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Office Hours

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please feel free to or contact us.

Important information for scheduling an appointment:

• APPOINTMENTS ARE VIRTUAL: Once scheduled, you will receive an email with a Microsoft Teams link to join your scheduled meeting. 
• Students with last names A-E, please schedule with Sarah Helmick 
• Students with last names F-L, please schedule with Nate Cooper
• Student with last names M-Z, please schedule with Maribeth Eckenrode
• Any student may schedule with Joshua Rider  

Contact Us

Center for Adult and Veteran Services Team
 

Joshua Rider 
Executive Director of the Center for Adult and Veteran Services
jrider@kent.edu  |  330-672-0510

A two-time Kent State alumnus, his master's degree is in Higher Education Administration. Starting as a student worker and graduate assistant, Josh has advanced through a number of appointments at KSU including positions as a financial aid counselor and GI Bill® School Certifying Official before his role leading the CAVS office. He is a graduate of  class 2017 and also serves on the .

His supervisory portfolio includes:

• Leading all functions of the CAVS office
• Creating federal and state GI Bill® compliance and education initiatives for all university campuses
• Developing multi-year strategic plans for the Division of Student Life and regional campus engagement
• Heading committees and working groups for increasing inter-divisional efficiencies 

Sarah Helmick
Associate Director and VA Certifying Official
shelmick@kent.edu  |  330-672-8586

Holding a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Kent State, Sarah previously worked in academic advising, financial aid, and compliance roles at the Trumbull regional campus. In addition, she has experience in private-sector work with scholastic testing instruments.

Her responsibilities include:

• Leading university compliance with all GI Bill® programs
• Chairing the Parenting Student Task Force
• Integrating departmental goals with student-oriented events, initiatives, programs, and services 
• Supervision of the office VA work-study student team
• Certifying benefits for veterans, service members, and dependents for last names A-E

Nate Cooper
Coordinator and VA Certifying Official
ncoope14@kent.edu  | 330-672-7934

Nate has been with Kent State since 2017 where he started out working as a student worker in the Student Services and Enrollment Management Department at the Tuscarawas Campus. After completing his undergraduate work, he received his master's degree in Higher Education Administration from 5X���� in 2023. Throughout his professional career, he has had experience in financial aid, academic advising, admissions, and registrar functions as well as experience certifying VA benefits. Nate is currently pursuing his Ed.D.in Interprofessional Leadership at Kent State.  

His primary duties include:

• Process all education verification requests for VA purposes, including CHAMPVA and TRICARE
• All marketing for the CAVS office 
• Certifying benefits for veterans, service members, and dependents for last names F-L

Maribeth Eckenrode
Veterans Educational Benefit Specialist 
meckenro@kent.edu  | 330-672-8587

Maribeth has worked at 5X���� for 11 years, originally starting as a VA Work Study Student at the Trumbull Campus. She worked at Trumbull as part of the Student Services and Enrollment Management Department working in Financial Aid and Military-Connected Educational Benefits. Notably, Maribeth was a founding member of the Trumbull Campus “At Ease”– Military & Veteran Resource Center. She carries several degrees including a bachelor’s degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She has a rich family history of individuals serving in the Armed Forces and is the spouse of a 30-year military veteran. Maribeth is currently a member of the Medical Reserve Corps.  

Her primary duties include:  

• Certifying benefits for veterans, service members, and dependents for last names M-Z