MSU’s Joe Schumacher named Veteran of the Year by Bozeman Elks Lodge No. 463

Bozeman Elks Lodge No. 463 recently named Joe Schumacher, director of Veteran Services at Montana State University, as its 2020 Veteran of the Year.

Rick Gale, trustee for Bozeman Elks 463, said Schumacher was nominated due to his “courage, personal qualities and outstanding achievements as director of Veteran Services.” Elks Lodge 463 recognizes a veteran and community member each year for their achievements in Bozeman.

“Day after day, Joes gives his time, voice and resources to create a better future for veterans,” Gale said.

Gale is also a member of the American Legion with Schumacher and has seen firsthand his involvement and passion for veterans. He added that any time he has had interactions with veterans and MSU student veterans, they have all spoken highly of Schumacher and of his efforts advocating for veteran affairs locally and nationally.

Schumacher was a tank gunner in the U.S. Army during the Iraq War and was deployed from 2005 to 2006. A Bozeman native, Schumacher is a graduate of MSU and has been director of Veteran Services since 2017.“I am from Bozeman, my family has been in this valley since before Montana was even a state, so I was very honored to receive this recognition from a hometown organization like the Elks,” Schumacher said.

“I am also proud to be a Bobcat and feel blessed to be able to help veterans pursue their goals here at MSU, the same way someone helped me a decade ago.”

MSU offers a number of services through its Veteran Services office to help student veterans succeed. Among them are a veteran mentor program; a dedicated veteran counselor who, in partnership with MSU Counseling and Psychological Services, offers free and confidential counseling to veteran students; emergency transition services; free tutoring and advising; and the Veteran Support Center, a dedicated space in the center of campus with trained staff to help veteran students.

“Joe Schumacher knows firsthand what it is like to transition from military to student life, and he understands the importance of having a supportive community such as the Veteran Support Center which he directs, and the many partnerships he has forged,” said Chris Kearns, vice president for student success. “He is a passionate and skilled advocate for our veterans and their families, and he is an inspiration to many throughout Montana and beyond.”