It’s not easy for vets to acclimate to campus life, says Sgt. Steven Pina. “I remember being very much aware of the large age gap between me and most of the student body,” he says. “I wanted, and needed, to connect with other vets on campus and find community.” Pina had enlisted in the Army at age 19 when his peers were just starting college. He transitioned out at 26 and immediately enrolled at RIC, where he earned his B.S.W. in 2022 and his M.S.W. in 2023.