Military Veterans Outreach Programs at Mississippi College Gain National Recognition
Fresh from military retirement in 2010, Jerrold Greenwood enrolled at Mississippi College to pursue his dreams of becoming a church administrator or pastor.
Greenwood is thankful to the team of MC faculty and staff members helping him prepare for his next mission in life: full-time ministry.
This fall, the 42-year-old senior from Byram is among 150 military veterans at Mississippi College receiving a wide array of academic and counseling services. Those efforts year-round are bringing national recognition to the Christian university.
Recently, Mississippi College was named a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium. The Washington-based organization lists more than 1,900 colleges and universities committed to practices recognizing special conditions for military students pursuing college diplomas.
The USA’s consortium colleges serve the National Guard, reserves, new recruits and veterans plus more than 500,000 service members advancing their education.
Greenwood’s road to Mississippi College was a lengthy journey after the Chicago native traveled around much of the world as a soldier.
Signing up for active duty as an 18-year-old in 1988, Greenwood spent more than four years in the Marines including deployment in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He enlisted and devoted 17 years to the U.S. Army including stints in Haiti, Iraq and Afghanistan. The soldier fell in love with Mississippi when he was assigned to Jackson in 1997 as an Army recruiter. He’s presently a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard.
Retired from military service in August 2010, Greenwood soon discovered a home at Mississippi College where he’s earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Planning to graduate in December 2013, he’s continuing to help military men and women as a Veterans Outreach Office worker on the Clinton campus. Consider it payback.
“As a veteran, I am so grateful to MC’s faculty and staff,” Greenwood said. “Every office, department and faculty member works as a team along with the Veterans Outreach Office, to maximize the support of student veterans.”
Mississippi College welcomed many soldiers to the Clinton campus after World War II ended. Today, the outreach to military veterans in the Magnolia State is also strong at university offices in Jennings Hall and Alumni Hall.
“For veterans such as myself, needing additional assistance both personally and academically, the Counseling Service Department provides resources and opportunities for student veterans to be successful,” Greenwood said.
A licensed and ordained minister since 1993, Jerrold’s passion in life is to “help others come into the saving grace of Jesus Christ and fulfill their God given purpose.”
Scores of veterans plus the more than two dozen MC students enrolled in Army ROTC programs are becoming a growing part of the landscape on the Clinton campus.
As a result, Mississippi College was selected for the 2014 “Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities.” The Baptist-affiliated school will be listed in the December issue of the Maryland-based publication.
It’s a distinction worth noting, school leaders say.
It’s proof that Mississippi College is working diligently to find ways to assist military people who risked their lives to serve their country, says Meg Shaw, an admissions counselor for graduate and professional studies.
Being rated among America’s military-friendly schools is a plus, but Shaw hopes it will “lead to more service members attending Mississippi College and more services being offered.”
For more information, contact Caley Forbes, director of MC graduate and professional studies at 601.925.7617 or cforbes@mc.edu.
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