New William & Mary Program Supports Veterans as They Transition to the Civilian Workforce

William & Mary (W&M) is utilizing an anonymous $10 million gift from an alumna to establish the Veteran-to-Executive Transition program (W&M VET).

The program will focus on assisting veterans during their transition from active duty to the civilian workforce by expanding current W&M support services and offering networking and mentorship opportunities. 

“[The donor] was interested in what we might do to help veterans make a better transition after their service,” says Dr. James R. Golden, senior consultant to the president at W&M. “Her experience was that they faced some cultural challenges in adapting from the military setting to a corporate setting. She wondered what we could do to help with that.” 

Under the W&M VET program, the university plans to hire a special assistant for military and veterans affairs. An advisory board filled with executives and military veterans will also be established. Dr. Robert M. Gates, chancellor of W&M and former U.S. secretary of defense, will serve as the honorary chairman of the advisory board. 

The program will also look to foster overall holistic wellness in addition to building professional skills. 

“We can help people deal with all the dimensions of the transition, not just the skills that they will need,” says Golden. “How do they manage their time? How do they focus their energy? How do they overcome the stress that they will encounter as they transition into these other positions?”

Existing programs at W&M