Niagara University names Robert Healy veterans services coordinator

Robert H. Healy, a 30-year member of the United States Air Force, has been named veterans services coordinator at Niagara University. In this role, Healy will be responsible for developing and implementing university strategy for increasing and retaining current and former military students and their family members, and developing relationships with local, regional and national military and veteran organizations to create recruiting support conduits.

Healy, a recently retired Air Force veteran who was deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1991, was previously the superintendent of operations at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Many of his past positions have required Healy to mentor and counsel airmen, non-commissioned officers and civilian personnel on various aspects of their careers and education.

Healy earned a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Houghton College in 1998 and, this past March, graduated from the University of Phoenix with a master's degree in police and security administration.

"We feel very fortunate to be able to hire someone who possesses the wealth of military and collegiate experience that Rob does," said Rev. Patrick J. Zengierski, Ph.D., assistant to the executive vice president for student outreach and support at Niagara University. "As a recent college graduate, his familiarity with the strains and frustrations that veterans may encounter when transitioning back into academia will provide our veterans affairs office with a great deal of knowledge and credibility."

Commencing his duties on Dec. 8,, Healy will collaborate with faculty and staff to create a tightly woven support network for student-veterans and their families, making sure to provide them with the resources that they need to succeed. He will also serve as a veterans affairs certifying official, working closely with the university's financial aid office to ensure 100 percent regulatory compliance and improve efficiency.

Niagara's ongoing efforts to support families who have served, or are serving, in the nation's armed forces were cited in a special designation from G.I. Jobs magazine. As a "Military Friendly School" for 2011, Niagara was ranked in the top 15 percent of all colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide that are doing the most to embrace America's veterans as students.