Article written by: Baileigh Hannah

At the heart of the Chez Veterans Center is Ingrid, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Programs. Ingrid plays a vital role in supporting military-connected students as they navigate the often complex journey of higher education and civilian life. A first-generation college student herself, Ingrid earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale and her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Today, she oversees Behavioral Health Services at the Chez Veterans Center, where she offers therapy, guidance, and a steady presence for students learning to adjust, grow, and thrive.

Her passion for this work is deeply personal. Raised in a biracial military family—with a Panamanian mother and a father who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy—Ingrid spent much of her childhood living overseas.

“We moved around a lot,” she says. “Panama, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Florida—and eventually Illinois. I think those experiences really taught me how to adapt, and how important it is to feel seen in the middle of a transition.”

One story she often shares about her dad still makes her smile:

“He was in the Navy for two decades and never once set foot on a ship. He always joked about it. You’d never know he even served unless he told you—and that always stuck with me. It showed me how varied military identity can be. Some people wear it on the outside, and for others, it’s a quieter part of who they are.”

That idea that military identity looks different for everyone has shaped Ingrid’s entire approach to care. In her role at the Center, she’s often the first person students connect with when they’re looking for help.

“Sometimes they don’t even know what they need yet,” she says. “They just know they’re overwhelmed or stuck. I’m here to listen and walk with them through that.”

Though she didn’t serve in the military herself, Ingrid’s upbringing gave her a deep understanding of the unique pressures military-connected students face. She’s witnessed how service can affect people in different ways—even within her own family—and she brings that awareness to every conversation.

“My role isn’t to define someone’s identity for them,” she explains. “It’s to meet them where they are and help them build the version of themselves they’re growing into.”

For Ingrid, the most meaningful part of her work is watching that growth happen in real time.

“One of the things I love most is seeing how students change over time,” she says. “Not just in their academics, but in how they carry themselves. How they speak about who they are and what they want.”

Having gone through her own transitions—from life on military bases to civilian communities, from first-gen college student to clinical professional—Ingrid understands how overwhelming it can be to enter spaces that don’t always feel built for you.

“I remember stepping into college and just feeling lost,” she says. “I didn’t know who to ask or even what questions to ask. That sense of uncertainty still resonates with me—and it’s something I work hard to help students navigate.”

Many of the students she works with are adjusting to civilian life, juggling school with work and family, and trying to find a sense of belonging in a large university setting. Ingrid relates to that deeply.

“When we moved off base and into a civilian neighborhood, it was a big shift,” she recalls. “People weren’t used to others coming and going all the time. It felt disorienting. And that feeling came back when I started college—I didn’t know the rhythm, the culture, the language.”

That lived experience helps Ingrid offer something many students don’t even realize they need: a sense of steady support. “I try to be the person I wish I’d had,” she says. “Someone who says, ‘You don’t have to figure this out on your own.’”

When asked what advice she’d give to Veterans transitioning into civilian life, her answer is simple but powerful:

“Give yourself grace. It’s not going to be perfect, and it doesn’t have to be. What matters is knowing where to go when you need help, and remembering that support is part of strength—not a weakness.”

Ingrid emphasizes that every Veteran’s path looks different. “Whether your military identity is something you hold close or something you’re still figuring out, there’s a place for you,” she says. “You belong—even if your journey doesn’t look like anyone else’s.”

Outside of work, Ingrid finds grounding in the things that bring her joy: spending time with her family, camping, exercising, reading, and being outdoors. These simple pleasures, she says, help her stay connected to herself while showing up fully for others.

“I think a lot about what it means to grow roots,” she reflects. “After moving so much as a kid, it’s been healing to build something lasting here in Illinois—a life, a career, and a community I love.”

And through her work at the Chez Veterans Center, Ingrid continues to help others do the same—offering space, support, and a belief in each student’s ability to grow into exactly who they’re meant to be.