Graduate Student Spotlight | Mitchel Jackson and Ian Simon

My name is Mitchel Jackson. I am a U.S. Army veteran, where I served as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist. Currently, I work as a corporate product quality assurance and food safety manager at Sodexo North America, where I focus on ensuring regulatory compliance, food safety standards and sustainable practices across operations.

I hold a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Maryland Global Campus as well as a Master of Science in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology from the University of the Philippines, where I also completed my Bachelor of Science in Biology.

With more than 15 years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, I have worked with food manufacturers across multiple countries, developing systems that promote safe food handling and prevent foodborne illnesses. In addition to my professional role, I actively serve in the community as the sustainability commissioner/secretary for the Frederick County Sustainability Commission and as president of Hood College Student Veterans Club.

I am currently pursuing my doctoral degree in organizational leadership at Hood College, where I aim to further develop my leadership skills and continue making an impact in food safety, sustainability and community service.

I am Ian Simon, and I am a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, having served for 24 years as both an enlisted Sailor and a commissioned Cryptologic Warfare Officer before retiring in August 2025. Throughout my military career, I held a variety of operational, training and strategic roles, including assignments at U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Cyber Command, Navy Information Operations Command Norfolk and the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. I also deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan and the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Cyber Systems and Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School. My professional background includes extensive experience in cyberspace operations, electronic warfare and signals intelligence, supporting both military and national-level missions.

Currently, I am pursuing a doctoral degree in organizational leadership at Hood College. In addition, I serve as the vice president of the Hood College Student Veterans Club, where I continue to stay engaged with the veteran community.

Outside of my professional and academic life, I enjoy reading and playing the piano, and I value spending time with my family.

I founded the Hood College Student Veterans organization out of my involvement with Student Veterans of America and a strong commitment to supporting fellow veterans and their families. Through my own experiences as a student veteran navigating G.I. Bill benefits, accessing financial resources, managing health challenges and pursuing personal development, I recognized significant gaps in support. I have also volunteered in several non-profit organizations, and having conversations with other veterans, many of whom faced similar or even greater challenges, reinforced the need for a dedicated community on campus.

Through a series of pivotal experiences, and by gaining the knowledge needed to effectively navigate available resources, I was able to take advantage of meaningful opportunities for growth and advocacy. I participated in the Student Veterans of America National Conference, where I further developed my professional network and leadership skills, and I was honored to receive the President’s Service Award in recognition of my commitment to service. I also had the opportunity to engage directly with Senators and members of Congress, contributing to conversations aimed at advancing policies that better support veterans and their families. In addition, I was also honored to receive a scholarship from the Army Women’s Foundation, which further supported my academic and professional journey.

These experiences have been incredibly impactful, and they are just a few examples of the many opportunities available. They have strengthened my desire to share this knowledge with others and ensure that more veterans are aware of and able to benefit from the same resources and opportunities. This led me to establish the organization at Hood College 

What motivated me to spearhead this initiative was a deep commitment to ensuring that all service members and their families have the opportunity to fully access and benefit from the resources they have earned through their service to our country. I became increasingly aware that many individuals face unnecessary barriers when navigating benefits, and I felt a strong responsibility to help remove them and create pathways to success.

I am guided by three core principles: empower, educate and inspire. Empowerment, to me, means giving veterans and their families the confidence, tools and support systems needed to advocate for themselves and take ownership of their goals. Education involves not only sharing knowledge about available benefits and resources, but also ensuring that individuals understand how to effectively access and utilize them. Inspiration is about fostering a sense of purpose, resilience and community, which are embedded in veterans core values, but encouraging veterans to recognize their potential and continue growing beyond their military service is what I want to offer.

These values shape my approach to leadership and directly inform the mission and vision of the Hood College Student Veterans organization. Ultimately, my goal is to build a community that not only promotes academic achievement, but also strengthens personal development, professional growth and long-term success.

While it took a year to bring this vision to life, I am incredibly grateful that it came to fruition. This would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Dean Boulton as well as Tanith Fowler-Corsi, our club adviser, whose guidance and encouragement were instrumental throughout the process.

First, I intend to help the club grow by spreading the word among the Hood College community. As opportunities present themselves, I look forward to representing the club around campus and interacting with other graduate students. I was fortunate to join the club just in time to attend Washington Week with the Student Veterans of America (SVA). In addition to supporting the agenda of SVA, Mitchel scheduled meetings with Congressional staffers to advocate for issues that specifically impact student veterans, including opportunities for monthly housing allowance, books stipends and designated on-campus space for student veteran organizations. These issues directly impact the likelihood of success for student veterans.

