VA Education Benefit Support Workshop

Join Aims Veteran Services and the Fort Collins Vet Center for an informative session designed to help you navigate your VA Education benefits from the initial application all the way to graduation. This workshop offers a great opportunity to get answers to your specific questions, receive expert guidance, and find support in a welcoming, veteran-friendly environment.

Presented By: Aims Community College Veteran Services & Fort Collins Vet Center
Featured Speaker: Ross Atkinson Ph.D., VA School Certifying Official and Aims Veteran Services Program Manager

Dr. Ross Atkinson is a combat veteran and dedicated educator who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2009, serving as a communications specialist and deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His passion for education was sparked while taking online community college courses during his deployment. After transitioning to civilian life in 2012, he earned both a Master's degree in English and a Ph.D. in Education Sciences from Colorado State University (CSU). Today, Dr. Atkinson serves as a VA School Certifying Official and Program Manager for Veteran Services at Aims Community College. In this role, he draws on his own background to help military-connected students access and navigate VA benefits and their transition to civilian life.

In addition to his work at Aims Community College, Dr. Atkinson is an experienced instructor who has previously taught high school English, undergraduate education courses, and now teaches a graduate Action Research course for pre-service teachers at CSU. During his doctoral studies, he received a Dean's Fellowship to research the impact of writing workshops on veterans. Putting this research into practice, he founded the CSU Veterans Writing Workshop—a supportive space for military-affiliated individuals to process their experiences—and spearheaded the publication of Charlie Mike: An Anthology of Military Life, a compilation of participant stories. Although he no longer runs the workshop, his advocacy for veterans and his commitment to their educational journey remain a driving force in his career.