New veterans and military affairs director eager to return to alma mater
The University of South Carolina’s Department of Veterans and Military Affairs is a central hub of support for nearly 2,300 military-affiliated students. It provides a broad array of programs, initiatives and partnerships that contribute to academic, professional and social success for those it serves — something the department’s consistent national recognitions attest to.
On Jan. 16, the department welcomed as executive director Candace Terry, former Student Veterans Association president at USC and a key player in establishing the unit on campus.
My priority is always going to be making sure that the veterans’ needs are met so that they can thrive to the best of their ability in the academic environment and then further on into their communities.
Terry has held a variety of roles serving the United States government and military, from government affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to cryptologic technician interpreter for the U.S. Navy, before being appointed director of Veterans and Military Affairs. Terry holds a Master of Social Work from USC and a B.A. in Russian Studies from the University of Kentucky.
It's been a winding path from the armed forces to the University of South Carolina, but, having been raised in Tennessee by Gamecock parents, it’s one that felt natural. However, when Terry arrived at the university in 2016 to pursue her M.S.W. as an eight-year Navy veteran, she noticed something was missing: There was not much available in the way of helping student veterans and military-affiliated students apply to the school and transition into the Carolina community.
Along with a group of like-minded peers, Terry advocated for a space for student veterans to gather, in addition to the hiring of a full-time staff member to support military-affiliated students in addressing their unique needs and challenges. The position she helped to create, previously held by Jared Evans, is the same one she has now assumed: overseeing the department’s vast array of programming, initiatives and support resources.
It's a responsibility she takes seriously.
“My own experiences have shaped how I view the challenges that veterans face when they are transitioning [into the civilian population] because I had my own challenges as I transitioned, but because of the support I had, I was able to be successful,” Terry says. “It has made me one of the biggest advocates and voices for veterans and veteran issues.”
Since Terry’s time as a student, the university has been recognized as having the best Student Veterans Association chapter in the country and received the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Gold Award to honor Carolina’s commitment to veteran and military students on campus. Terry is dedicated to seeking out opportunities to increase the reach of the department, including an expanded Veterans and Military Center of Excellence and targeted outreach to less-engaged military-affiliated populations.
“Veterans are some of the most capable people that you’re ever going to find out there. They thrive in the community. Sometimes, however, that means that we’ve got to help them transition into the community first,” Terry says. “My priority is always going to be making sure that the veterans’ needs are met so that they can thrive to the best of their ability in the academic environment and then further on into their communities.”