Veteran Student Amanda Simmons ’22 Looks Forward to Giving Back

Amanda Simmons, a senior Business Administration major, served as a unit supply specialist in the United States Army. She has deployed to Iraq and did an overseas tour to Korea. After completing her service from 2008 to 2016, Simmons wanted to add to her skills in the logistics industry by attending a top-rated business school: Saint Mary’s College of California.

“I started looking at prominent business schools near my hometown, and Saint Mary’s fit the bill. I liked that the College aligns itself with veterans and promotes a religious upbringing,” said Simmons. 

“I was originally going to DeVry University,” Simmons said. “However, the overall atmosphere did not match what I was looking for in an institution. Saint Mary’s promotes a hands-on approach using smaller class sizes so that the students can feel both heard and valued.”

“You get a different view of the world, serving in the military. Many of us have been overseas and are returning to civilian life: older, more mature and more experienced in skills that the average student would not have access to. This is why I want to give back to my community. Seminar classes helped me dive into those deeper thoughts and express myself through writing and literature.” 

Simmons played a key role in the world of military logistics. “I was recognized for multitasking a major company changeover, while simultaneously networking to earn $200 million in new equipment.”

Multitasking is part of Simmons long-term plan. She looks forward to graduating in the spring and has her eye on graduate school—and giving back to the military. “My goals are to earn a master’s degree in Health Care Management and to earn experience through employment in a related field.” 

“I want to be able to give back to the Veterans Administration through my business expertise and knowledge. The VA’s health care system is not up to par with supporting veterans and their benefit needs.” 

Simmons enjoyed the challenge of taking Seminar and said it opened her to different viewpoints. But she returns to talking about the professor’s dedication to students as her top reason for valuing the College. “My professors have been extremely empathetic and understanding of my disabilities, ensuring that I feel supported and that my needs are being met on campus,” Simmons noted. She goes on to say that “Saint Mary’s mission statement includes providing for their students, which is attractive to a transfer student, like myself. Saint Mary’s balances my core values and my desires to give back to my community.”

Saint Mary’s thanks Amanda Simmons for her service and appreciates her being part of our community.