Officers

The NIU Veterans Club is led by a team of five super-star veterans & support staff elected by their peers for a term of one year. This team takes care of most of the admin stuff so that the rest of the members can concentrate on fun stuff. This Executive Board is officially organized under the club's constitution and the bylaws of the NIU Student Association.

Membership

The lifeblood of the Veterans Club is its membership, and ours play an important role in determining the direction and activities of the organization. Over the years, our headcount has run the spectrum of quite modest to the grand days of a 150+. These days, we've got a couple of dozen highly motivated troops on the active roster and we're always looking for fresh faces.

President

Scotty "Warhawk" Johnsen

As President of the club, Warhawk’s role has been to stabilize, maintain, and ultimately improve the standing of the Veterans Club as a whole. He oversees all operations, and works on large-scale to improve relations with other university clubs and departments. His primary focuses include: Strengthening relationships with the external community, bringing in resources to aid veterans on campus, and working to develop an environment that will allow veterans to flourish both socially and academically. Warhawk served as a helmsman in the U.S. Navy on the destroyer-class ships USS CUSHING and USS STETHAM in the 7th fleet.  He is currently in his second track of the Nursing program at NIU.

Vice President

Craig is a proud Army Combat Medic and Junior majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Administration and Policy. He was medically discharged after 10 years of service and is currently the Vice President of the Veterans Club. The Veterans Club has helped Craig transition from military to civilian lifestyle. Having a core group of friends that relates to his experiences has been instrumental in his successful journey (so far) to completing his degree. Furthermore, Craig is very passionate about politics and the success of our nation. He is also very involved with the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) and the NIU College Republicans. Additionally, Craig is very active with off campus political organizations as well. His future goals are to represent the citizens by becoming a U.S. Congressmen or Senator. Moreover, he will be involved in political movements and campaigns to ensure leaders who have the right values, morals and commitment to the U.S. Constitution serve in Washington D.C.

Craig Genteman

Secretary

Richard T. Bennett

Rich has been with NIU and the Veteran’s club since August of 2012. Rich was an Infantryman in the US Army for almost four years before coming to NIU. His awards include the Airborne Badge, the Air Assault badge, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, two Army Commendation Medals, and The Silver Star.  As Secretary, Rich has gained knowledge of the Veterans Club’s inner workings. He has assisted in planning events and Coordinating in their execution. Rich is majoring in Communications at NIU and hopes to work in political consultation after graduation. Rich enjoys writing and has even published a book on his time in Afghanistan.

Treasurer
Bobby's Bio Here	Robert "Bobby" Smith Jr.

Event Coordinator

Brianne Pruitt

Bria served as a watercraft engineer in the U.S. Army. As the event coordinator, Bria has developed strategies in coordination & organization while working with various groups both on and off campus. "The NIU Veteran's Club has brought me into campus life. I have learned skills necessary to network, build my resume, succeed within civilian life, and utilize the learned skills from military life by incorporating them into my daily routine here."   Bria is working towards her bachelor's in psychology, while minoring in both South East Asian studies and anthropology. She plans to continue onto graduate school. It is her firm belief that the NIU Veteran's Club will help her to focus on her goals and maintain a balanced academic/social life. Bria is also affiliated with various other campus organizations. When not working with these organizations or studying for her next exam, she is spending quality time with her children (mostly helping them with their schoolwork), or swing dancing in Dekalb.

Community Service & Fundraising Coordinator
Angela is a military spouse and proud supporter of those who defend our freedom. She is a senior majoring in Family and Child Studies with an emphasis in Family Social Services. As community service and fundraising coordinator, her responsibilities include planning fundraising events in effort to raise donations for the Veterans Club and organizing community service functions.	Angela Genteman

Social Media Coordinator
Megan Gaertner	Megan's Bio Here

Faculty Advisor

Todd Latham has served as the club's faculty advisor since 2010 and is the founding instructor of UNIV 201 section for veteran students. His role is to support the club as a mentor, advisor, and promoter of military veteran students and their education at NIU. As advisor his main function is to provide guidance and insight to the club and its leadership. He holds degrees in management, school business management, and public administration.   He served in the U.S.A.F. as a forward air controller assigned to tactical air control parties in support of the U.S. Army at foreign and domestic locations. The military was the best experience of his life and has prepared him for a lifetime of leadership, service, and philanthropy. He is a member of the American Legion Brown-Miller Post 181 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Lewis P. Schultz Post 1486.

Todd Latham