Veterans Day | Equity & Inclusion

Honoring Veterans Day 2025

Each Veterans Day, we take time to honor the individuals who have served and the contributions they bring to the UC Berkeley community.

While Memorial Day honors military personnel who have given their lives for this country and Armed Forces Day celebrates those on active duty; Veterans Day is unique in that it allows us to thank and honor the public service of our veteran and military-connected community. November is also when military families are honored for their service. The theme of Veterans Day this year is "Service to Our Nation” and is especially notable this year as we honor the 250th anniversary of the founding of the army, navy and marines, all before the Declaration of Independence. Our Cal Veteran Service Center Alumni demonstrate their service through volunteering their time and efforts with current students through mentorship, networking, and more.

Service and scholarship

We have 776 students Veterans Administration Education Benefits certified and 162 staff and 38 faculty self-identified veterans at UC Berkeley and many more military-connected family members who support active duty and veteran service members. In a leadership position on campus, David C. Wilson, dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy, is a military veteran with 19 years of service in the US Army Reserves, including combat tours for Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.

Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy had been selected as one of 12 campuses nationwide for the Service to Service initiative to increase awareness of public service career opportunities among the military community, enroll military-connected students in master’s programs at schools of public service, and connect initiative participants to state and local government roles following degree attainment.

Student Orgs and Advocacy Groups

Student, Staff, and Faculty Resources

The Cal Veteran Services Center (CVSC) provides programs and support, such as financial aid counseling, mental health counseling in partnership with the San Francisco VA Student Veteran Health Program, and peer advising. The CVSC career mentorship program partners with active Berkeley alumni, such as Clayton Chan ‘87, COO and co-owner of Ladle & Leaf, who are helping our veteran and military-connected (such as partners, siblings and children of military) students and young alums achieve their professional and personal career goals.
The Veterans Benefits unit in the Office of the Registrar assists student veterans with using their educational benefits while pursuing their academic careers.
Berkeley Law offers the Veterans Law Practicum, in which law students advocate on behalf of veterans. The program is currently focused on correcting discharge statuses due to Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
On campus San Francisco Veterans Health Administration support Artur Akkerman, LCSW, is at the Cal Veterans Service Center every Tuesday from 9am to 4:30pm providing mental health support, resource referrals, and enrolling veterans in the SFVHA
Cal Veteran and Military-Affiliated Alumni
Cal Armed Forces Alumni

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill 0.2% Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment 12.9% Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement 14.4% Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill 43.5%

college vet college fee waiver breakdown dependent only of grad and undergrad

Undergrad 312
Graduate student 25

Topics

Heritage/History/Prevention Messages topic page

Read and Watch

UC Berkeley named top public school in the country by ‘U.S. News’; Berkeley in the top five best colleges for veterans

via Berkeley News

George Leitmann, renowned academic leader, decorated WWII veteran, dies at 99

via College of Engineering

In Remembrance, Brandon Allen: Served in the U.S. Navy from 2013 to 2022. Dedicated Electrical Engineering and Computer Science student from 2022 until his passing in 2025.

via Cal Veteran Services Center

Service to Service

via Goldman School for Public Service Policy Notes

Veteran Spotlight

Betsy Davis

Betsy Davis served 12 years in the United States Marine Corps, including deployments to Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Japan with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a tour as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, SC. She is now pursuing her Master of Public Policy at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, where she founded Military Communities in Public Policy (MCIPP), a student group that brings together members of the military community to explore the role of military experience in shaping public policy. She is focused on building a career in public service and policy analysis.

"I see public policy as a continuation of service—strengthening the institutions people rely on every day. When I first came to Berkeley, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ve found a community committed to that same mission and built lasting connections that will carry me into the next phase of my career."

