While the 2025 Gamecock football season didn't end with a big win, the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support led up to the game with a week of successful programming and community impact.
Continuing its strong efforts to support USC students and community members dealing with basic needs insecurities, the Gamecock CommUnity Shop is thankful for a great Giving Tuesday that will help power the shop towards the end of 2025.
The University of South Carolina’s National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (NRC) has been selected as the new home for the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS), which has been based at the University of North Georgia since 2012.
Photo of Cocky and VP J. Rex Tolliver with the Robert F. Newton Award for Distinguished Service from the National Association for College Auxiliary Services Vice President J. Rex Tolliver was honored with the Robert F. Newton Award for Distinguished Service from the National Association for College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) during the organization's 2025 C3X Conference. Tolliver is the former president of the NACAS Foundation.
The University of South Carolina has built a national reputation on its #1 First-Year Experience among public universities. But what happens after that first year? This question inspired the creation of the Carolina Experience, a coordinated effort designed to support sophomores, juniors, seniors and transfer students throughout their college career.
The University of South Carolina's Student Success Center is continuing to lead the way as an outstanding learning center under the direction of Director Dana Talbert. That excellence has been recognized by the International College Learning Center Association (ICLCA) during its annual conference in October.
Founded in 1930, the Evans Scholars Foundation currently supports scholars at over two dozen American colleges and universities, and for the first time, the scholarship has a cohort in the southeast here at USC.
The Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support is celebrating the success of the inaugural FORE Carolina Golf Tournament, held at the Wildewood Club on Oct. 23, benefitting the Carolina Cares Fund.
The Carolina Experience, a cross-coordinating department launched in 2024 to support sophomores, juniors, seniors and transfer students, is reaching across campus. Partnering with another department supporting student success — Gamecock Athletics — the two teams joined together to bring Adulting 101 to transfer student-athletes.
Welcome to Spur of the Moment, a podcast for the curious! Celebrating Russell House's 70th birthday this week, host Shonta Sellers sat down with Director Kim McMahon to preview the party and talk about the vital role the building has played over the last seven decades.
Marking a major milestone in campus history, the Russell House University Union will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Oct. 16. Known as USC’s “Grand Central Station,” the Russell House is a hub for student life and a cornerstone of community, connection and culture.
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition hosted it's 32nd annual National Conference on Students in Transition virtually on Oct. 1-3, 2025. This year's 374 attendees marked the highest in the event's recent history, with 263 participants joining for the first time.
Daphne Franklin is a fourth-year Pharm.D. and Honors student at the University of South Carolina. The Virginia native has been a resident assistant in the Honors Residence Hall since 2024 while serving as a teaching assistant at the College of Pharmacy and a DJ for WUSC-FM.
The second-ever Imagine Carolina event was held on Sept. 21, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with university leaders and suggest improvements for the future of USC. More than 100 attended, offering feedback on housing, advising and more.
Dean of Students Marc Shook has been named a 2026 Pillar of the Profession by the NASPA Foundation Board of Directors. Shook recently completed his term as NPI Director for NASPA Region III and the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA).
Courtesy of NASPA: Curiosity has become a common word online and in everyday conversation. What does it mean to be curious or to remain curious?
The 2025-26 school year started off strong with more than two dozen Carolina Welcome events. From First Night Carolina to the Student Organization Fair and beyond, our people made August memorable.
Welcome to Spur of the Moment, a podcast for the curious! This month, host Shonta Sellers sits down with Deonne Yeager, Director of Parent & Family Programs, to preview all things Family Weekend ahead of the festivities Sept. 11-13.
For the first time, the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support is sponsoring three research projects during the 2025-26 academic year aimed at furthering how the division can best support and enhance the Gamecock student experience.
Welcome to Spur of the Moment, a podcast for the curious! This month, host Shonta Sellers sits down with VP J. Rex Tolliver to prepare for the semester ahead and explore the theme of curiosity in our work.
In her eight years leading USC's Leadership and Service Center, Ambra Hiott says one of the keys to creating a strong student experience has been letting students lead the way. Now entering her first semester as the Associate Vice President for Student Life, Hiott is focused on bringing the student perspective to programming across the department.
The University of South Carolina Career Center hosted the two-day summit, Redefining Career Readiness: How AI & Innovation are Shaping the Future of Higher Education, at the University Conference Center in the Close-Hipp Building on July 14 and July 15.
Welcome to Spur of the Moment, a podcast for the curious! For our first episode, host Shonta Sellers sits down with Dan Colascione, Director of Residence Life for USC, to talk all things move-in and surviving the school year.
