Student Profile: Shawn Monroe

Year: Master’s student
Hometown: Oshkosh
Major: Public Administration

Shawn Monroe ’08, feels he has always had a connection to the armed forces; his family ties to the military go all the way back to the Civil War.

And because Monroe, a member of the Wisconsin National Guard pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, didn’t ever want to miss the opportunity to serve his country, he courageously volunteered to head to Iraq in 2004.

“Every military person wants to serve their country. I never want to do it again, but I wouldn’t change anything,” Monroe said.

Upon returning from Iraq in 2005, Monroe knew his situation: He hadn’t yet finished college, and he was struggling with the after effects of fighting a war.

Being military-minded, Monroe thought about the challenges and obstacles in his life as missions. For him, completing his undergraduate degree was just one of them.

“You take on the mindset that your next mission in life will be school; I wanted to learn,” he said.

In 2008, Monroe finished the year of college he had left and earned degrees in geography and international studies with an emphasis on global and national security.

Now, he wants to help others learn and have successful college experiences, too.

Last fall, Monroe started a new position at UW Oshkosh as the Veterans Resource Center coordinator, where his job is to help fellow veterans find their way in what can be a complex educational journey.

“If someone chooses this path as their mission, I want to be here to help them,” Monroe said.

He assists students by helping them connect to services and navigate finances. He also helps coordinate veteran benefit counseling and puts students in touch with other much-needed resources on and off campus.

“Without knowing every resource available, it makes it harder to navigate school. And it shouldn’t be,” Monroe said. “I think our vets have earned the right to have someone help them through the process, and I’m here to ease the transition from duty to campus life.”

Tags: alumni education Veterans Resource Center