After serving in the Army and earning a doctorate on the role of higher education in the American democracy, Jonathon Sanders, Ph.D., has built a career around helping others navigate the transition from military service to civilian and academic life.
He joined Metropolitan State University of Denver in July as the new director of Veteran and Military Student Services. In this role, Sanders supports more than 1,000 students who identify as military-connected, a term that includes veterans, active-duty service members and their spouses and dependents.
“This is more than a job for me,” Sanders said. “Education changed my life, and I want to help others make the most of the education benefits they earned by serving our country.”
Focused on success and belonging
Sanders came to MSU Denver from the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he directed veteran services. He has experience working with both student veterans and active-duty service members and brings a background in research on higher education, democracy and military transitions.
“He is the ideal leader for this role,” said Cynthia Baron, Ed.D., assistant vice president for Equity and Student Engagement. “Jonathon brings not only professional experience and scholarly insight but also genuine passion and empathy for this population. We’re incredibly fortunate to have him.”
MSU Denver has been recognized as a Gold-level Military Friendly School and is consistently listed among the Best for Vets nationally. With 1,018 military-connected students enrolled this fall, the University ranks among the top institutions in Colorado for this population. President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., has made it a priority to become the state’s leading undergraduate destination for military-connected students.
Meeting students where they are
Military-connected students bring strengths such as leadership experience, adaptability and a strong work ethic. Nationally, they outperform their civilian peers in grade point average, retention and graduation rates.
But they also face barriers. At MSU Denver and nationally, nearly two-thirds of military-connected students are first-generation college students. Many also have dependents, work full time or manage service-connected disabilities, all of which can make college navigation more complicated.
The Veteran and Military Student Services Center helps students access and manage their education benefits, provides advising and support referrals, and offers a lounge, computer lab and food pantry. Some students come for help with paperwork, others just need a quiet place to study or connect.
“Sometimes students just want to be around others who understand their lived experience,” Sanders said. “That kind of connection matters.”
A University-wide effort
Sanders is also focused on strengthening the University’s readiness to serve military-connected students through faculty and staff engagement. He leads Green Zone training sessions, a professional development program that offers insight into military culture, student needs and communication styles.
“Faculty and staff can make a big difference,” Sanders said. “Understanding where these students are coming from can improve how we support and retain them.”
He is also working with orientation, academic affairs and other campus offices to improve onboarding and communication with military-connected students. One long-term goal is for MSU Denver to become an on-post education provider at Fort Carson, which would allow the University to offer programs directly to active-duty soldiers and their families. There is also a plan to provide more support specifically for female-identifying veterans and military service members, a population that often goes underserved.
“MSU Denver already offers academic programs that attract military-connected people. Now we’re building the infrastructure to support them from day one through graduation,” said Baron.
How to get support:
- Refer students to the Veteran and Military Student Services Center
- Request a Green Zone training from Sanders
- Reach out concerning a military-connected student by contacting [email protected]
