Course Spotlight: The New Jersey Clemente Course Veterans' Initiative
You will live as long as your life has meaning. I embarked on this educational journey to satisfy my life’s desire to learn. This opportunity crossed my path at the right moment and is supplying me with the chance to evaluate my ability to perform on the college level with like-minded people within the veteran’s community, where a person can always find support. All of the instructors and staff are helpful! Thank you for this possibility.
– George, Coast Guard, Ocean City, NJ
The New Jersey Clemente Course Veterans Initiative (CCVI) launched its second cohort on September 25, 2025, welcoming twenty-four veterans from every branch of service. The cohort includes eight women; and while most come from communities across New Jersey, the course has also drawn participants from New York. Part of the wider Clemente Veterans Initiative and operating in partnership with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and Atlantic Cape Community College, the CCVI brings transformative humanities education to those who have served.
Meeting weekly via Zoom, students are exploring CJ Chivers’ The Fighters and Michael Walzer’s Just and Unjust Wars with four dedicated faculty members: Mark "Paulie" Wenger (History), Akeel Gaines (Philosophy), Ashley Sardoni (English), and Jerome Ingram (English & Academic Coach/Advisor). A meaningful addition this year is Megan Taxiera, an alumna from the first cohort serving as Discussion Facilitator, bringing invaluable peer perspective to class conversations.
This is the first time, in a long time, that I have been in a classroom setting, but my experience so far has been awesome. The stories from my fellow Veterans have been inspiring; however, the highlight has to be our class trip to the Red Bank Battlefield. I look forward to the remaining classes and continuing my college experience. Thank you to everyone who made this class possible for us Veterans!
- Sean, Air Force, Little Egg Harbor, NJ
On October 18th, the group gathered in person for the first time at Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, New Jersey. Graduate student and tour guide Emily Schmidt led the class through the historic site, sharing discoveries from recent archaeological excavations, including the remarkable find of a Hessian soldier burial site, and exploring the legacy of a WPA restoration project. The group also toured the historic James and Ann Whitall house. As Course Director Denise Coulter explained, “While the subject matter of the trip was often solemn, the experience offered meaningful moments of connection, reflection and camaraderie.”
Beyond the classroom, the CCVI continues supporting individual journeys. When student Carol Darcy expressed interest in organizing her experiences as an Air Force mechanic during the Vietnam War into a book, the program connected her with a creative writing teacher for personalized guidance.
As this cohort continues through the semester, the New Jersey Clemente Course is already demonstrating the power of the humanities to create space for veterans to explore the questions that matter most, questions about service, citizenship, and what comes next.
