Division of Student Affairs > Support Services > For Specific Populations > Veteran Services > Veteran Liaisons

Meet the Veteran Liaisons

Veteran Liaisons are DePaul students with prior military experience that can help you connect with benefits and resources as well as provide support in transitioning to academic life.

Our Veterans Liaisons

Brandon Mitchell-Abel

Brandon Mitchell-Abel joined the United States Navy out of West Chester, Pennsylvania in 2013. His first station was at JBPHH in Pearl Harbor, HI aboard DDG 112-USS Michael Murphy. He spent the majority of his career in 7th Fleet with a brief stint at Great Lakes RTC before being honorably discharged in 2017. The next year he enrolled in at DePaul University. He is currently pursuing a combined degree and can be reached at kmitch31@depaul.edu

Erik Stone

Erik Stone served four years with the United States Marine Corps as a combat engineer and was stationed at Camp Pendleton CA with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

His first deployment was with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as an attachment to 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On board the USS Cleveland LPD-7, the USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6, and the USS Rushmore LSD-47, Erik was part of an advanced infantry unit called: vesal, board, search, and seizure or VBSS. The VBSS teams’ purpose is to capture enemy vessels, combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections. Erik’s second deployment was part of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan (OEF) as a dog handler with a route clearness platoon.

Erik left the Marine Corps in mid-2011 and joined the DePaul community in the spring of 2017. Erik is in his senior year and is finishing an undergraduate’s degree in network engineering and security.

After being with the DePaul community for a little over a year now, Erik wishes to help incoming and current veteran students with their questions, needs and concern. Feel free to send an email to : estone17@depaul.com or stop by the adult student center at the loop campus.

Matthew Sanchez

Matthew Sanchez served for four years after high school in the United States Marine Corps. He trained in California and Oklahoma to become an Artillery Canon Crewman and spent the remainder of his active duty career at Camp Lejeune, splitting his time between North Carolina and 29 Palms, California for training. Since returning home, he has been taking classes at DePaul, and will graduate in 2020 with a degree in Business Management with a concentration in Leadership and Change. He is excited to welcome all of the Veterans to DePaul and hopes he can help them implement their military training into their schoolwork and future career paths. If you have any questions for Matthew, feel free to email him at msanch93@depaul.edu

Jorge Aguilar

Jorge Aguilar served four years in the United States Army. He trained at Fort Benning, GA to become an Armored Crewman on the M1A2 Abrams Tank and served the rest of his Active Duty time in Fort Stewart, GA. Jorge was Part of Operation Atlantic Resolve where he was able to travel to different NATO countries to train with their Military Forces. Jorge left Active Duty back in 2016 and currently serves in the Army Reserves as an Information Technology Specialist. Jorge also studies at DePaul University with a major in Finance and is expected to Graduate in 2020.

Ken Garcia

Kenneth Garcia is honorably serving and currently assigned as an Air Force Traditional Reservist to the 434th Air Refueling Wing based at Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana. Kenneth proudly joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves in April of 2010. In June of 2017 was deployed to Incirlik Air Force Base in Adan, Turkey and in January of 2016 was on temporary assignment at Mildenhall Royal Air Force Base, England.

Kenneth is an undergrad at DePaul University and is in his Junior Year. Kenneth is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Real Estate BSB. Kenneth would like to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all Veterans at DePaul University and he is happily willing to assist and search the proper resources for all members of branch of service Veterans for incoming and current DePaul students.

Mike Baumann

Mike Baumann served as a combat medic in the US Army for 6 years. He deployed for 15 months to Ramadi, Iraq in 2005 under Operation Iraqi Freedom and was attached to 2-6 Infantry of 1st Armored Divisions 2nd Brigade, as well as the 1ST Marine Expeditionary Force. He then served as an emergency room Sergeant at both Walter Reed AMC in Bethesda, MD and Tripler AMC in Honolulu, HI. Mike is Currently a senior at DePaul University studying Business Management with a Human Resources concentration and is expected to graduate in 2020.

Lucas Hopkins

Lucas Hopkins joined the United States Marine Corps from Wilmington, Delaware in June 2013. During five-and-a-half years of service, Lucas was primarily stationed with II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group and Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His role as a combat correspondent allowed him to document and publish multimedia content on Marine Corps training and operations in the United States, Europe, African and the Middle East. Lucas left active duty in January 2019, and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing at DePaul University. Any questions for Lucas can be sent to lhopkin6@depaul.edu.