Melissa Michaud-Maltese has been named as one of the 2024 Veteran Champions of the Year in Higher Education by the Military Friendly® program. The award recognizes individuals who passionately advocate for veterans in higher education.
Michaud-Maltese has served as veterans outreach coordinator at CT State Community College Middlesex since December 2022. In her role, she assists military service members, veterans and their families transition into college and civilian service.
“I love meeting new veterans attending school here at Middlesex and helping them navigate school and life in general with all the benefits they are entitled to. A lot of times they have no idea about what is available to them,” said Michaud-Maltese. “It may take a while to find a place in the world and feel comfortable after getting out. One shouldn’t settle for something simply because others say they should. It’s important to discover one’s true interests and motivations.”
Michaud-Maltese said a typical need for veterans is financially based.
“They may not realize what life is like having to pay for car taxes again, health insurance, dental insurance, etc. That takes a financial toll on them. When someone is serving, these are things that are taken care of or waived. There are many perks when serving such as hazardous pay, tax-free pay, housing and food pay if you qualify, etc. Income is not the same as a civilian either,” she explained. “A second need is navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits (VR&E), and GI Bill eligibility requirements.”
Along with these services, Middlesex provides dedicated space on the Middletown campus—known as the Veterans OASIS Center—for veterans and military members to network, socialize and study. The center schedules workshops with the Department of Labor and the VA. In addition, the campus Veterans Club offers community programs to support veterans and their families.
Among their events this past year, the OASIS Center sponsored a clothing drive, held a potluck fundraiser, commemorated Veterans Day with guest speakers, and raised money for the Veteran Emergency Relief Fund.
Earlier this year, CT State Middlesex earned the gold award from Military Friendly® Schools. Middlesex has been recognized by Military Friendly® Schools every year since 2011.
A Navy veteran, Michaud-Maltese served as a Ship’s Servicemen Second Class, or SH2 (E5), in active duty from June 1998 to June 2005.
“I joined because I wanted to do something for my country and going to college at the time was not for me,” added Michaud-Maltese. “I found out after I served that many of the men in my family served in the Army and Air Force. I am the only woman in my family to have joined the military.”
She experienced many challenges as a female service member.
“You have to earn the respect of the men and show them you can do everything that they do, and sometimes even more than them,” said Michaud-Maltese.
Michaud-Maltese said her most rewarding experience was helping refugees with supplies and shelters in Kosovo and working alongside Marines in 1999. She was stationed on the USS Inchon MCS-12 at the time. The Marines arrived in Kosovo after her unit and then stayed onboard their ship while the units swapped out on land.
Prior to Middlesex, Michaud-Maltese worked as a tutor with first-year special education students in the Smart Start program at CT State Community College Manchester. At the same time, she was the Learning Center director at the Independent Day School in Middlefield, managing the school’s caseload of special needs students.
“This award means a lot to me I take great pride in taking care of my veterans here on campus and it is good to see that it is recognized,” Michaud-Maltese said.
The 2024 Veteran Champions of the Year in Higher Education list will be published in the October issue of G.I. Jobs, a global publication that has been connecting service members, veterans and their families to civilian career, education and business opportunities since 2001.
August 2024
