PAVE - Peer Advisors for Veteran Education

Today is a bittersweet but also joyous day for the PAVE National Team. Please join us in wishing Emma Czajka, our Program Coordinator, all the best as she completes her last day with us and prepares to move to Oregon to begin a graduate program.

Thank you for all of your work and contributions to the program since 2019, Emma!

We will miss you tremendously, but we are excited for you and your next chapter.

On this Memorial Day and every day, may we never forget those who gave their lives in service to our nation.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

May we always live worthy of their sacrifice, honor their memory, and never forget the brave Americans who paid the ultimate price.

Lauren Sarver of Johnson County Community College is our Peer Advisor of the Month!

From Gerardo Ruiz, Veteran Services Coordinator, Johnson County Community College: “Lauren is a genuinely caring person who deeply cares about the program, its mission, and the well-being of her PAVE peers. Throughout the year, she has been a consistent and active participant in our events, always encouraging others to get involved and stay engaged. Her commitment is evident in how she manages her PAVE group; she schedules time to meet with them and prepares thoughtful questions in advance to ensure she understands their needs and gets to know them better.

Beyond her interpersonal skills, Lauren has demonstrated exceptional leadership by being present, organized, and proactive in seeking out resources, even while serving in the Air National Guard and having recently been called to active duty. She has made arrangements to ensure her cohort continues to receive the support they need to be successful. Lauren’s ability to balance her military service, academics, and her PAVE responsibilities speaks volumes about her character, her work ethic, and her commitment to the PAVE program.”

From Lauren Sarver: “I feel that my work as a Peer Advisor is improving the college experience for my fellow student veterans by being that missing puzzle piece that truly unpacks their individualized issues and connecting them with the correct resources and benefits. Having someone acting as a central hub who invests in solving their issues, whether it be benefits, academic, or personal, holds such value during this time of transition. I love being that person for them!

My favorite part about being a Peer Advisor is connecting with veterans and the learning experience that follows. Whether it’s over a cup of coffee, or on a phone call with an online student currently on military orders, these conversations have had a profound effect on both how I continue as a Peer Advisor, but also how I advocate for the military patients I assist who are currently in the Military Health Network. I would have never guessed this position would turn into such a wonderful learning experience!"

JCCC Veteran & Military Student Resource Center

Melissa Gavin of The University of New Mexico - UNM is our Team Leader of the Month!

From Jesse Preciado, Veteran Services Coordinator, University of New Mexico: “Melissa has been an instrumental part of our PAVE team's success this year. She has gone through and cleared old students from the PAVE system who are no longer enrolled in UNM. She has assigned students to all Peer Advisors and assisted those Peer Advisors through training. She also maintains the PAVE system and ensures that Peer Advisors are completing their logs. Melissa is a liaison between the Veterans Service Coordinator and Peer Advisors. She has also played a role in coordinating multiple events for our student population throughout the year.”

From Melissa Gavin: “As a PAVE Team Leader, my proudest accomplishment is growing and strengthening our program in ways that directly impact our community. I secured $1,500 in funding from a local credit union, led a program revamp, and expanded our team to include military dependents — creating a more inclusive support system. I also helped develop and launch our first structured training in Fall 2025. Most importantly, I’m proud of how our team has come together to better serve student veterans and their dependents.

What I love most about being a PAVE Team Leader is the opportunity to truly connect with people. My background as a Religious Affairs Airman taught me how to care for others in meaningful ways, and over time I realized my gift is finding the one thing someone needs most in that moment. I often think of City Slickers — that idea of “the one thing” — and I carry that into my work with PAVE. Whether it’s supporting my team or helping a student veteran feel understood, those connections are what make this role so rewarding."

UNM Veteran & Military Resource Center

The University of Oklahoma is our Featured Campus for April! "The University of Oklahoma has done an excellent job reigniting their long-standing PAVE program. The energy brought by new leadership and the steadfast dedication to veterans services of both new and established team members promise robust and increasing support for the students they serve,” says Emma Czajka, PAVE Program Coordinator.

Keep up the phenomenal work, OU!

UO Student Veterans Center

Joshua Anderson of Wayne State University is our Peer Advisor of the Month!

From Dante Strother, Veteran Services Coordinator, Wayne State University: “Josh is a fertilizer. He acts as a catalyst for growth, and nurtures the potential of others each and every day he steps into the Student Veteran Resource Center (SVRC). His natural gift for connecting with people has allowed our program to grow in ways I had not seen before — building bridges for new partnerships with departments around campus and outside of the university, increasing our visibility and awareness that peer support makes a difference. He inspires me to be a better Coach and he is a champion of the core values of PAVE."

From Joshua Anderson: “My favorite part about being a Peer Advisor is helping fellow veterans while also giving me a sense of purpose I lost after leaving the Army. Going from high tempo to slow halt can be discouraging. A rediscovery of my sense of purpose through helping fellow veteran students became a catalyst. Now, my studies have led me toward a career in social work. I am currently a student pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work, so I can help more veterans in more areas of their lives.

My time working with other student veterans helped me regain a sense of communication that many veterans lose during the transition out of service. Leaving behind the everyday structure of military life changed how one connects with others and affects the sense of identity. Finding a community of people who understand that adjustment and can support you when things feel off is invaluable. Helping student veterans discover familiarity and belonging in this new phase is truly rewarding, and I believe it makes their college experience overall easier, knowing that someone is there ready to listen and support them.”

Wayne State University Student Veterans Organization