Shenandoah University receives Virginia Values Veterans Certification

Virginia Values Veterans (V3) has announced that Shenandoah University is now a certified V3 employer, further strengthening Shenandoah’s commitment to providing opportunities for military veterans.

Introduced by the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) in 2012, V3 is a free training and certification program that helps employers of all sizes implement best practices in recruiting, hiring, and retaining highly skilled and dependable veterans.

Shenandoah’s V3 Program certification is an important step in the university’s effort to hire the most talented and qualified employees. Over 700,000 veterans live in Virginia, including 200,000 in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

SU already employs more than 30 military-affiliated faculty and staff members.

“Shenandoah University does a wonderful job valuing and honoring veterans,” said Rakene Lee, Shenandoah’s director of human resources. “As a retired Marine, my experience here is nothing short of amazing. Specifically, the culture and camaraderie here are truly magnificent.”

Shenandoah University has a history of supporting veterans and their families. SU is a Military Friendly® School, has received Military Support Recognition from Colleges of Distinction, and is a Yellow Ribbon school. The university, which has over 160 military-affiliated students, has an active student veteran organization – Shenandoah Veterans and Supporters – and operates the Veterans, Military, and Families Center (VMFC) on its main campus in Winchester, Virginia.

Shenandoah often partners with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2123 in Winchester and the Northern Shenandoah Valley Community Veterans Engagement Board and teamed up with the latter to host the Veterans Community Engagement Forum in June 2022.

Additionally, the university has worked with Veterans Moving Forward, which provides service dogs and canine therapy services to veterans facing physical and/or mental health challenges, and serves as a departure point for Honor Flight-Top of Virginia, which sends veterans on an all-expenses paid trip to see the nation’s memorials in Washington, D.C, as part of the national Honor Flight Network.

Shenandoah University also is renovating the former National Guard armory on its main campus, which will become the Hub for Innovators, Veterans, and Entrepreneurs (HIVE). The HIVE will feature an expanded Veterans, Military, and Families Center and will be a regional anchor that provides comprehensive support and resources to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors in a welcoming atmosphere designed to address their unique needs.

About Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University was established in 1875 and is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational sites in Clarke, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties. Shenandoah is a private, nationally recognized university that blends professional career experiences with liberal education. With approximately 4,200 students in more than 200 areas of study in six different schools, Shenandoah promotes a close-knit community rich in creative energy and intellectual challenge. Shenandoah students collaborate with accomplished professors who provide focused, individual attention while leading several highly nationally ranked programs. Through innovative partnerships and programs at both the local and global levels, there are exceptional opportunities for students to learn in and out of the classroom. Shenandoah empowers its students to improve the human condition and to be principled professionals and leaders wherever they go. For more information, visit su.edu.