Andrew Bender
Director of Operations and Services
Andy is the Director of Operations and Services at the Chez Veterans Center . Prior to his appointment he worked for 3 years at The Career Center as the Associate Director for Operations. Andy retired from the US Army in 2016 after 20 years of service and subsequently worked at Amazon and the McLean County Chamber of Commerce before finding his way to the University of Illinois and his discovering his desire to continue serving Veterans as they make their own personal transitions into higher education.
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Ingrid Wheeler, MSW, LCSW
Associate Director, Student Success and Wellbeing
Ingrid leads clinical and support initiatives for military-connected students. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she holds degrees from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As an early point of contact for many students, Ingrid helps them adjust to campus life, access resources, and navigate challenges. Her client-centered approach is informed by experience across inpatient, outpatient, and addiction treatment settings, addressing concerns such as anxiety, depression, substance use, and stress. Growing up in a military family, with her father serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy, Ingrid brings personal understanding and commitment to supporting military-connected students.
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Dustin D. Lange, Ph.D., M.S.
Assistant Director, Academic & Career Services & Facility Operations
Dustin is the Assistant Director of our academic & career services and supports the director with the day to day operations of the facility. He has been with the center through various roles since its opening in 2015. Prior to his current appointment, Dustin did a postdoc fellowship at the Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH) at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago, where he currently is a Research Associate and a member of their steering committee. He is a three time alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has authored peer-reviewed journal articles, white papers, and is the lead author of the book titled Camo to Career: The Veteran’s Guide to Career Success. Dustin has also garnered numerous military honors from his 8-years of active duty service in the United States Marine Corps.
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Garrett Anderson, Jr., Ret. Sgt. U.S Army
Assistant Director, Student Engagement and Outreach
Garrett is the Assistant Director for Student Engagement and Outreach, where he focus on student recruitment targeting veterans with disabilities , establish and maintain connections with national and regional disability-related groups and organizations, especially veterans with disabilities; establishing connections with para-athletic and para-recreation opportunities to create additional options for student-veterans with disabilities, building upon the strong reputation of University of Illinois programs, and establish new and maintain existing connections to local and distant community groups. Garrett Retired from the U.S. Army in 2006, received his degree in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University in 2010, and a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counselling from the University of Illinois Champaign- Urbana in 2018.
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Jason Sakowski
Assistant Director, Veteran Student Support Services
Jason serves as the Assistant Director for Veteran Student Support Services at the Chez Veterans Center. Jason served eight years of active duty in the Marine Corps and completed two tours to Iraq and one tour to Afghanistan. It was during his undergraduate degree that he discovered he wanted to serve military-connected students after he graduated. Jason also retired from the Illinois National Guard 2020 and completed his Master’s in the Human Resources Development program here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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Michael Lotspeich-Yadao, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Michael leads research and educational initiatives supporting military-connected communities at the Chez Veteran Center. As a technical expert on veteran and military-connected research, he guides university researchers through every stage of their work—from grant writing to final reporting. His research focuses on understanding military-connected populations through the study of spatial demographics, rural sociology, and public health. Michael specializes in translational research that directly impacts communities, working closely with public decision-makers, healthcare practitioners, and Land Grant Institutions like the University of Illinois to improve program and service delivery for veterans. He brings both academic expertise and military experience to this role, holding a Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from Baylor University and currently serving as an Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
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Austin Slotnick
Office Support Associate
Austin provides general support to the program, service, and research missions of the Chez Veterans Center. He’ll be ready to greet you on the phone or at the front desk if you are looking for more information! Austin is a Champaign-Urbana native with a B.A. in Audio Recording and Technology from Eastern Illinois University. Prior to joining Chez, he had a series of roles in the arts, education, and humanities.
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Student Employees
Grace Best
Programming Assistant
Grace is a programming assistant at the Chez Veterans Center, where she supports daily operations. Her roles include greeting and assisting visitors, as well as providing support for events and programs held at the center. Grace believes that the Chez Veterans Center provides a community and sense of belonging for all military-connected individuals. Grace is a dependent who grew up in the Peoria, Illinois area. Her father served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Specialist. As a retired TACP, her father’s service has shaped Grace’s life, instilling values of hard work and resilience. She is currently majoring in social work and hopes to work with veterans and military-connected individuals in the future. Grace is involved in many organizations on campus, such as the Women’s Rugby Club, the Women’s Glee Club, and the Newman Center.
