exams, with plans to begin his career at Mercy Health after graduation.

Saalinger describes his college experience as unique, particularly as a nontraditional student entering a field later in life.

“It’s a different dynamic,” he said. “Most students are much younger, but I’ve already had life experience, so I approach things differently.”

That difference in perspective has become one of his greatest strengths.

“Things that might seem stressful to others don’t feel the same to me,” he said. “I’ve already been through a lot, so I can stay focused on what matters.”

At YSU, Saalinger credits both campus resources and faculty support for helping him succeed. He highlights the value of accessible facilities like the campus recreation center, as well as strong mentorship within the nursing program.

Faculty members, including Professor Calcagni in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, played a key role in building his foundation, from early coursework in health assessment to advanced critical care training.

“They help you build from the ground up,” he said. “You learn the basics, and then you grow into more advanced skills.”

Over time, Saalinger has developed not only technical nursing abilities but also the confidence to move into the profession with a clear path forward.

“I came in not knowing much about nursing,” he said. “Now I feel prepared to step into that role.”

Looking ahead, Saalinger plans to gain experience working locally before exploring opportunities to continue serving others, potentially within the Veterans Affairs system or in military-affiliated health care settings.

“I want to give back to the veteran community,” he said.

For other veterans considering YSU, his advice is direct:

“Don’t overthink it,” he said. “Just do it.”

When asked to describe his experience at Youngstown State University in one sentence, Saalinger kept it simple:

“An experience of growth.”

For Victoria Mathews, military service and higher education go hand in hand.

A sophomore mechanical engineering major, Mathews served six years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a radar technician and continues to serve in the Navy Reserve.

Like many military-affiliated students, her transition to college was intentional rather than immediate.

After completing active duty, Mathews spent a year working as a fitness equipment technician before enrolling in college, giving herself time to adjust to civilian life and determine her academic path.

“I didn’t feel comfortable jumping straight into college,” Mathews said. “I needed time to figure out what I wanted to do, and eventually I decided on engineering.”

Her decision to attend Youngstown State University was rooted in family tradition. “My dad went here, my mom went here and my grandpa taught here,” she said. “It’s a family school for me, so I already felt a connection to YSU.”

Since arriving on campus, Mathews has immersed herself in student life, serving as treasurer of the American Foundry Society student chapter, the Armed Forces Student Association and the Clay Target Shooting Club.

“When I came to YSU, I wanted to get involved in things and not just sit at my desk focused on academics,” she said. “I wanted to try new things, make new friends and meet other people.”

She credits both her military experience and YSU’s support systems for helping her succeed.

“My military background has given me teamwork and leadership experience,” Mathews said. “It has helped me work with other students better and lead a team.”

Mathews also points to the Veterans Resource Center as a major source of support during her time at YSU.

“It helps veterans with education benefits, and it has also provided me with a job and scholarships,” she said.

Looking ahead, Mathews is considering a future in manufacturing or returning to military service as an officer after graduation. For now, she said YSU continues to prepare her for whatever path she chooses next.

“YSU does a great job exposing students to different opportunities,” she said.

Rick Williams, associate director of Veterans Affairs at Youngstown State University, said the goal is to ensure student veterans feel supported in every aspect of their transition.

“Our mission is to help student veterans succeed — not just academically, but personally and professionally,” Williams said. “We understand that their journeys are different, and we’re here to make sure they have the resources, support and community they need to thrive.”

Across campus, stories like these reflect a shared experience of transition, resilience and growth. Through the support of faculty, staff and the Veterans Resource Center, student veterans at Youngstown State University are not only continuing their education, but building new paths forward with purpose.