Thanking Our Veterans at Rutgers

November 10, 2023

Members of the Rutgers Community,

Each year at this time, we pause to honor the women and men who have served this nation in the armed forces. As we prepare to observe Veterans Day tomorrow, these courageous souls have my enduring admiration and gratitude for their commitment to protecting our freedom.

To all the veterans who study, teach, and work at Rutgers, and to all our alumni, parents, donors, and board members who have served, I thank you as the president of this university—and perhaps even more so as the proud son of a U.S. Air Force veteran. My thanks as well to all those currently in uniform who are engaged with Rutgers in one of these capacities. Throughout our history, Rutgers people have contributed their expertise, volunteered their service, and risked—and in some cases given—their lives in defense of the United States, and their commitment is deeply appreciated. 

I’m gratified that the recent U.S. News & World Report rankings that saw Rutgers rise in our overall reputation also reflected a rise in our rankings in every location as a great university for veterans. That’s a tribute to the excellence and dedication of our Rutgers employees on each campus—Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick—who provide services and programs to meet the needs of our veterans and military students.

Let me also remind you that, through University Behavioral Health Care, Rutgers hosts Vets4Warriors, a 24/7 peer support network dedicated to “answering the call” at any time from any veteran (or veterans’ family members and caregivers) who needs to talk. The number is 1-855-838-8255.

Finally, I want to call your attention to recent stories on the Rutgers website about remarkable Rutgers veterans, including Ricardo Sanchez, who enrolled after his service in the Marine Corps, and is now giving back in numerous ways as the global lead for veterans’ issues at Bristol Myers Squibb; fellow Marine Jacob Kopach, who has organized support groups for veterans at Rutgers–Camden; and Daniel Brigham, a Navy veteran and Reservist who is now pursuing a Rutgers degree in dentistry. They are just a small sample of the many outstanding women and men in uniform who have made Rutgers—and our nation—proud.

Happy Veterans Day!

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor