Veteran Student and Alumni Profiles

November 09, 2020

In honor of Veterans Day, GS is featuring a number of students and alumni who have served in armed forces around the world. Nearly 500 veterans are currently enrolled—21 percent of the School's student body.

Alaura Gogue

Alaura Gogue

After serving as one of the few women in the Marine Corps for more than 11 years, first as a flautist and later as a combat instructor, Alaura Gogue was accepted into the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. Through the Program, she joins the School of General Studies this spring as a first-generation student, and a married mother of two children.

"I had the honor of playing at many different venues, parades, and ceremonies across the United States in the Marine Corps, and after six years as a flautist, I was given the opportunity to assume a special duty assignment as a combat instructor. For three years, I trained entry-level Marines in basic infantry and weapons tactics," Gogue said.

In addition to her desire to serve her country, the primary reason she joined the military years ago was to pursue higher education, and the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program allows her to attend Columbia as a full-time student, complete her degree, and commission in the Marine Corps as an officer.

"I chose GS because I wanted the rigorous Ivy League education, and as a mother, spouse, and Marine, I was enticed by the prospect of receiving my education alongside other nontraditional students," she said.

After her graduation and commissioning, Gogue plans to continue serving both the United States and the Marines placed under her charge.

"I truly believe the exceptional education I will receive from Columbia will strengthen my leadership capabilities, and I’m excited to become a part of the GS community and fully involve myself with my peers both academically and socially," Gogue said.

GS alumnus Elegance Bratton

Elegance Bratton '14GS

After spending a decade homeless, Elegance Bratton decided to enlist in the Marine Corps at age 25. During his time in the military, he became a combat filmmaker stationed in Thailand, and later in Hawaii. Eventually, he decided to enroll at Columbia University, where he majored in African-American studies.

Today, he is a filmmaker who tells stories about LGBTQ youths of color and the families they find in the ballroom scene and other communities. Pier Kids, a documentary film directed by Bratton about the homeless gay and transgender youth who call the Christopher Street Pier home, was recently screened at DOC NYC.

Postbac Premed Program alumnus Ryan Brummond

Ryan Brummond '16GS

Ryan Brummond, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and father of four, was the 2016 Postbac Premed Program Class Day Student Speaker. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in computational mathematics from Marquette University in 2003, he was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, and deployed multiple times to Iraq and the Horn of Africa. He became a Special Operations Training Unit Director, designing and implementing high-risk courses for 15,000 Marines. In 2009, he joined the United States Army Special Forces Regiment, serving as a Green Beret team leader in West Africa, Eastern Europe, and Afghanistan, and later, as a Special Forces Company Executive Officer in the National Guard, supervising the training of Special Forces A-Teams in preparation for worldwide deployment. Brummond received numerous awards for his leadership and service to his country, including the Bronze Star and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with “V” for valor.

In the military, Brummond dedicated his professional life to education, care, and protection, and the medical field became a natural continuation of these personal values upon transitioning into civilian life. During his deployments, he witnessed the positive impact of quality healthcare delivery in remote parts of the world. These experiences informed his decision to seek a career in medicine, and he enrolled in the Postbac Premed Program in the fall of 2014.

During his time as a Postbac Premed student, Brummond volunteered at the Englewood Hospital and Medical Clinic as an Emergency Department and Courtesy volunteer, where he discovered his passion for patient care and affirmed his long-term goal of becoming a physician. Brummond currently serves as Assistant Operations Officer in the Rhode Island National Guard, and is pursuing his MD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

GS student George Wiliams

George Williams

Prior to starting at GS, George Williams served as a Force Reconnaissance and Scout Sniper - Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, where he participated in sensitive operations in Asia and other global hotspots. When not training or participating in operations, he was particularly focused on his studies, and was able to complete nearly a year's worth of community college coursework during his free time while saving enough money from his military training to purchase two vacant properties in an underserved community of Mobile, Alabama. Following these purchases, he completely renovated both properties before renting them out to local families. After seeing the positive economic impact he was able to impart on the community, and simultaneously hearing about GS's initiative to recruit veterans who have honorably served and sacrificed for the country, he was inspired to apply to the School for his bachelor's degree. Williams plans to major in history or economics, or possibly a combination of the two, with the goal of continuing to build upon the foundations in the military and in business that he has already begun building.