Purvis Gills

Purvis Gills served seven years in the United States Navy as a Disbursing Clerk, where he managed military pay and financial operations. His duty stations included NAS Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico, Naval Seabee Battalion, Port Hueneme, and Okinawa, Japan. His service provided him with a strong foundation in leadership, teamwork, and operational planning. After completing his military career, Purvis earned his degree in Political Science from UC Berkeley. He now works at his alma mater in the Office of the Registrar as a Veteran Certifying Official, supporting student veterans in navigating their educational benefits. Purvis is passionate about public service, higher education, and policy analysis, and remains committed to advancing opportunities and equitable access for the veteran community.

Dante Sirwet

Dante Sirwet served four years in the United States Marine Corps, holding leadership roles as an Assistant Team Leader and Company Training NCO for Charlie Company at the First Reconnaissance Battalion in Camp Pendleton. This service provided a strong foundation in small-unit leadership, operational planning, and organizational discipline. He is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at UC Berkeley. He also serves as the current President of the Cal Veterans Group and is an active member of the Pi Sigma Epsilon business fraternity, where he has gained business skills as a prospective member trainer for two semesters and managed consulting projects for clients including Nike and American Eagle. He is currently interning at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the Palo Alto Health Care System through the Pathways Student program, focusing on Business Administration and Management. He is preparing to apply to MBA programs and aspires to become a department director within the VA, driven by a commitment to giving back to veterans and improving the quality of care and services they receive.

Events

November 1, 2025, 3.5 hours prior to kick off at Platform Art Space, Wurster Hall: Veterans Day Celebration Tailgate. Ceramic cups made by Veteran and Military-Connected community members will be on display. These cups celebrate their service or a family member's service. Follow Cal Veterans Group social media for details.
November 1, 2025 at Cal Memorial Stadium: Cal Football game vs Virginia. ROTC and veterans will be highlighted during the game.
November 11, 2025 at 11:11am: two-minute moment of silence to honor the sacrifice of veterans

flyer for nov 14 veteran mixer

November 14, 2025 from 5-8pm at Alumni House: 2nd Annual Veteran and Military-Connected Mixer. Keynote Speaker: Professor Andrew W. Reddie RSVP and more information
November 29, 2025 at Cal Memorial Stadium: Hometown Heroes Cal Football Game Cal vs SMU. Cal Football is proud to recognize the everyday heroes who make a difference in our communities. From military service members to first responders and healthcare professionals, join the Bears at California Memorial Stadium to honor the brave individuals who serve, protect and care for the Bay Area!
May 2, 2026: Save the Date for Hail and Farewell (welcome newly admitted students and celebrate graduating students) follow Cal Veterans Group social media page for more information as we get closer. Support Hail and Farewell and the Cal Veteran Services Center.

Academics

Professor David Chan, MD, PhD

is the chair and faculty director for the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program and an investigator at the Department of Veterans Affairs, co-director of the VA Center for Policy Evaluation, and research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. He is interested in studying how information and the workforce impact decision-making and outcomes in health care. He is currently a hospitalist at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto. Selected research includes Is There a VA Advantage? Evidence from Dually Eligible Veterans,

Influence and Information in Team Decisions: Evidence from Medical Residency and Industry Input in Policymaking: Evidence from Medicare, among many others.

Ethnic Studies 198: Independent Students in Higher Education - Veterans

A one credit hour P/NP class for student veterans that supports their transition to UC Berkeley by providing them with resources, helps them learn how to strategically utilize VA Education benefits, and how to navigate a new campus and culture.

Cal Veterans Service Center

CVSC at UC Berkeley

Programs and services for veteran and military-connected students at UC Berkeley.

100th anniversary of California Memorial Stadium

California Memorial Stadium, the home of Cal Football, has celebrated veterans for over 100 years. The stadium was first dedicated in 1923 to Californians who gave their lives in the First World War. When California Memorial Stadium reopened in 2012, it was rededicated to all Californians who have sacrificed their lives in service to the nation. We continue to honor the military and military-connected community at the Cal football game closest to the Veterans Day holiday.

Cal Veterans Student Services Fund

Support Fund

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