Dr. Blimling Receives Rutgers Veteran Services Award
On April 4, 2013, Dr. Gregory Blimling, a Professor at Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE), received the Rutgers Veteran Services Award for his contributions to the veteran community at Rutgers.
The award was presented by Rutgers veteran and military students, in recognition of sustained and outstanding leadership and commitment to the success of student veterans while at Rutgers and their lives beyond the University. Dr. Blimling is the second recipient of this award, after former Rutgers President Dr. Richard McCormick won the Award in 2012.
Dr. Blimling is nationally recognized as expert in the field of college student affairs. He received his M.S. Ed. In College Student Personnel Administration at Indiana University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership in Higher Education and College Student Personnel Work at The Ohio State University. Prior to joining the GSE, Dr. Blimling worked for over 36 years as a students affairs administrator, 22 years of which as a university vice president or chancellor. He is the author or co-author of 6 books and an extensive number of journal articles, monographs, papers and other scholarly contributions in the fields of higher education and college student affairs. He has received many national awards, a few of which include Outstanding Contribution to Literature and Research Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the national Dissertation of the Year Award in student affairs and higher Education from NASPA, and the Contribution to Knowledge Award from American College Personnel Association.
Dr. Blimling has made many distinguished contributions to the Rutgers community. Among these contributions is the founding of the Office of Veteran and Military Programs and Services, which included “building a new office for them, staffing the office, chairing the veteran services advisory committee, and funding a documentary about student veterans, which is currently in production,” said Dr. Blimling. The services provided by the Office since its establishment has received much recognition; the Military Times EDGE has ranked Rutgers the third best educational institution for Military Veterans.
Dr. Blimling joined the GSE this past January, after he accepted his three-year appointment as a professor. He currently teaches in the College Student Affairs program, and his research interests focus on “how to structure peer environments in residence halls to increase the psychosocial and cognitive growth and development of college students,” as well as “how co-curricular activities, peer group affiliations, and other form of experiential education contribute to student learning and student success in college.”
To learn more about Dr. Blimling, please visit his faculty profile page.