VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES EMBODY THE QUALITIES we most need in the leaders shaping our collective futures: leadership, teamwork, resilience, integrity, and a commitment to the public good.
The Service to Service initiative connects U.S. active duty military and veterans (and their spouses) to the Goldman School of Public Policy’s full suite of opportunities, as well as access to the robust o!erings throughout UC Berkeley. GSPP was one of twelve schools selected by the Volcker Alliance for this initiative. The inaugural Service-to-Service class boasts seven exceptional fellows, and GSPP is eager to welcome more.
“Veterans and their family members understand the sacrifices that come with public service,” says Dean David C. Wilson, a military veteran with 19 years of service to the US Army Reserves, including combat tours for Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. “We are committed to empowering leaders to engage in meaningful work within local and state communities that need them most.”
If admitted, active military, veterans, and military spouses (or widows/widowers) are eligible for GSPP’s Service to Service Fellowship. This unique opportunity is an innovative partnership between the Goldman School, We The Veterans, and the Volcker Alliance. Service to Service Fellows benefit from resources and programming designed to support their academic and professional success in our master’s degree programs.
“I came to GSPP because I wasn’t done serving,” says Chris Toler (MPA ’26). “After eight years in the Air Force and 23 years in the fire service, I knew leadership and grit. I quickly realized I also needed policy-making tools in my toolbox to break barriers.”
Betsy Davis (MPP ’26) agrees. “I chose to come to GSPP because I knew it was a place where I would be able to take the skills learned in the military and translate them to the policy language to help make an impact,” she says.
“I got to meet people from all over the world who are also driven to build a better future, hear their stories, and learn together,” says Justin Barbulescu (MPP ’26). “As a veteran who separated from active duty only a few months before classes started, GSPP provided a positive environment for me to reintegrate into civilian life and explore my interests.”
“The value of this program is clear,” continues Chris. “I’m learning how to turn lived experiences into real, scalable solutions. GSPP is sharpening my edge so I can fight for equity, justice, and smarter governance with the same urgency I brought to the fireground and my military service career.”
Justin also points out the value of being able to apply his GI Bill benefits. As a public institution, the full cost of tuition is covered by the benefit.
“The program is also giving me the opportunity to pursue my academic and career goals,” says Justin. “More importantly, my experience at GSPP gave me a chance to successfully tackle challenging subjects I struggled with in the past. As an instructor once told me, ‘It’s a great place to learn hard things.’”