GS student Emma Matuauto

Emma Matuauto

Before enrolling at GS, Emma Matuauto was a religious affairs specialist, a position formerly known as Chaplain's assistant, in the U.S. Army. Her job exposed her to all the religion-related services in the Army, as well as the mental health services offered for soldiers, usually referred to as resilience training, which cover suicide ideation and assistance. Matuauto returned to academia seeking to become an officer in the military, and within the first two weeks, she fell in love with learning again. 

Matuauto applied to GS craving a challenge and intellectual growth in the classroom, and enrolled in Fall 2019. In the long term, she hopes to inspire other Polynesians to further challenge themselves in the academic world.

GS student Greg Brook sits at the open door of a helicopter, dressed in fatigues

Gregory Brook

Gregory Brook is the child of immigrants, and the first member of his family born in the United States. He was raised mostly by his grandparents in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up speaking Russian and praying in Hebrew, attending many high schools as a teenager.

In 2006, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he learned to harness the restless energy he felt growing up. Throughout his service, he learned several languages including Arabic, Korean, and Japanese, traveled in every imaginable circumstance, pushed his body, and discovered discipline, the indomitability of spirit, and hope. He became a Combat Photojournalist reconciling his passion for art, communication, and service. His ultimate goal is to help people understand each other and themselves, and is studying psychology and neuroscience at Columbia.

GS alumnuz Rubén Darío Ordoñez-Parra

Rubén Darío Ordoñez-Parra '19GS

Rubén Darío Ordoñez-Parra was born in the rural outskirts of Cali, Colombia. He and his parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1998, and he has lived in Jersey City, New Jersey for the past 20 years. In the fall of his senior year of high school, he enlisted into the Marines and left for Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, SC.

Rubén graduated from boot camp in 2014 and attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina, as well as the Military Occupational Specialty School at the Naval Air Station Pensacola and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. While attending both MCT and his MOS school, Rubén was awarded an NROTC scholarship to earn a commission as a Marine Corps Officer and shortly after, he enrolled at GS.

Rubén was an active member of the Columbia community, serving as a New Student Orientation Leader for four consecutive semesters, a member of the Student Organization of Latinxs as both the Events Chair and the Multicultural and Greek Life chair, and as the Battalion Logistics Officer, Administrative Officer, and a Company Commander in his NROTC unit. He hopes to earn a military occupational specialty as either an Armor Officer or Artillery Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and has plans to pursue a PhD and professorship.

Joshua Petitt

Joshua Petitt

Joshua Petitt joined the U.S. Navy at 20 years old, working first as an airman recruit and later becoming an aircraft electrician. While he excelled during his service, during his final deployment Petitt discovered a passion for literature and writing. He joins the School of General Studies this spring to pursue a creative writing degree, a passion that was born during his final deployment after experiencing a memorable night aboard an aircraft carrier that led him to sink deep into fiction and its writing.

"The mere act of shifting thoughts—to words, to worlds—exhilarated and fulfilled me. One night on the ocean, with still water stretched to every horizon and a cloudless sphere of stars about the ship, I decided to make a career in storycraft my long-term goal," Petitt said.

He would go on to enroll in community college, where he put forth the same level of hard work and commitment that allowed him to excel in the military directly into his studies. That determination, coupled with his clearly defined goals, resulted in not only a successful, but extremely enjoyable, return to academia.

"I approached every course with literary intent, taking what pieces I could use to better my craft," he said

Petitt learned about GS from a postcard invitation to an information session in Seattle, and after visiting the website to learn more, discovered that the creative writing program fit his goals perfectly.

