Meet the SVRC

Andrea Lieder

Andrea Lieder is a Junior from Eagan, Minnesota. She joined the National Guard in 2005 with the goal of joining ROTC at CSB/SJU.

After completing Basic and AIT, she contracted with the program and is currently drilling with the 34th ID Main Command Post out of Rosemount, MN.

She will receive her commission upon graduation in 2009 and has aspirations of attending the Army's Physician's Assistant School in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Right before starting her freshman year at CSB/SJU, her father received news that he was to be deployed to Camp Adder, Iraq for 18 months with the MN National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team. If she understands anything about a deployment it is how hard it is for every family member and/or friend involved.

She hopes that her experience will help anyone that is struggling with what she and her family did: the emotional roller coaster of anxiety, stress and fear of the unknown, as well as the challenge of reintegration.

As a National Guard soldier herself, she encourages anybody having difficulty with the VA come to the SVRC for assistance, as all of the required paperwork can be a confusing task.

Caroline North

Caroline North is a sophomore from Sherburn, Minnesota.

After joining the National Guard in 2002, she was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2004.

As an 88M truck driver, her tasks doubled as the Company Commander's gunner and as a Heavy Equipment Transporter driver, completing over one hundred missions with her platoon.

With the goal of finishing college, she contracted with the ROTC Nursing Program after her return. Upon commissioning in 2010, she has a special interest in becoming a Mental Health Nurse with a focus in soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Her biggest challenge upon returning from deployment was how difficult it was to reintegrate into the college atmosphere.

Upon being asked to become a SVRC advisor, she knew immediately that this was something she wanted to do.

Her experience as a fully reintegrated veteran has sparked many great ideas for what this program should offer and will be a great resource for anyone that is in her shoes.