Renae Walters

Walters’s personal motto is, “Life is for the learning. If you’re not learning; you’re not living.”

The U.S. Army veteran, who was honorably discharged in 1989, practices what she preaches. “I’m a professional student,” Walters said.
“I work to support my academic habit.”

Walters is a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Defense, Finance & Accounting Services (DFAS) in Columbus. She’s currently studying for her degree as a Certified Management Accountant.

“Continuing education opens so many doors,” Walters said. “With the proper education and skill set, you can write your own career course and pretty much do anything you want.”

In addition to her self-proclaimed professional student status, Walters is an adjunct faculty member with Ohio Dominican University’s LEAD – Learning Enhanced Adult Degree – program. She teaches the MBA program course, Fundamentals of Leadership, and Undergraduate and Graduate Learning Strategies. “Adult learning is the wave of the future,” she said. “At one point, a high school diploma was sufficient. Now a bachelor’s degree is a necessity. But even now in the 21st century, you’ve got to have a master’s degree to set you apart.”

As further evidence of the need to have an advance degree to advance one’s career, Walters points to the staggering number of adult learning programs, online learning opportunities and local colleges that offer curriculum tailored specifically for the working adult. These plans focus on real-world challenges and real-life scenarios that prepare people to facilitate problem solving and to lead high-performing teams.

“This is the era of the knowledge economy,” she said.

Walters’s enthusiasm for continuing education has found another outlet on ODU’s PATRIOTS Advisory Council. Frequent relocations during her Army career didn’t afford her the opportunity to apply for the GI bill benefits. However, she’s familiar with the new bill and encourages veterans to take advantage of its benefits. “That is such a gift and such a blessing,” she said. “It’s such a tremendous benefit. If you have the ability to go back and achieve your college degree through the GI bill, it’s silly not to do it; especially since the funding is there.”

William Dinsmore

Cadet William Dinsmore joined the Army Reserves in 2005, and was stationed in Ramadi, Iraq, from March 2006 to 2007. He credits the ROTC in helping him achieve his education goals and getting him to the point of becoming an Army officer.

“I can’t say enough about ROTC,” Dinsmore said. “It really has helped out a lot.”

Dinsmore will graduate in May 2010 from Ohio Dominican University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. He’s been accepted to Ashland Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from the seminary, Dinsmore will be an Army captain. His goal is to become an Army chaplain.

“I received the calling to become an Army chaplain while I was overseas in Iraq,” Dinsmore said. “I’m going to be practicing my faith in the U.S. Army as a chaplain. Wherever they send me, I’ll always be there for the soldiers as a faith-based man, as a counselor and as a pastor. It’s really exciting, and I’m really pumped about it.”

Dinsmore believes continuing education is important, especially for returning veterans. “Continuing education can help returning veterans get acclimated back into civilian life. It can give them more opportunities in the civilian community.”

While at Ohio Dominican University, Dinsmore believes he’s learned skills that will help him advance professionally. He’s learned to communicate effectively with individuals and groups. He’s learned to budget his finances and to manage his time. Because of these and other positive university experiences, Dinsmore encourages all veterans to take full advantage of the GI Bill.

“The benefits are there to help you as a veteran succeed in a civilian career,” Dinsmore said. I firmly believe that you should take full advantage of those educational benefits.”