Joe Rasmussen is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving on active duty from 2002-2006. He earned his Master of Social Work from UW–Madison and his Bachelor of Social Work from UW–Whitewater. Mr. Rasmussen began working at UW in 2012 as the School Certifying Official and became director in 2022. His current work is focused on professionalizing military-connected student work, advocating for changes to better support the current military connected student, and increasing the number of military and veteran students enrolling in high-quality educational experiences.  

As a dependent of a retired Wisconsin Army National Guard service member, Amanda Venske received support from University Veteran Services while becoming a two-time Badger, earning her BS in Education Studies and MS in Educational Psychology from UW–Madison’s School of Education. She advocates uplifting military-connected identities, including implementing annual Month of the Military Kid celebrations that celebrate dependents of veterans and service members. Ms. Venske is honored to help military-connected students navigate higher education and assist students to best use the educational benefits they have earned and deserve. 

AJ Brown is a junior at the UW–Madison, pursuing a major in international studies focusing on global security. He is a proud US Navy veteran, former Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, and 2024 New Student Veteran Cohort leader. As a BIPOC veteran, AJ is passionate about familiarizing others with the student veteran experience in hopes of addressing any dividing preconceptions about the military. He believes in the importance of advocating for veterans on campus, as their unique life experiences enrich UW–Madison’s culture and diversity. Beyond his academic pursuits, AJ enjoys educating fellow veterans on the VA Disability system and getting tossed around doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu. 

Melanie Laflin is a third-year student at UW–Madison majoring in elementary and special education. Melanie grew up mainly on the West Coast, moving often for her father’s military career. She currently lives in the suburbs of Milwaukee and considers Wisconsin her home. Being a “military brat” is not her only exposure to the military; Melanie is currently serving in the Wisconsin Air National Guard. She signed within the past year and just returned from a semester off for training. In addition to being involved in the Air National Guard, Melanie is also a student leader in Cru, a Christian organization on campus. She leads a military-connected Bible study where two of her identities can coexist within a space and allow that space for other students on campus. Outside of school and other commitments, her interests include volunteering, reading, flying, and traveling! 

Natalia Torres is a fourth-year student at UW–Madison majoring in International Studies, Information Science, and History with a certificate in Political Science. In terms of involvement on campus, Natalia is a House Fellow (also known as Resident Assistant or RA) for University Housing and a former Undergraduate Research Scholar. She was also on the planning committee for Latine Heritage Month and Vice President for AnthroCircle, UW–Madison’s Anthropology Club. During her third year, Natalia studied abroad for an academic year at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. After graduation, Natalia hopes to continue her education and further explore the fields she believes deserve more visibility.