Valerie Stevenson of Michigan State University is our Peer Advisor of the Month! Valerie, who served 5 years as a Corpsman in the Navy, is an animal science major in her final year at MSU. In addition to her studies and PAVE duties, she’s also the president of MSU’s SVA chapter. Being heavily involved in both PAVE and SVA has allowed Valerie to meaningfully engage with her peers and given her opportunities to assist veterans, both socially and academically. Her commitment to veterans does not go unnoticed as she works tirelessly to build community and strengthen camaraderie between her peers.

“She has played a dynamic part in helping students engage on campus through creative programming designed to draw support from often underserved demographics,” said Rebecca Bishop, MSU Team Leader. “Her dedication to her fellow student veterans has been an inspiration at Michigan State and should be recognized on a larger scale.”

Valerie understands the importance of finding one’s tribe in order to not only be successful, but also to feel a sense of belonging and understanding: “When I first got to MSU I struggled a lot with trying to find my community, people who understood what I was going through,” Valerie said. “Being a part of PAVE I have been able to reach out to people and help guide them in a way that I didn’t have as much when I first got here.”

Valerie’s continuous support of her peers is a shining example of what PAVE’s all about and we look forward to her future success. We appreciate your hard work and dedication, Valerie!