At Southern Nazarene University (SNU), the VETS (Veteran Educational Transition Success) Center supports military-connected students as they transition into higher education and pursue new academic and career goals. Behind that support is a dedicated team committed to helping veterans and their families feel informed, encouraged, and connected from day one.
The VETS Center helps veterans, active-duty service members, and military families navigate Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits, enrollment, and academic planning at a military-friendly university designed to support student success.
One of the greatest strengths of the VETS Center is its team. Drawing on military service, higher education, and years of experience supporting veterans, they work together to provide personalized guidance to students at every stage of their educational journey.
The SNU VETS Center assists students with:
From first contact to graduation, the team helps simplify complex processes so students can focus on their education and goals.
Assistant Director, SNU VETS Center
Chris Leonard brings a deeply personal understanding of the military-to-college transition, shaped by his own service in the U.S. Coast Guard and his long academic journey through multiple institutions and degree programs.
Chris served as an Electronics Technician in the U.S. Coast Guard before beginning his higher education journey that eventually led him to Southern Nazarene University. He earned a Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership, and later pursued graduate studies in both ministry and business, graduating from SNU with his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2025.
He shared that his path through education and military service ultimately shaped his views on opportunity and support for veterans.
“There are multiple forms of the G.I. Bill, and each one can provide a life-changing advancement of one’s life and career,” Chris shared.
His personal experience using VA education benefits gives him a first-hand understanding of the challenges military-connected students may face. He has a unique perspective, having used benefits across multiple degree programs while navigating career changes, graduate study, and military-to-civilian transition.
Chris values education as a pathway to career advancement and personal growth. He encourages students to set clear goals, stay focused, and commit fully to completing their program.
“It is simple,” he said. “By choosing a goal, setting their hearts and minds to doing well in the program they have chosen, and working hard to accomplish the goal they have chosen.”
For Chris, supporting veterans isn’t just a profession. It’s a calling shaped by his own transition from military service to civilian life. Having personally navigated career changes, higher education, and the VA system, he understands many of the challenges military-connected students face because he has experienced them himself.
“Many veterans have unspoken challenges that they don’t talk about because they often believe no one can understand what they’re dealing with,” Chris said. “It is our privilege to connect with veterans, show them that we can understand much of what they are going through, and connect them to paths to success.”
He views his role as an extension of his heart for ministry, helping students feel supported as they pursue new opportunities.
“While my heart’s desire is rooted in preaching and teaching ministry, this job has proven to be an important ministry for our community of veterans,” he said, adding, “Caring for veterans and their families is a fruitful ministry.”
His lived experience allows him to connect with students in meaningful ways, offering both practical guidance and genuine understanding as they navigate their own transitions.
Veterans Outreach Services & School Certifying Official, SNU VETS Center
Reynaldo De Avila serves as a Veterans Outreach Representative and School Certifying Official, helping students navigate VA education benefits while also encouraging ownership and accountability in the academic journey.
A Marine Corps veteran, Reynaldo served from 2017 to 2024 and now continues his commitment to service in higher education while pursuing an MBA at SNU.
For Reynaldo, one of SNU’s greatest strengths is the community that surrounds every student.
“One of the most valuable elements of my program is the network of people that supports me,” he shared. “SNU offers a wide range of support systems to ensure students succeed and continue their education goals.”
For Reynaldo, student success is tied directly to engagement and discipline.
“Students who succeed at SNU are those who take ownership of their education and stay engaged in the community,” he explained. “They are not afraid to ask questions.”
He also encourages students to stay proactive when working through benefits and academic systems.
“Stay proactive and never forget that SNU has your back,” he said.
His approach blends structure with encouragement, helping students feel confident navigating complex systems.
Reynaldo especially enjoys helping students understand their VA education benefits and seeing uncertainty turn into confidence.
“My favorite ‘teaching’ moments are when I map out students’ benefits and help them understand the process,” he said. “It’s rewarding to answer their questions in detail and watch them become confident about the process.”
His passion for serving students is rooted in lessons he learned during his time in the Marine Corps.
“My ‘why’ was forged during my time in the Marine Corps,” Reynaldo shared. “I watched senior leadership demonstrate what true servant leadership looks like by putting the needs of others before their own.”
He sees that same commitment reflected at SNU.
“When I joined SNU, I saw the exact same motto being lived out every day. SNU’s commitment to putting students first and serving the community falls in line with what I believe in. I work in this field to continue that mission of service, ensuring our community has someone ready to help them transition into their next chapter.”
VA Coordinator & School Certifying Official, SNU VETS Center
Paul Diehm serves as a VA Coordinator and Certifying Official within the SNU VETS Center, helping military-connected students navigate their VA education benefits and ensuring they have the support they need throughout their academic journey.
His connection to Nazarene higher education began with growing up in the Nazarene Church and continued as a student, attending MidAmerica Nazarene University before completing his bachelor’s degree at Point Loma Nazarene University. After working in several fields, including security, he returned to higher education, serving at the SNU VETS Center while pursuing his MBA.
Although Paul does not have a military background, he has developed a deep appreciation for the experiences and perspectives veterans bring to campus. He believes one of the most rewarding aspects of his role is advocating for military-affiliated students and ensuring their needs are recognized and met.
“Being a school certifying official is rewarding because universities can sometimes overlook the unique challenges that veterans face when attending school after service,” he explained.
For Paul, the work extends beyond processing paperwork or certifying benefits. He sees the VETS Center as a place where students have advocates who are intentional about listening, understanding, and remaining mindful of the challenges veterans may encounter as they transition to college life.
“At the VETS Center, we embrace the role of advocate for our military-affiliated students by remaining mindful of them. Although I do not have a military background, I have come to appreciate the veteran point of view,” he shared.
Outside of his day-to-day responsibilities, Paul enjoys continuing to learn alongside his colleagues and is currently reading The Action Bible, which he describes as “a fresh and artistic take on the Bible” that presents familiar stories in a new and engaging way.
Director, SNU VETS Center
Mark Nadig serves as the Director of the SNU VETS Center and Office of Veterans Services, bringing 24 years of U.S. Army and global leadership assignments to his role.
Mark’s leadership is rooted in service, guided by the principle of “Live Last” found in Mark 9:35. That mindset shapes the culture of the VETS Center and the way the team serves students every day.
Mark encourages students to stay connected with faculty, advisors, and the VETS Center to ensure smooth academic progress and benefit coordination. He emphasizes that communication is key to avoiding unnecessary challenges and maintaining steady progress toward graduation.
At the core of his message is encouragement and confidence in student ability.
“Veterans have the discipline, the fortitude, the can-do attitude, and unique experiences that they can draw from to be successful in earning a degree at SNU,” Mark said. “They never fought alone on the battlefield, and they will not be alone here at SNU pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. We'll be walking alongside them and, more importantly, their faculty, advisors, and cohort classmates will be walking alongside them even closer!”
Whether they served in uniform, have personally navigated VA education benefits, or have dedicated their careers to supporting those who have, every member of the SNU VETS Center shares a common purpose: serving veterans and military-connected students with excellence, compassion, and integrity.
Their experiences may differ, but their commitment is the same. From answering questions about education benefits to celebrating graduation day, the VETS Center is there to help students navigate each step of the journey.
As Director Mark Nadig often says, the goal is to be a trusted battle buddy for veterans and military families. It’s a mission the entire team lives out each day, ensuring students never have to navigate higher education alone.
To learn more about the VETS Center, visit: https://www.snu.edu/veterans