Veterans

Harrison Anderson served for 12 years as a member of the U.S. Army Special Operations, with nine of those years serving with the Green Beret. He finished his service as the committee chair for Special Operations Command's Cyber training courses as a Senior Instructor and managed two courses focused on cybersecurity and open-source research, as well as provide instruction to Joint and Inter-Agency students. Harrison enrolled at OU in June of 2022 to pursue his Bachelor’s in Management Information Systems and now currently serves as the president of OU’s Student Veterans Association.

Ian Burnett spent eight years serving in the United States Navy before enrolling at the University of Oklahoma to pursue his degree in Public Policy with minors in Anthropology and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Following his graduation from OU, Ian’s end goal is to work for the U.S. Department of Interior as a civil servant, carrying over his passion for serving our country to now serving his community through his work. With his first year at OU in the books, Ian looks toward the future, proud of the resources and fellow veterans he’s met on campus and as a member of the OU Student Veterans Association.

Daniel Glass is a first-year OU Graduate student working toward his Master’s in Economics. He served in the United States Air Force for seven years and worked in sales for the private sector for four years before deciding to enroll at the University of Oklahoma to further his education. When COVID-19 halted the world in 2020, Daniel saw the supply shortages across the nation and felt inspired to study economics and learn more about the process of supply distribution to help our communities. Now, as a student veteran at OU, Daniel finds opportunity in the resources provided at OU for non-traditional students and credits programs like PAVE (Peer Advisors for Veteran Education) for helping evolve the OU experience for veterans returning to college after years of service.

Carla Laguna grew up in Allen, Texas, and made the courageous decision to join the United States Air Force when she was 18 years old, where she worked in the Medical Administration Program and helped lead the health utilization field by planning, programming, and providing for the various operations that ensure Airmen continue to stay healthy to better achieve their mission. Seven years after exiting the military, Carla enrolled at OU and is currently studying Healthcare Business in the Price College of Business with hopes of earning her degree and finding impactful ways to continue serving her community.  

LaDawn Jones is the Director of Admissions and Advising in the OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies as well as an undergraduate military advisor for student veterans at OU. LaDawn spent five years in the United States Navy serving in active duty and three years in the reserves before leaving the military to pursue an education, where the transition process wasn't as clear she hoped it would be. After graduating with her associate degree in 2009 from community college, LaDawn found resources and opportunity at OU PACS in Fall 2009, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spring 2011 and a Master of Human Relations degree in Fall 2012. Not only did she complete two degrees at OU, but she also found a career where her daily mission is helping others achieve dreams of their own.