"At first, I laughed at the idea that I had been placed on the School's mailing list. Me? Really? Just to satisfy my curiosity, I ended up attending the session. As the presenter spoke, I felt a sudden swell of hope and fear. A thought entered my head and refused to leave—this might actually be possible."

As a self-described high school dropout, Navy aircraft electrician, home renovator, winery cellar-master, and apprentice vintner, Petitt has worn several hats throughout his life. According to him, the one that brought him to GS is one he's still trying to fit properly: fiction writer.

"While hope and fear remain ever-present, they must now contest with a monster of excitement. Excitement at the chance to dive deep into a rigorous and challenging academic environment. Excitement at being a part of a student body that encompasses all manner of backgrounds, belief systems, ideologies, and passionate career goals. Excitement at the number opportunities for expression and adventure throughout the city. However this all turns out, I’m glad I attended that information session," Petitt said.

GS student Sylvia Gilsun Won

Sylvia Gilsun Won

Sylvia Gilsun Won originally moved to the United States to learn English, but fell in love with social justice while taking classes at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. To increase her access the education and better herself, she joined the U.S. Army. 

After serving for four years, she decided to apply to the best school she could think of, which was the Columbia University School of General Studies. She visited New York City and fell in love with the location of the University, as well as the vibrant diversity the city offers. Won enrolled at GS in the spring of 2019 and is studying human rights. After graduating, she hopes to attend law school to be a part of changing the world and inspiring others to not lose hope about humanitarianism.

Conor Abbamonte

Conor Abbamonte

After serving in the U.S. Navy as Military Police from 2012-2016 in roles including Kennel Support for a K-9 Unit, Conor Abbamonte attended Montclair State University where he was president of the Student Veterans Association, was selected as one Top 100 student veterans in America for 2017 by Student Veterans of America, and served as the school’s mascot, Rocky the Red Hawk.

In 2018, he began attending Columbia University, where he is studying computer science. Conor is a Google Student Veterans of America Scholar and a Warrior-Scholar Project Mobile Training Team Fellow.

GS alumna Donita Session

Donita Session '19GS

After separating from the U.S. Air Force and moving back to NYC, Donita Session found herself needing housing and employment assistance. After being referred to Easter Seals NY, a program that helps veterans find employment and apply for veterans benefits, she was hired as a case manager. This enabled her to experience first-hand how laws and policies make it difficult to serve those who are in need of help.

Determined to continue serving and supporting her community, Session began working full time and attending Hostos Community College to study public policy and administration. She graduated with honors, and earned the Gold Award for Public Administration, and was also inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and the Veterans in Global Leadership Fellowship Program. With help from the Warrior-Scholar Project, she applied, and was admitted, to GS.

At Columbia, Session was involved with many clubs and organizations. She served as treasurer of the Students of Color Alliance, as a chairperson for the Columbia University Model Congress, as a constituent of the Black Student Organization, and found a new passion for theater as an actor in the Black Theater Ensemble. Her passion for improving the lives of veterans led her to major in political science.

Session is currently a job developer for homeless veterans in New York City and serves as an Executive Board member of Even Me, a non-profit organization that assists young people who are aging out of foster care in their transition to independent adulthood. She plans to study law, to strengthen her ability to assist her community fully.

Paul Izard

Paul Izard

“I wandered aimlessly through college, struggling to find a sense of purpose or direction. I had a variety of interests, but nothing that felt like I could make into a career. Luckily, I found mentorship in a pair of veterans, who explained to me how military service had transformed their lives. Encouraged by their tales, I decided that I would follow in their footsteps. So, soon after graduation, I enlisted in the United States Army and began the most meaningful career of my life. For the last five years, I've had the privilege to serve as an Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Over the years, I came to understand that it is the service to a greater cause that gives this job meaning, and I began thinking of ways I could continue to serve after the Army. My interest in medicine began to grow while I was deployed to Afghanistan, where I got to see first-hand the unique challenges of providing medical care in an austere environment. Inspired by my experience, I decided to return to school after my time was up. Columbia GS' long history as a veteran-serving institution is second to none, which motivated me to apply. Now that I've been accepted, I'm thrilled to be able to share in that history.

