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In honor of Military Family Appreciation Month, Andrew Hibel talks with Marie Burnside of Grand Valley State University about her role as a military spouse and how it influences her work in higher education. Burnside also shares insight on how colleges and universities can better serve military families.
Andrew Hibel, HigherEdJobs: Tell us about your role in higher education and what Military Family Appreciation Month means to you.
Marie Burnside, Grand Valley State University: I am an affiliate faculty member at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. I teach in the Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies Department. I ‘married into’ the Navy 10 years ago and we have been stationed in Norfolk, VA on CVN 77 (George HW Bush) and in Grand Rapids, MI for recruiting billet. My husband was active duty for 10 years and was deployed twice during that time. He has been in the Navy Reserves for the past 4 years.
What I appreciate most about Military Family Appreciation Month is the time that it allows us to focus on our family, our partners, and our children. For me, it is less about recognition from the community and more about how our military recognizes that when a service member makes a commitment, their family makes the commitment as well. Our service members are often required to leave for long periods of time and have to miss anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays. Military Family Appreciation Month is a time that the military recognizes that sacrifice and reminds us to value and honor our relationships.
Hibel: What are some common misconceptions about military families?
Burnside: I think that a common misconception is that military partners/spouses do not work outside the home. Juggling a family, a career, and a household is a lot for anyone. When you add a deployment or major move on to that, it can be truly challenging, but military families are some of the strongest and most adaptable people I have ever met. This is a community that will persevere and find a way to be successful. I would encourage all military families to get familiar with the resources in their communities and utilize the tools and resources that are available to them, such as childcare and job placement services.
Hibel: How has being a military spouse shaped your role in higher education?
Burnside: My experience as a military spouse absolutely helped prepare me to teach in higher education. Our military community is amazingly diverse and I see and appreciate that diversity in my classroom now. I try to honor and value the different experiences that my students bring to the class.
Hibel: Speaking from your experience as an affiliate faculty member in higher education and as a military spouse, how can higher education institutions better serve military families?
Burnside: Moving and deployments are a part of military life and a big challenge that our family has faced has been building relationships in new communities. I would like to see higher education institutions create opportunities for military partners, spouses, and children to connect. It can be extremely lonely when our service members are away, especially if you are in a new city. Having a support system of friends, professors, and colleagues at a college or university is extremely important in making any student successful.
Hibel: How can universities recruit more military spouses as students and as professionals?
Burnside: Military partners/spouses are often asked to put their education on hold to relocate. Understanding the unique needs of adult learners and returning students is essential in giving them the confidence to enroll or return to higher education. This can be a very intimidating process. Having a direct point of contact or military resource center that military families can reach out to with questions is a wonderful way to make this process more approachable.
Grand Valley State University’s Veteran Resource Center is an outstanding example of how a university can reach out and meet the needs of its military community. I am extremely proud of the multi-pronged approach that it takes to not only recruit but ensure the success of our military members and families. These initiatives include establishing military lounges, a peer-mentoring program, deployment support, and faculty and staff military culture training, to name a few.
Hibel: What mentorship/advice do you have for spouses who are marrying, or are already married, into the military?
Burnside: My biggest piece of advice is to trust each other. You will be put in very unique, very stressful, and very demanding situations. Remember that you are a team and trust that you have each other’s back.