Robert Garza
Austin,TX
Summary
Skilled VA Educational Specialist focused on maximizing veteran-student success through effective use of Enrollment Manager, educational benefit knowledge, and logistical abilities. Top-notch communicator with excellent time management, administrative and customer service skills.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
VA Specialist
Austin Community College
08.2009 - Current
- Coordinated and executed large scale VA benefit certification process as lead School Certifying Official, supporting thousands of veteran students each semester.
- Advised and counseled veteran students about their educational benefits, and degree plans, while serving as first point of contact for problems or issues students may have with their benefits.
- Worked directly with regional VA office, using SCO Hotline, to resolve student benefit issues.
- Have led department through over 10 federal audits, all resulting in top marks, and error rates of less than 3%. Ensured all protocols and regulations for federal and state benefits have been followed.
Scholarship Coordinator
University Of Mississippi
08.2005 - 07.2009
- Served as "chair" of Scholarship Committee. Ensured proper stewardship of multi-million dollar foundation, and led discussions as to allocation of these funds.
- Supervised team of three(3) colleagues through complicated federal financial aid process called "verification" each semester.
- Advised and counseled students about federal financial aid, explaining complex federal regulations into easy to understand ideas.
Quartermaster
United States Navy - USN Stethem DDG-63
07.1998 - 07.2002
- Managed bridge watch duties to look for different types of threats and adverse conditions over two(2) deployments through Persian Gulf.
- Plotted and corrected charts and publications. Ensured safe navigation of our ship through hundreds of "Sea and Anchor" details, and other military exercises.
- Presented detailed transit plans to Captain, XO, Navigator, and other members of navigation crew before each underway movement.
- Organized task force, with ship counselor, to assist young sailors through college admission, and financial aid applications.
Education
Master in Fine Arts - Creative Writing
University of Texas At El Paso
El Paso, TXBachelor of Arts - Creative Advertising
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX05.1998
Skills
- Enrollment Manager
- Suite of Microsoft Office
- Colleague
- Customer Service
- Communication / Written Communication
- Train Employees
Timeline
VA Specialist
Austin Community College
08.2009 - Current
Scholarship Coordinator
University Of Mississippi
08.2005 - 07.2009
Quartermaster
United States Navy - USN Stethem DDG-63
07.1998 - 07.2002
Master in Fine Arts - Creative Writing
University of Texas At El Paso
Bachelor of Arts - Creative Advertising
Southern Methodist University