News

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has selected Telisha Reinhardt as coordinator of military and veteran services. Reinhardt will focus on supporting the SIUE military-connected population with accessing education and supporting those students through graduation. SIUE Military and Veteran Services has more than 800 enrolled military-connected students. 

Director of Military and Veteran Services Kevin Wathen emphasized that Reinhardt’s experience and passion will create an impact. “Telisha’s addition to our office is an example of the University’s continued commitment to our military-connected students,” Wathen said. “She is joining us at a perfect time to impact our service as we prepare for the opening of the Military and Veteran Resource Center. During the interview process, she stood out with her ideas on engaging our underrepresented and female military-connected. Also, her experience with transfer and military credit will be an excellent asset to our office.”

Reinhardt is a veteran of the United States Navy and has been with SIUE since September 2019, beginning her journey with the institution as an admissions and records officer in the Transfer Center within the Office of the Registrar. In the Transfer Center, she evaluated transfer credit from institutions across the nation, including military credit.

“I love being active in the veteran community, and I come from a long line of proud military veterans,” Reinhardt said. “As part of the Military and Veteran Services team, I aim to use the knowledge I have gained through my veteran status and community engagement in putting forth innovative plans to assist the team in its continuous efforts to help alleviate any barriers or hurdles that may hinder the academic success of SIUE veteran and military-connected students.”

After her military career, Reinhardt has maintained a presence in the veteran community. She has served as a museum volunteer at the Korean War National Museum before its closure in 2017 and a recreational activity volunteer at the Minnesota Veterans Home, as well as a member of a veteran steering committee.

Reinhardt is interested in adding programs at SIUE to target specific military-connected groups. “I want to bring attention to the needs of underrepresented populations within the veteran community, focusing on issues that pertain to women, veterans of color and veterans within the LGBTQIA+ community. The veteran and military-connected community is extremely diverse, and underrepresented groups have certain concerns that are unique and cannot be broadly addressed.”   

Reinhardt started in her new position Monday, Nov. 9 and has already begun integrating into the role. “I’m excited to work with Military & Veteran Services Director Kevin Wathen and to be a part of this welcoming environment,” she said. 

Reinhardt earned a bachelor’s in general studies at Temple University-Japan located in Tokyo and a master’s in history at Illinois State University.

Photo: Telisha Reinhardt, SIUE coordinator of military and veteran services.