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Duke Veterans Gather to Hear About Services, Opportunities

Part of the Duke for America Series
Col. (Ret) Dennis R. Lewis, of North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office talks at a Duke Veterans Symposium and Workshop held Monday at the Sanford School of Public Policy. Photo by Bill Snead.
Col. (Ret) Dennis R. Lewis, of North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office talks at a Duke Veterans Symposium and Workshop held Monday at the Sanford School of Public Policy. Photo by Bill Snead.
Geoffrey Mock

In helping veterans transition back to civilian life, Duke and other universities have a valuable role to play, panelists said Monday in a Duke Veterans Symposium at the Sanford School of Public Policy.

More than 30 veterans and members of the Duke community shared ideas and information about services that support veterans in their transition, and the issues they face during it.  Topics discussed included employment, veteran entrepreneurship, VA certification for veteran-owned businesses, housing, mental health and legal issues.

Most veterans make the transition successfully, but need assistance. Several panelists came from private companies who target veterans in hiring because of their training in working together in a group on complicated issues. Their message was that hiring veterans “wasn’t just the right thing to do, it is the effective thing to do for any business.”

Other speakers discussed services available to veterans, such as NC4ME, a private-public partnership that supports hiring of veterans.

But one statistic presented at the event underscored some of the challenges veterans face. A January 2016 survey noted that there were 931 homeless veterans in North Carolina.

Audience members included Duke students, staff and faculty veterans. Many veterans also seek further training and skills at universities, both at the undergraduate and graduate level.  The Duke Office of Student Affairs assists in the transition of veterans.

Sanford School professor Mac McCorkle opened the program by noting that former Duke President Terry Sanford was a proud veteran who fought as a paratrooper in World War II. “Terry would be very proud that we were having this event today,” McCorkle said.

The symposium was organized by the Sanford School, the Duke Student Veterans office and a variety of private and nonprofit organizations working on veterans’ issues. It was moderated by Paul Dillon, an executive with Dillon Consulting who is a former first lieutenant and a member of the US Army Reserve.