The mission of Hood College Student Veterans is to act as a catalyst for student veteran success by providing resources, network support and advocacy to, through and beyond higher education.

The HCSV motto is: Service Onward — The Mission Continues. In addition, HCSV aims to connect chapter members with on-campus resources needed for personal and academic success, raise the visibility of student veterans on campus and create camaraderie among student veterans.

Some of the activities I plan for the organization include hosting a variety of social, educational and service-oriented events designed to encourage participation and foster a strong sense of community among both members and non-members, all in line with Hood College and SVA guidelines. Inclusivity is a core priority, and all students, veterans and families are welcome to engage in these opportunities.

I intend to organize networking events that connect participants with professionals from the local community as well as with organizations both within and beyond Hood College. These efforts will be complemented by workshops and webinars focused on topics such as career development, navigating veterans’ benefits, financial literacy and personal growth. Additionally, the organization will actively participate in Student Veterans of America regional summits, national programs and conferences that happen every year. These experiences provide valuable opportunities for professional development, academic advancement and peer networking, further strengthening the support system available to student veterans and helping them build meaningful connections that extend beyond the campus community.

Ian: At its most basic, I hope the club can provide time and space for student veterans to meet and socialize. Transition from military service is challenging and impacts individuals differently. What many are unprepared for and those outside the community may not know is that the transition lasts for a very long time. In my personal case, the timeline for retirement began one year before my retirement date and ended about four months after my retirement, and that just refers to the paperwork, appointments and processes entailed in the actual transition. Personal aspects of transition last much longer. The bond between veterans can be utilized to ensure individuals learn from one another how to navigate the transition, make the most of services offered and navigate the challenges while receiving community support.

Mitchel: I hope that the Hood College Student Veterans organization will help bridge the gap between not knowing what resources are available and confidently accessing and utilizing them. My other goal is for HCSV to serve as a clear and reliable pathway for veterans who may feel lost, overlooked or unsupported—especially during the often challenging transition from military to civilian and academic life. At its core, HCSV is committed to providing a safe, inclusive space for engagement, connection and support.

Many of us have experienced moments of feeling unheard or unsure of how to advocate for ourselves, and over time, that can diminish the confidence to speak up. HCSV is intended to change that narrative. It exists to amplify those voices, restore that sense of agency and ensure that no veteran feels alone in their journey.

I also plan to distribute a regular newsletter to keep members and the broader community informed and engaged. This newsletter will provide updates on upcoming events, highlight available resources, share important announcements and showcase opportunities for professional and academic development. It will serve as an additional touchpoint to ensure that veterans and their families stay connected, informed and supported.

For its first year, I hope to have all officer positions filled and to see full participation from veterans as active members of the organization, helping to raise awareness across the Hood College community that we exist and are here to support our peers. I also aim to begin meaningful collaborations with other organizations, such as the American Legion and others with tremendous resources and expertise, to bring additional knowledge, guidance and opportunities to our members.

This year, the Student Veterans of America advanced three important policy initiatives that Ian and I had the privilege of supporting during the Washington Week event on Capitol Hill in D.C. These included:

• Modernizing the G.I. Bill annual book and educational supply stipend, increasing it from $1,000 to $1,400.
• Reforming the VA Work-Study program to provide more flexible and meaningful opportunities for student veterans.
• Launching the Student Veterans Success Centers Grant pilot program, which I hope will eventually be implemented at Hood College to further support our veterans.
• Additionally, veterans should be aware of the recent G.I. Bill benefits expansion under the Rudisill decision, which extends total G.I. Bill benefits to 48 months. These initiatives underscore the importance of advocacy and staying informed.

Mitchel: Please consider joining. Membership is free and open to all Hood College students, with a particular focus on those interested in accessing Student Veterans of America programs, certifications and scholarship opportunities. The only commitment we ask is that you embrace your journey, allow us to support you or connect you with the right resources and trust that your voice will always be heard within our community.

We will hold a scheduled monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. These meetings will provide a consistent opportunity for members to connect, share updates, plan upcoming events and access resources.

Ian: Join! The best part about joining a new club is that each member can really impact what the club is and will be. We’re very fortunate to be part of the broader Hood College community and have the support of Dean Boulton. In regard to the Hood College Graduate School, I will never take for granted how fortunate I was to find and be accepted into this wonderful place. A personal fear of mine as I prepared to retire from military service was the loss of community and identity that one often faces when taking off the uniform for the last time. Beyond a fear of the unknown is the actual risk. The transition, especially for younger veterans, carries significant risks to mental health and well being. At Hood College, I found my community and an identity that I'm proud to be a part of, and that includes a top-notch education. I encourage anyone looking to come take a look here.

Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s programs, including the doctoral in organizational leadership.