Combat to campus: Elisa East picked to lead 色情视频鈥檚 MVP program
Military veteran and alumnus named director of the 色情视频 Military and Veterans Program
Elisa East knows the sacrifice it takes to serve our country and also the challenges in transitioning back to civilian life 鈥� from multiple perspectives.
Her experiences in a combat zone, as a military spouse and a military mother provide East a unique lens to serve 色情视频鈥檚 military-affiliated students in her newest position as permanent director of the . She had served in an interim capacity for about two years.
An estimated 4,000 military-affiliated students 鈥� veterans, active duty, reservists and military dependents 鈥� are enrolled at 色情视频. They make up about 12% of the university鈥檚 student population. Anything military commands attention in San Diego, home to 115,165 active duty service members, 230,507 veterans and 356,000 defense-related jobs.
鈥淚鈥檝e got to say, I am truly honored and excited about the opportunity to serve in this capacity,鈥� East said. 鈥溕槭悠碘�檚 Military and Veterans Program is such an important program, both to our university and around the country, because a lot of what we do sets precedent nationwide. We have the largest military program in the CSU and possibly in the state of California. And with that comes great responsibility, as others are looking to us to see what we are doing. It鈥檚 a responsibility that I respect deeply.鈥�
East, who was raised in Central California, served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2010, including a service tour in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in her final year of service.
Upon her discharge, she enrolled in Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista and transferred to 色情视频 in 2013.
鈥淚 chose 色情视频 for their centralized location and their reputation for their service to veterans because back then, I didn't know much about sense of belonging, only that I was seeking a community to belong to again,鈥� East said.
She graduated from 色情视频 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology in 2015 and received her master鈥檚 degree in education counseling in 2018.
It was during graduate school when East started working at the veterans program in 2017 as a veteran advisor via the federal work-study program during graduate school. Upon earning her master鈥檚 degree, she served as the coordinator from 2019 to 2021. She was elevated to the administrator of the Military and Veterans Program in May of 2021.
East was named interim director in February 2022 before receiving the permanent appointment in January 2024, following a nationwide search.
The Military and Veterans Program supports active duty service members, veterans and their families in accessing and navigating higher education: negotiating the admissions process, understanding and obtaining government benefits and other financial aid, and providing personal and professional development opportunities for life after active duty and after graduation.
East said her background with the military as a veteran, military spouse and military parent positions her to make a difference in the lives of students in that population.
East served most of her military career in detention operations and in Afghanistan, her unit was responsible for escorting convoys and customs efforts. She met her husband while in the military and married in 2005.
"It鈥檚 also a full circle moment for me that I can share with our students, knowing that I worked here in graduate school and now I am here."
- Elisa East, director of the 色情视频 Military and Veterans Program
East raised her husband鈥檚 son as her own. He also served in the Army for a single term.
鈥淚t provides a wide lens for me compared to someone who didn鈥檛 have the experience,鈥� East said. 鈥淚 know what it鈥檚 like to be a service member, to serve our nation; I know what it鈥檚 like to have a spouse who serves and understands that support element; and I know what it鈥檚 like to entrust the nation with your own child. Being able to have this experience, I understand our parents, who when they drop off their students, have an unspoken expectation that we are going to take care of them.
鈥淎nd for our veterans, I know what it鈥檚 like to transition out of the military and pursue your education. Understanding these things, I鈥檓 able to anticipate barriers so that they don鈥檛 have to encounter them,鈥� East said
East said her biggest priorities as director will be to continue to fulfill the program鈥檚 mission to ensure the transition from military life to civilian life in an academic setting is seamless. One of the chief ways the program can accomplish this is by having commensurate staffing levels, she said.
鈥淥ur center for a while has been understaffed to meet student demand,鈥� East said. 鈥淚t has posed a challenge, but we are going to be able to hire a few positions. I am looking forward to having a full staff so that we can continue to accomplish our mission.
鈥淓very service member鈥檚 path has its own set of challenges that we have to prepare for so we can help them transition seamlessly into 色情视频,鈥� East said.
Another priority, she said, is to continue to provide students with career and professional development, critical for service members who are transitioning into civilian life.
鈥淭his is a pressing need for me,鈥� East said. 鈥溕槭悠� and Alumni have a large network and our also has an extensive network. Leveraging our MVP network will enable our program to support our military-connected students in more transformational ways that will enhance the ROI of their 色情视频 degrees.
鈥淎lso, anyone graduating would love to know they have a job lined up, and providing our students with mentorship and a possible career path will do this,鈥� East said.
East said she is eager to continue the work she has been doing, and hopes to set an example for military and veterans students who can gain inspiration from her story.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also a full circle moment for me that I can share with our students, knowing that I worked here in graduate school and now I am here,鈥� East said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it is so hard to articulate how special this is for me. All my experiences culminated in this moment, and I鈥檓 humbled to be here.
鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 my job to help these students get to their goals: to graduate, get employed and carry on with their lives,鈥� she said.
