Florida State University provides initiatives that foster a community of past, present and future veterans, raises awareness of veterans issues among campus and local communities, and supports student veterans through graduation and into rewarding careers and graduate-education programs.
“Teamwork and camaraderie are keys to success in any organization and I have found that to be especially true of the FSU Panama City staff and faculty.” – Duriel Crittenden, U.S. Navy, Command Master Chief (Ret.); Director of the ASCENT Team at FSU Panama City
“Being a part of FSU Panama City feels like you are a part of something greater than yourself with people that understand the extra stressors of military life.” – Sophia Crittenden, LCSW, Visiting Teaching Faculty, College of Social Work, Military Spouse
"Having been stationed all over the world, I can say this has been one of the most welcoming communities we have ever lived, and one of the main reasons we chose to settle down in Bay County upon retirement.” – Dr. Suzanne Remedies, Program Manager for ASCENT, Master Sgt. US Air Force (Ret)s
"The United States Navy provided me my pathway to college and an amazing 31-year career in higher education, as well as my ability to build strong relationships with the active duty military and veteran communities in the Northwest Florida and at FSU Panama City communities!" – Dr Irvin Clark, United States Navy veteran, Associate Dean for FSU Panama City
"Community support for veterans and family members is something that occurs in the Panama City area each day, and not just on Veterans Day.” – Dr. Scott Stewart, US Navy Veteran, DNAP, APRN, CRNA, Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program, College of Applied Studies
Veteran Liaisons are now available for student veterans in each academic college and most student support units across FSU. This has a tremendous impact on easing the transition into the college environment for current veterans, while ensuring our commitment to veteran success during and after their degree completion. – Jim Allen, M.S. ('03), US Navy Veteran, Director of Academic & Registrar Services, FSU Panama City
"You have a family at FSU Panama City, and the faculty and staff will help you in any way that they can.” – Zenovia Goss
I have had such a positive experience with the care and respect that I have received and seen given to numerous veterans that attend school here, seeking to further their knowledge and level of experience. I believe this is a community that labors to honor their veteran population. – Michael McLaughlin, US Air Force Veteran, Mental Health Specialist, FSU Panama City
"The staff and faculty have demonstrated support for me as a veteran by ensuring that I am taken care of. have.” – U.S. Navy Veteran Lianna Danas
"If there is one thing to be said about the Panama City community, it is their overwhelming support for active-duty military members and their families." - Cristina Doan, Graduate Program Coordinator, College of Applied Studies, FSU Panama City
“As a parent of an Army National Guard member, I especially love the Veterans Alliance Arrowhead and what it represents. The new Collegiate School offers military preference to its students, which will have a positive impact on the military families moving to this area.” – Susan McNeil, Accounting Specialist, The Collegiate School, FSU Panama City
"What stands out about FSU Panama City is the appreciation for the knowledge and experience that we obtained by being in the United States Military." — Dr David Gaitros, Teaching Professor, Computer Science, FSU Panama City
"The faculty and staff of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at FSU Panama City have consistently shown a genuine commitment to the success of student veterans like myself. " — Branden Schorr, U.S. Army Veteran, Doctoral Candidate in Nurse Anesthesia Practice at FSU Panama City
"I have experienced a great deal of understanding and effort at FSU PC to make sure veteran and military students are provided an equal opportunity to access education and complete their degree." — Tory Peak, DrPH, MPH, CPH, US Army Veteran, Public Health Teaching faculty, FSU Panama City
"FSU PC is full of military veterans and family members, both in the student population as well as the staff. It feels great to be surrounded by so many people who understand what it means to be a military member." — Kristal Greaves, military spouse, FSU Panama City Student Affairs
“As a student veteran, the high level of resources and active engagement the university provides has made it incredibly easy to use all my benefits to the full extent.”
— Technical Sergeant Jessica Quaile
“Being involved in the FSU Panama City campus has been an incredible experience. Not only do I receive excellent academic support, but I also feel consistently supported by my professors, even during short-notice deployments or temporary duty assignments (TDYs).” — Senior Airman (SrA) Bethany Bonilla-Colon
FSU has been formally designated as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus. The Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus Program was established by the Florida legislature in 2023 and further defined in Rule 6A-1.09991, Florida Administrative Code. Once awarded, State University System institutions will maintain their designation as a Collegiate Purple Star Campus for three academic years. The purpose of the Collegiate Purple Star Campus is to recognize universities and colleges that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military families as set forth in Florida Statutes.
All VA benefit recipients and self-identified veterans and active duty members enjoy priority registration for courses after their first semester at FSU. Immediately after registering for each semesters courses, students using VA benefits must complete our Request for Benefits form online.
Following RFB submission, the FSU benefits team then verifies your schedule against degree requirements before certifying course enrollment to the VA; this is not an automatic process and can take up to 30 days to process per student.
Should you have questions, please contact our staff by email veteran@fsu.edu or phone (850) 644-9562. Individual contact information is provided below. If you call and get our voicemail, please include your name, FSU ID and email address. We’ll follow-up by phone or email as soon as possible.
Please remember to stay safe and GO NOLES!
Staff at the FSU Student Veterans Center look forward to working with our FSU Panama City student veterans and military dependents, assisting them in their certification process and answering any questions you may have regarding your VA benefits certification. FSU Panama City students may visit Jim Allen or the staff in the Academic Advising & Student Success Center in Holley rm. C117 or you may contact the Student Veterans Center team members below with any questions you may have:
Melissa Ludlam
Assistant Director for Benefits
Sheryl Wilhoit
Certifying Official/Retention Specialist
Ken Cargill
School Certifying Official
Jocelyn Riedl
Certifying Official
All student veterans and VA benefit recipients may use the Skinner Veterans Ready Room for individual and group study. Located in the Holley Academic Center, room A212. This is an FSU ID card swipe entry. If you need assistance with this please contact Jim Allen, Academic Services, (850) 770-2161, jwallen@fsu.edu.
