Emily Caldwell, a senior psychology major at the University Nebraska–Lincoln and U.S. Air Force veteran, is one of 25 military-connected students nationwide who has been named a fellow of the National Veterans Leadership Foundation.
“I was stunned,” Caldwell said. “I have put in a lot of hard work, so I’m grateful I get the opportunity.”
The National Veterans Leadership Foundation partners with universities nationwide to support military-connected students. The group works to strengthen support systems on campus and foster leadership experiences. As a fellow, Caldwell will participate in development programs through the foundation aimed at promoting leadership skills, continuing a life of service and supporting campus military communities.
Joe Brownell, executive director of the Military and Veteran Success Center at Nebraska, nominated Caldwell for the fellowship.
“Emily is committed to ensuring military-connected students receive the support they need to accomplish their goals,” Brownell said. “As an Air Force veteran she is continuing to serve.”
Caldwell is originally from Glenolden, Pennsylvania, and served six years at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha. She trained in security and law enforcement and separated from the military in August 2023 as a staff sergeant.
Caldwell then enrolled at Nebraska to pursue a degree in nutrition and exercise science, but a campus job sent her in a new direction.
“I started bodybuilding and found a love for it, and UNL had a nutrition and exercise science program,” she said. “I had an internship with the Nebraska football team and realized I paid more attention to the football players’ behaviors and how they spoke to each other than the exercise they were doing, so I switched my major to psychology.”
As a non-commissioned officer, Caldwell found being in a leadership position challenging but rewarding, so she hopes the fellowship helps her build her leadership skills.
“It was really rewarding having troops come to you, and you got to mentor people or help people out during stressful times or hardships in their life and people trusted you,” Caldwell said. “I hope it helps me become less fearful and understand different routes I can take as a leader.”
Moving forward, Caldwell also wants to help build and support veteran communities at Nebraska and beyond. She works at the Military and Veteran Success Center and recently became the president of the university’s chapter of Student Veterans of America. Through holding events and doing more outreach for military-connected students, Caldwell wants to show those students there are people on campus who understand their experiences.
“As veterans, we like to tough through things,” she said. “To know someone else is going through the same thing as you could lessen that load. When you’re in the military, you have that community, and then you get out and that community kind of dwindles, so I think it’s extremely important to know there are resources to help you move forward in life once you get out.”
Caldwell said the Military and Veteran Success Center and other supports are important to connecting these students not only to each other, but to whatever resources they might need for the next stage of their lives.
“I want to bring awareness that we’re here and we do cool things and we’re a great community,” Caldwell said. “I want to let other military-connected people know we’re here for you. Not a lot of people talk about how much mental strength it takes to transition out of the military, and that’s something I’m extremely passionate about.”
