Dozens of veterans throughout Northeast Ohio joined U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and officials from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, to dedicate the opening of Armed Forces Boulevard on the YSU campus.

"This street will stand as a reminder to all who come to Youngstown State University of the service and sacrifice of our men and women in the military," said Vernon Haynes, professor of psychology, a veteran of the Air Force and chair of the YSU Veterans Advisory Council.

"Over our 101–year history as a university, from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of YSU students and employees have served their country in the military," YSU President David C. Sweet said. "We are honored to rename this street to recognize and celebrate their service, both past and present."        

The road, formerly Spring Street, is a major entrance to campus and recently underwent $1.2 million in renovations, including improvements to the street surface, lighting, sidewalks and landscaping. Banners recognizing the five branches of the military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard – line the street.

The renaming of the street comes on the heels of the creation of the YSU Office of Veterans Affairs in the spring. The office is designed to help veterans with the transition from military life to college life.

"At a time when the nation is anticipating the return of thousands of our courageous military men and women from war zones overseas, it is important that YSU be prepared to offer the special services needed by these individuals," said Cynthia Anderson, vice president for Student Affairs.

"The Office of Veterans Affairs is designed to help make their time at YSU – both in and out of the classroom – a fulfilling, successful experience."

The nine–member YSU Veterans Advisory Council, chaired by Haynes, advises the university on veteran issues and was a driving force behind the move to rename the street. The Council includes two members of the YSU faculty (Haynes and Robert Beebe, professor of Educational Foundations, Research, Technology and Leadership), two members of the YSU staff (Dave Olekshuk, systems analyst in computer services, and Mark Welton, network security analyst), two YSU students (Kyle Wilmouth and Paul Hageman), two community members (Carl Nunziato, an attorney and former vice president for National City Bank Trust, and Mike Shepherd, retired YSU ticket manager) and one member of the YSU Board of Trustees (Harry Meshel).

The YSU Office of Veterans Affairs has been cited in national publications such as Inside Higher Ed and Business Officer magazine, among others, for its efforts to help veterans. G.I. Jobs magazine recently included YSU on its list of the nation's top Military Friendly Schools.

In addition to helping with G.I. benefits, waiving application and orientation fees and offering priority registration for veterans, the new office has developed VetNet, a network of faculty and staff veterans to help student veterans with issues – academic and otherwise – that they may face on campus.

The office also helped coordinate the university's first veterans–only classes. This fall, 26 YSU student veterans are enrolled in the courses, making YSU one of only a handful of campuses nationwide to offer such classes.