This spring marked the beginning of my transition out of the military. I am fortunate to be participating in the Army Career Skills Program, which offers transitioning Soldiers an internship in their career field of choice. Through this program, I have spent the last four months interning with a local Community Health Center, serving the medically underserved population of Milwaukee. I hope to find similar involvement opportunities when I arrive in New York City this fall.”

Jason Everman

Jason Everman '13GS

In 1987, Everman—a commercial fisherman off the coast of Alaska—quit his job and moved to Seattle where he became the second guitarist touring worldwide and recording with Nirvana to promote their “Bleach” album and a bassist with Soundgarden on their “Louder than Love” tour. 

In 1994, he traded his pick for a rifle and enlisted in the U.S. Army special operations forces as a part of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Everman reenlisted in 2000 in the U.S. Army special operations forces and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“Throughout my adult life I have made the conscious effort to develop three aspects of who I am: the artist, the soldier and the philosopher. I believe GS has been the ideal place to realize this development,” Everman said.

While enrolled at GS, Everman, who was an active member of the U.S. Military Veterans of Columbia University student organization, composed and recorded a song entitled "Catch & Release,” for the soundtrack to A Marine's Guide to Fishing, an award-winning short film starring an Iraq veteran. He also participated in the New York University Veterans Writing Workshop where he published two stories in the 2009 and 2010 anthologies entitled “The Meantime” and “Summation,” respectively.

Everman graduated from Columbia University School of General Studies in 2013 with a bachelor of arts in philosophy.

In July 2013, The New York Times published a portrait on Everman, written by guitarist and writer Clay Tarver. The article features interviews with Everman, his family members, former band colleagues, music industry people, and soldiers. 

Everman is currently pursuing a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University and plans to work as an academic or educator.

Jorge Pintado

Jorge Pintado

Jorge Pintado emigrated to the U.S. from Cuba with his mother and sister, reuniting with his father and his paternal grandmother in Miami. After high school, Pintado spent some time working in the auto retail industry in Florida before joining the U.S. Army at age 24. Pintado worked his way up as an Army Ranger from rifleman, to machine gunner, to team leader. About halfway through his service, he realized that not only had he joined the military a bit late in life, but he also didn’t see himself undertaking a 20-year career.

Around the same time, Pintado also learned about the Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP), a nonprofit that helps enlisted military veterans bridge the skills gap between the battlefield and the classroom on their road to a four-year degree. He realized it could be the perfect way to improve his academic history and prepare for life at a top-tier university.

“I knew I wanted to get my college degree while I was still kind of young,” recalls Pintado. “I started considering my options, and I had always been fascinated by New York City. When I discovered that Columbia’s School of General Studies had a long history of helping veterans and was associated with WSP, that connection immediately stood out to me.”

Columbia is proud to be a host university for the Warrior-Scholar Project—one of the few Ivy League institutions involved in this rewarding program. Pintado finished his Army service on June 12, 2018, and in July, he completed a one-week intensive academic boot camp through WSP at the University of Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, he found out that he had been accepted to GS.

“Columbia took a huge chance on me, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community,” says Pintado. “I worked really hard to be ready for the education that was being offered to me, and I had to create a system that would allow me to survive in this new world.”

Pintado’s connection to WSP continues to this day. Not only is he an alumni ambassador, but he was also invited to be a Mobile Training Team Fellow, mentoring current participants and coordinating with on-campus staff.

“I love being able to meet veterans who are in the same place I was not too long ago,” says Pintado. “I share my story and give them some tips and tricks on how I have made the transition from the military to an Ivy League education.”