Robert Chromniak
Programming Assistant
Robert is a Programming Assistant at the Chez Veterans Center, where he helps support military-connected students through resources and service. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is on track to graduate in Spring 2026. Robert also serves as a Sergeant in the Illinois Army National Guard, where he has gained leadership experience through multiple state missions and a 10-month overseas rotation in Poland. An immigrant from Poland, Robert became involved with the Chez Veterans Center as both a student employee and President of the Illini Veterans student organization. These roles have allowed him to support fellow Veterans and dependents in their academic transitions, while also building stronger connections across campus. Drawing on his military service, leadership, and planning studies, Robert is committed to empowering the Veteran community and contributing to public service in both military and civilian settings.
Natalie Koldenhoven
Programming and Communications Assistant
Natalie serves as a Programming and Communications Assistant at the Chez Veterans Center, where she supports daily operations by welcoming military-connected students and guiding them to the appropriate resources. She also contributes to the Center’s communications efforts by assisting with the creation of weekly briefs and spotlights. Natalie is currently a junior majoring in Communication with a minor in Business. As a military-connected student herself, she brings a personal connection to her role—her father served 36 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, retiring as a Master Sergeant and flight engineer. To Natalie, the Chez Veterans Center is a place of comfort and support, offering valuable resources for military-connected students. Outside of her role at Chez, she also serves as the Membership Director for the Illini Veterans RSO.
Jacob Means
Programming Assistant (Military-Connected Student Support Specialist)
Jacob is a Programming Assistant at the Chez Veterans Center, where he fosters a supportive community for military-connected students. His role includes program development, community outreach, and case management. He builds a sense of belonging through events, serves as a resource liaison, and tailors programs to meet students’ unique needs. He also assists with daily operations, including phone support, greeting visitors, and event coordination. Jacob is a native of Danville, IL and currently majoring in Social Work. Jacob is also a resident at the Chez and says that not only the Chez but also the work study program has helped give him a sense of being. He feels the sense of community the center gives him is something every military connected student is looking for. The work study program benefits Jacob by allowing him to focus on his studies and work at the same time. He says that this is a blessing to him and his studies. One fun fact about Jacob is that he has a pitbull named Jasper!
Mayra Ortega
Programming and Communications Assistant
Mayra is a Programming Assistant at the Chez Veterans Center, where she supports daily operations. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and hopes to commission through Army ROTC. With six years of experience as a medic attached to the 933rd Military Police, Mayra has developed a strong foundation in military medicine and leadership. Mayra is a native of Chicago, IL. After returning home from her first deployment with the 933rd, Mayra became involved with the Chez Veterans Center. This organization played a crucial role in her post-deployment transition, offering vital support and resources. Inspired by the impact of the Chez Veterans Center, Mayra is committed to giving back to the military-connected community by empowering fellow students as they pursue their goals in both military and academic settings.
Devin McCoy
Programming Assistant
Devin is a Programming Assistant at the Chez Veterans Center, where he supports daily operations. Devin served six years of active duty in the US Army as a Geospatial Engineer working in terrain analysis and disaster response planning. Devin is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Geography and Geographic Information Science.
Lucas Papadopoulus
Programming Assistant
Zachary Winthers
Programming Assistant
Zach is a Programming Assistant at the Chez Veterans Center, where he supports daily operations and builds a sense of belonging by helping fellow students navigate campus resources at UIUC. Originally from North Aurora, IL, Zach is majoring in Integrative Biology and is also a resident at Chez. He shares that both the center and the work-study program have been invaluable in his transition from Soldier to Student. A Staff Sergeant in the Illinois National Guard with over 10 years of service, Zach has completed two deployments—one to Djibouti, Africa (2019) and another to Jordan, Middle East (2024). Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue a career in Forensic Sciences.
Koumae
BSW Intern
Koumae is a BSW intern here at the Chez Veterans Center. Through her internship, she is gaining hands-on experience in a professional setting while learning how to best support military-connected students. Koumae is a military dependent, her father currently serving in the U.S. Navy since attending the Naval Academy in 1992. Growing up in a military family has shaped her interest in having a social work career that involves supporting veterans and their families. She is currently working on completing her degree in social work with a minor in psychology. Her long-term goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). A bit about Koumae outside of the Chez Veterans Center is that she was born in Hawaii, and that she recently welcomed a new Pomeranian puppy into her family this past summer.
Alejandra Diaz Ortiz
I-Health Intern
Alejandra is an I-Health intern at the Chez Veterans Center. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Diversity and a minor in Health Administration. In her future, she plans on getting her master’s in Health Administration.
Gabriel Balz
I-Health Intern
Gabriel is a native of Illinois from a small town named Jerseyville. He is currently pursuing a degree in Interdisciplinary Health Science with a focus on Health and Aging. He served 7 years in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman which has been his basis for why he chose to go into the medical field. After graduating he plans on applying for a Physician Assistant program and going on to study medicine more closely to be able to give back to his community and those he cares for.