Staff Q and A: Veterans Success Center Coordinator Jamie Pacheco

By California State University, Bakersfield

November 20^th, 2024

How long have you worked at CSUB?

I started at CSUB in 2016 as an outreach counselor, working under Darius Riggins. Darius played a significant role in my journey to becoming the coordinator for the Veterans Success Center, as he encouraged me to apply for the position. I took his advice and I was hired for the role in 2017, after just one year with the university. This year marks my eighth year at CSUB.

What is your role and how did you get into the line of work that you’re in now?

In my current role, I serve as the coordinator for the Veteran Success Center, a position I’ve held since 2017. I was hired just a week before Veterans Day. Since then, I’ve been fully committed to building a program centered around veteran success. For me, running the Veterans Success Center is more than just a job — it’s a passion. I’ve always had a deep connection with the veteran population, which began during my time as an undergraduate at Bakersfield College. While I’m not a veteran myself, the military community has always been a significant part of my life. I am the daughter of a Marine, the daughter-in-law of a Marine Corps veteran, the sister of a combat veteran and the spouse of a disabled veteran.

When my brother was deployed to Iraq in the early 2000s, it was a difficult time for my family. Around that same period, I began working at Bakersfield College and noticed many combat veterans transitioning out of the military. At the time, there was no veterans center at the college, so I did my best to connect them with resources and services as they navigated civilian life. It became clear to me how vital these services were for veterans. When I became permanent staff, I asked my supervisor if I could serve as the veteran liaison in Financial Aid because I saw a need for someone who could offer understanding, patience and empathy to this community. My proposal was accepted, and it opened up many opportunities for me. In that role, I built connections with local veteran services in Kern County and worked closely with BC's first veteran advisor when they opened their Veteran Center. It was incredible to be a part of that growth.

By the time I joined CSUB, I was already familiar with working with veterans and their families. My passion for this work comes from my upbringing, my family’s experiences and my deep sense of community.

What does the Veterans Success Center do for veteran students? How does it offer support they need when starting or re-enrolling in college?

The Veterans Success Center serves as a safe haven for veterans, fostering a sense of belonging within the university community. It’s more than just a center; it’s a home away from home. Over the years, many veterans have shared how crucial it is for them to have a space to seek help, find encouragement and resolve issues. The center not only promotes camaraderie among veterans but also offers comprehensive services to support them holistically as they transition into university life. We assist students from A to Z, guiding them through the initial steps when they first arrive and are unsure where to begin. Throughout their time at the university, we continue to support veterans every step of the way.

How have you seen the impact of the center grow in the time that you’ve been on campus, as well as helping the veteran students who have utilized it?

The Veterans Success Center is like my baby — I started it from the ground up as the first fully-dedicated staff member. The center has come a long way, and we are now well-known in the veteran community. We’re regularly invited to important discussions, and people in the community seek us out for the services we provide. That speaks to the success of the program. It’s been amazing to watch the center grow and to see all the success stories that have come from it. From the start, my mission was to build a strong program that was highly visible both on and off campus. I even brought a Black Hawk helicopter to campus to show that veterans and military-connected students are an integral part of the CSUB community. My goal has always been to make the center a visible and impactful presence, creating a space where students can engage with one another and discuss how to support veterans.

Through this visibility, veterans and military-connected students have been able to fully utilize the center’s resources. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the impact it has had, offering a place where they can access support, feel heard and be appreciated. I’ve also witnessed a significant rise in the number of veterans accessing the center. It’s amazing to see the statistics on the students coming through our doors for services. Through this advocacy, the program has experienced tremendous growth, with a steady increase in veteran enrollment. I am incredibly proud of my student veteran teams, who have played an essential role in this journey toward success. Their hard work is reflected in the positive experiences of the veteran students who benefit from our resources.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the success of my students. I get to know them really well, meet their families, and watch them work hard to overcome challenges. Seeing them succeed makes me feel like I'm in the right place, doing what I’m meant to do. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know I’ve made a difference in their lives, and it pushes me to work even harder to give them the support they deserve. Watching their hard work pay off and knowing I played a small role in that is the best feeling.

What other work do you and the team do that others might not be aware of?

We are actively involved in the community and participate in various veteran events throughout Kern County. The Veterans Success Center is a member of the Kern County Veterans Collaborative, where we meet regularly to discuss and address the needs of local veterans. Our monthly meetings provide a wide range of resources and services for our military-connected population. Beyond campus, we are present in the community through veterans' appreciation events at high schools, career fairs and resource fairs. Our visibility extends both on campus and across Kern County’s veteran community. Additionally, our Veterans Club is highly engaged, hosting events that promote camaraderie and student involvement, fostering a strong sense of belonging. They also give back by organizing drives to support various local organizations.

We also conduct outreach at military bases and engage with local community colleges in the surrounding areas, further extending our support to veterans and military-connected populations beyond CSUB.

How can the campus community and others in Kern County get involved with the Veterans Success Center or donate if they feel called to do so?

There are many meaningful ways for the campus community and Kern County residents to get involved with the center and support the broader veteran community. One way is by attending or volunteering at veteran events such as Honor Flight breakfasts, Wreaths Across America where wreaths are laid at national cemeteries or assisting in putting up flags on Memorial Day. These events offer a great opportunity to show support for veterans. Additionally, the Veterans Success Center hosts community support drives, including clothing collections for homeless veterans and their families, as well as fundraisers for the Veterans Club, which fosters community engagement. Donations, even simple items like bags of coffee grounds, are greatly appreciated and help sustain the center's efforts to combat food insecurities by providing snacks and food for veterans. Lastly, attending local events, like veteran parades or memorial services is another impactful way to show support and come together as a community. These efforts help foster a sense of belonging and appreciation for veterans in Kern County.

For those who wish to contribute, donations can be made directly to the Veterans Success Center or through University Advancement at CSUB. Whether it's financial support or items like coffee or snacks, every donation helps to sustain the center's mission of supporting veterans in need. These contributions play a vital role in the success of community outreach programs and in providing essential resources to veterans on campus.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about the Veterans Success Center that they might not know already?

One thing people might not know about the Veterans Success Center is that we assist veterans with employment opportunities. We are an approved Veterans Affairs (VA) site, which allows us to employ veterans as work-study students, and I serve as the site supervisor for this program. Additionally, we help connect students seeking VA work-study positions with other sites throughout Kern County.

We’ve also expanded our reach by establishing a Veterans Success Center at the Antelope Valley campus. I have a student who works closely with the veteran community there, doing extensive outreach to Antelope Valley College and the surrounding community.