Student Veteran Services
On October 1, 2018, with little fanfare, our Division grew. Eric Gormly and his office of one became the newest addition to the Student Affairs team. Eric left the umbrella of Enrollment Services because his work was uniquely different than others within the unit and joined our team under the umbrella of the Office of the Dean of Students as the Program Director of Student Veteran Services. Many of you are familiar with the three centers’ in the Student Union: the Women’s Center, the Henderson Springs LGBT Center and the Multicultural Center. There are officially four centers in the Student Union and Eric has oversight of the fourth which is the Major General Edward M. Reeder, Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center. The Student Veteran Resource Center and Eric’s office share common space on the second floor of the Plemmons Student Union. If you ever stop by there is usually some grungy coffee brewing, which I am told is intentional, most seats are taken and some fun banter is occurring while obvious learning is occurring. Eric has collaborated with many departments within our division and elsewhere to provide helpful and intentional services and resources to our student veterans.
If you have had an opportunity to spend time with Eric, which I encourage you to do, you will know that he unequivocally wants to work with student veterans and their families. This desire was born from his own experiences. Eric served in the Marines for six years, which included two tours of duty in Iraq. He previously worked with veterans at Johnson County Community College and the University of Kansas Medical Center. He himself attended school and used the resources afforded to veterans. Asked about long term goals - he wants to help veterans and their families be successful in their academic pursuits and will do anything within his power to make that happen. He has had some influential mentors that he credits often that have helped him grow as a professional and have helped him solidify his desire to work with student veterans and their families. He has a clear vision for how he would like to see Appalachian’s Student Veteran Services grow on our campus as well as the size and scope of the Student Veteran Resource Center.
If anyone in the Division is from Kansas just know that Eric loves his home state and every athletic team that comes from there. You might say that Eric is a true fan of every sport but at the top of his list is the Kansas City Chiefs. Eric’s clothing choices typically reflect the game of the week and though the sport may change the city or state never do.
The Student Veteran Resource Center is open weekdays from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. The students that staff the Center are veterans themselves pursuing diverse academic programs. When the Center was first being conceptualized concern was that it would not be utilized. Since its opening in November of 2016, there have been over 7000 visits. It is not uncommon to drop into the Center and find all seats taken. The University has for the last ten years received Military Friendly Recognition and the creation of the Student Veteran Resource Center and Eric’s hiring is another student veteran supportive measure in being military friendly. Along with this recognition, the University supports the Military Affairs Committee, which Eric is part, made up of campus faculty and staff with military history and/or responsibilities related to the needs of our student veterans ie financial aid, admissions, career development. This Committee provides information to Campus leadership regarding policy, process, and programs that will enhance the Appalachian student veteran experience.
Should you have any questions regarding Student Veteran Services or the Student Veteran Resource Center please contact Eric Gormly at gormlyea@appstate.edu or call the Student Veteran Resource Center at 828-262-7473.