Student Spotlight: Andrew Branam-Drock
Meet Andrew Branam-Drock! He’s a junior majoring in International Relations. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Andrew chose to come to MSU because the programs here offered aligned well with his career goals. After graduation he plans to work for the State Department.
Andrew served in the Army for eight years before coming to Michigan State. As the current President of the MSU Student Veterans of America Chapter, he organizes networking and service opportunities as well as social events. Building a sense of community within the organization, while also making a meaningful impact on campus is one of his biggest priorities.
The Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) works very closely with the Chapter. The SVRC helps veterans and their families adjust to life after the military. They also help students navigate government processes and provide mental health resources. The Resource Center, located in the Student Services building, has dedicated study and conference rooms and provides a space for veterans to gather with one another.
Andrew said that being a part of these organizations has helped him find a tight-knit community on a big campus.
“I was able to kind of jump into an area where a lot of people have shared experiences that I do at the SVRC, and they really allowed me to get that sense of community especially before the semester started. Then leading into like the support systems we have here, I've been able to meet a lot of people through that. So, I've been able to kind of expand that into your more traditional college student life and not just a student veteran.”
