“We’re here to support Veterans’ Resource Centers in higher education institutions throughout the north metro region,” says Bohn. “Our sole purpose is to assist veterans with their higher education goals.”

Though Bohn operates out of an office at the Coon Rapids Campus, as a coordinator for Minnesota Veterans Affairs Higher Education Programs, he is responsible for assisting the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) and private colleges with establishing Veterans Resource Centers. He also assists college staff with eliminating or reducing barriers for veterans who have chosen higher education as their goal. Bohn is part of a team of 14 that currently serve more than fifty campuses in Minnesota.

Bohn’s office door is open to veterans, and anyone else interested in helping veterans, but his primary duty is assisting each campus in establishing a veterans’ resource center and ensuring they are fully prepared to serve the veterans that visit them.

“The goal is a Veterans Resource Center at every higher education campus,” says Bohn. “The MnSCU institutions, such as Anoka-Ramsey, are mandated to have centers. Private institutions are encouraged to have them.”

Bohn comes to the position with eight years of teaching experience at two MnSCU campuses and four years as a department director at Dunwoody. He holds a master’s degree in counseling and has worked in the non-profit sector, including vocational rehabilitation and career counseling.

The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus opened doors to a veterans’ resource center in January 2007 to facilitate veterans’ re-entry into civilian life and welcome them to higher education with services and resources. The designated veterans’ area, is staffed part-time with veteran-students and provides an information resource center with a computer and phone and, equally as important, provides veterans a place to socialize.

To sample the veteran services at the college, veterans and those active in the military and their families are invited to a free picnic, May 8, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Coon Rapids Campus River Plaza. The picnic includes free food, music and activities for children.

Bohn is located at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus and can be reached at 763.433.1415. For information about other programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu or call 763.433.1100.