For Pintado, Columbia stands out from the crowd for veterans like himself and others in part because the university has an entire school dedicated to the non-traditional student.

“GS is an amalgamation of characters from all over the world and all life experiences,” says Pintado. “Columbia doesn’t just say that they strive for diversity—their actions back it up.”

As he looks ahead to the future, Pintado envisions either obtaining his master’s degree in International Studies from Columbia’s School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA) or continuing on to law school.

Jin Chang

Jin Chang '14PBPM

Jin Chang started his Columbia journey after serving in the U.S. Marines, where he was first a pilot and then a forward air controller at a time when the United States was heavily engaged in military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He began looking into other careers, including medicine, and ultimately settled on dentistry because he felt it was a good fit for his personality—nerdy and social—and because the dentists he spoke to expressed great satisfaction with their occupation despite its physical demands.

As an undergraduate student, Chang’s academic focus had been economics, so to get up to speed on dental prerequisite courses such as biology and organic chemistry, he enrolled in the Columbia University Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program. He was accepted into the DDS program at CDM and chose to complete a concurrent MBA at Columbia Business School.

Chang’s path was far from ordinary even after he started dental school. He remained in the Marine Reserves while at CDM, and between his second and third year he was called back and deployed overseas. The dual-degree program he chose was unusual too, he explained, because the MBA program—which he described as “eye opening”—is geared toward students who have prior work experience, whereas most dental students begin their DDS training soon after college.

When he reached the clinical portion of the CDM curriculum, Chang quickly found that developing an awareness of a patient’s cultural practices was essential. “You really need to know your patients to understand why certain things happen and to treat them,” he said, recalling a young patient who came in with a mouthful of cavities. In meeting with the patient’s family, he realized that the underlying problem was likely the parents’ lack of knowledge about good toothbrushing habits and the common practice in their community of drinking only bottled water. He was able to address the issues more fundamentally by explaining the benefit of fluoridated tap water and share recommendations for good oral hygiene. “It’s really nice when you see that you’re making an impact, one person at a time.”

Chang describes his time as a Columbia student as wonderful and unexpected. “I had such a good experience here. It’s the community that Columbia fosters that made my experience so worth it—the caliber of the students at the dental school and GS, and everybody I’ve met. Honestly, it was so great that, though eight years is a long time, I wish it were longer.”

Julian Melo

Julian Melo

“Growing up in a low-income family in Brazil forced me to be strategic about my resources and inspired me to prioritize learning. I’ve learned to manage burdens and disadvantages, and eventually, I carved my path to pursue higher education in the United States. As a sophomore in college, I was recruited by the U.S. Army under a pilot program called MAVNI (Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest), seeking recruits with cultural fluency in specific, mission-critical languages. Shortly after I signed the contract and willingly revoked my student visa, the program was placed on indefinite hold, placing all recruits at risk of deportation, myself included. It became clear to me that I would need to fight for my right to become a soldier and an American citizen. For nearly two years, I met with other recruits from all over the world, organizing our efforts to meet with senators, seeking support for a possible bill to revive the recruitment program. After two years of constant effort and litigation, we won a class-action lawsuit, and my dream to become a soldier and American citizen finally became a reality.

After transitioning out of the military, I had the privilege to work as a research and policy analyst for the City of El Paso, allowing me to conduct research and offer suggestions that can impact the lives of thousands of people. It has been a great experience and I’m excited to continue my journey at Columbia this fall. My experience with immigration and inequality inspired me to pursue a degree in Economics, preparing me to eventually attend law school. Columbia University presented an opportunity to embrace the challenge, demand for excellence, and excitement that comes with an Ivy League education. GS’ commitment to veteran’s success was a crucial factor in my decision to apply. Columbia was the best choice to prepare me for a legal career in constitutional law and human rights.

I’m currently attending the Harvard Warrior-Scholar program – this demanding summer experience is helping me to refine my reading techniques, strengthen my writing s