Westminster is pleased to announce the creation of the college’s first Center for Veteran and Military Services. To lead the new center, the college has named Sylvia O’Hara, a former U.S. Army National Guard member, as the new director.
The establishment of the new center and director position was made possible by generous lead gifts from alumna, trustee and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kim T. Adamson and the R. Harold Burton Foundation. Additional contributions are being sought to complete the furnishing and operations of the center.
“We are excited to announce the creation of a center that will support our student veterans and their families,” said Steve Morgan, Westminster president. “The center is long overdue, and we are extremely appreciative to Kim and to Westminster trustee O. Wood Moyle of the R. Harold Burton Foundation for their support of our military students. We are also pleased to welcome Sylvia O’Hara, a veteran herself, in this new position. Her experience and dedication will help provide a welcoming environment to those who have served or will serve their country.”
O’Hara will begin her position on July 1. Previously, she worked at the University of Utah’s Veterans Support Center and helped build their program from the ground up. She served in the Utah Army National Guard for six years and currently serves on the board of Wasatch Women Warriors, which is dedicated to supporting Utah Women veterans and their families. O’Hara has a bachelor of science in mass communication from the University of Utah.
“I’m honored to have been selected as the director of Westminster’s new Center for Veteran and Military Services,” she said. “In the past, I’ve worked very hard to create an inclusive campus that understands the military experience and the veteran culture. I’m excited about the potential impact I can have on student veterans, and I’m looking forward to helping expand our Westminster military community.”
Westminster has approximately 100 student veterans and military family members currently attending the college. The college also has approximately 90 students enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program who will go on to serve in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines upon graduation and officer commissioning.
The college will host a ribbon cutting and open house in September. For more information on the new Center for Veterans and Military Services, visit: westminstercollege.edu/vets.
