Posted 1:54 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015
Former UWL student veteran takes over as interim veteran educational benefit coordinator this fall.
By UW-L student intern Heidi Gempeler
Michael Bahr, former UWL student veteran and work-study employee for the Veteran Services office, has recently been promoted to fill the vacancy left by Nicole Jablonski, former veteran education benefit coordinator. Bahr, who graduated in December 2014 with a major in political science and a minor in sociology, was officially appointed interim coordinator July 20.
[caption id="attachment_42587" align="alignleft" width="250"]
Michael Bahr, interim veteran education benefits coordinator.[/caption]
As a student, Bahr experienced the difficulties of understanding service members' educational benefits firsthand.
“Having experience here as a student will only help me better serve the service members on campus," he says.
Bahr also brings experience as a work-study student, the educational benefit coordinator’s assistant in the Veteran Services office. His duties included explaining educational benefits to service members and dependents, as well as entering data. After being promoted in July, Bahr says his responsibilities have increased greatly.
“As a work-study student, I was not exposed to the intricate workings of this office," he says. "So much of what happens in this office affects other offices as well, such as Financial Aid and the Cashier’s Office."
A large part of Bahr’s job includes Green Zone Training, an online certification that teaches faculty and staff about campus about veterans’ issues and how to provide support. Bahr will continue promotion of the program, which provides an opportunity to become Green Zone Certified.
“My main goal is to ensure that service members and dependents of service members all receive the educational benefits and resources that they have earned,” Bahr says. “I am also seeking to improve awareness of veterans and service members on campus.”
As fall semester approaches, Bahr is working on finalizing summer benefits and putting together informational packets for new and transfer student service members. He is also working to improve the process student service members use to request their benefits and improve access to more benefit information.
Michael Bahr, interim veteran education benefits coordinator.[/caption]
As a student, Bahr experienced the difficulties of understanding service members' educational benefits firsthand.
“Having experience here as a student will only help me better serve the service members on campus," he says.
Bahr also brings experience as a work-study student, the educational benefit coordinator’s assistant in the Veteran Services office. His duties included explaining educational benefits to service members and dependents, as well as entering data. After being promoted in July, Bahr says his responsibilities have increased greatly.
“As a work-study student, I was not exposed to the intricate workings of this office," he says. "So much of what happens in this office affects other offices as well, such as Financial Aid and the Cashier’s Office."
A large part of Bahr’s job includes Green Zone Training, an online certification that teaches faculty and staff about campus about veterans’ issues and how to provide support. Bahr will continue promotion of the program, which provides an opportunity to become Green Zone Certified.
“My main goal is to ensure that service members and dependents of service members all receive the educational benefits and resources that they have earned,” Bahr says. “I am also seeking to improve awareness of veterans and service members on campus.”
As fall semester approaches, Bahr is working on finalizing summer benefits and putting together informational packets for new and transfer student service members. He is also working to improve the process student service members use to request their benefits and improve access to more benefit information.