While most students are away from campus for the summer, the work continues in Housing, especially as campus prepares to welcome roughly 9,000 on-campus residents in the next month. This season is a key time for upkeep, updates and upgrades in the residence halls.
University of South Carolina students have been taking U101 for over 50 years, but less than 200 have had Bo Hart as their instructor over the past nine years. Many highlighted his commitment to future, past and present students at the Darla Moore School of Business and his overall commitment to building community. According to Hart, that's what makes his role so special.
Simoska, recently named the 2025 Dennis A. Pruitt Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students, says finding her place in a research lab early on in college inspired how she works to provide opportunities to her own first-year students. Now an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in USC's McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Simoska founded the Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI).
In 2024, the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support hosted 15 professional development events spread over the campus footprint and generated more than 900 engagements. That number is expected to grow for 2025, thanks in part to the Coffee and Collaborations series that visits different areas of the division each week and the upcoming 2nd Aspire & Advance conference.
For the second year in a row, the University of South Carolina's Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support played host to the New Professionals Institute (NPI) for NASPA Region III and the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA). And for the second year in a row, USC set a new attendance record for the conference.
Headquartered on the fifth floor of the Thomas Cooper Library -- the University of South Carolina Career Center serves as a key tool for current student and alumni alike to build and further their professional careers.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, one student from right here at the University of South Carolina was among the outpouring of help to rebuild damaged Midlands communities.
The Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support is excited to announce the appointment of Ambra Hiott to the role of Associate Vice President for Student Life and the addition of Justin Lawhead as Assistant Vice President for Career Readiness and Post-Graduate Success at the University of South Carolina, effective June 1, 2025.
Employees from across the Division of Student Affairs & Academic Support and supporters joined together on April 29 at Williams-Brice Stadium to celebrate the 2024-2025 academic year with the division's annual awards.
Sustainable practices have grown across campus from the founding of the university's Environmental Advisory Committee in 1999 to now. Director Larry Cook and his team work out of Green Quad and advise offices around campus on how they can introduce, promote and support a university-wide commitment to sustainability.
Moving out doesn't have to mean sending everything to the dumpster. From donating and swapping to recycling and composting, there are plenty of ways to lighten your load without creating waste.
Executive Director of Housing April Barnes has been elected as the next president of the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) and named the organization's Outstanding Senior Housing Officer of the Year.
We sat down with Dr. Silvia Patricia Rios Husain and her leadership team to explore what student success means to them, and here are their unique perspectives on how they support students' growth, achievement, and future readiness.
Silvia Patricia Rios Husain, Associate Vice President for Student Success at USC, brings a wealth of experience from her diverse roles in higher education, where she now helps guide students through challenges and opportunities with a multi-faceted approach to support.
The University of South Carolina's first Student Sustainability Summit on February 21, 2025, engaged 66 students in sustainability workshops, service projects, and discussions on environmental justice, highlighting a shift in leadership values toward empowerment and advocacy for sustainability.
The University of South Carolina's Residence Hall Association continues its award-winning streak, bringing home multiple regional and national honors for leadership, advocacy, and programming excellence.
Dr. Will Sheppard, the Director of USC's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, has dedicated nearly two decades to supporting students in their transition through college.
Nora Williams, a Midlands native and USC graduate student, has built an impressive career in photography, transitioning from digital to darkroom techniques and earning credits in major publications like The New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine. Now serving as the Assistant Director of Marketing for the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support.
Cockstock 2025 drew over 4,000 students to Colonial Life Arena for a high-energy concert featuring Quavo and Mariah the Scientist, marking the event's first spring semester appearance and continuing its tradition of showcasing top artists across genres.
Gamecocks braved the cold at the 2025 Gamecock Polar Plunge, coming together to raise over $12,000 in support of Special Olympics South Carolina and its athletes.
Nearly 200 students and community members honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service across the Midlands, creating over 2,000 sandwiches for those in need, supporting sustainable gardening, and assisting local organizations.
Dr. Stacy Fritz, USC's new Chief Health Officer and Associate Vice President of Student Health and Well-Being, is focused on enhancing student resources, improving outreach, and creating innovative health initiatives to better serve the campus community.
Brian Lusk has been named the new Executive Director of Mental Health for USC's Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support, bringing nearly 20 years of experience to lead mental health initiatives and Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), effective Feb. 3.
The University of South Carolina celebrated rivalry week with impressive performances on and off the field, highlighted by a 17-14 victory over Clemson in the Palmetto Bowl and a 9-3 season record. USC also hosted its largest-ever Tiger Burn and contributed to saving 18,684 lives during the annual Carolina Clemson Blood Battle.
The Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support welcomes Lisa Jerald to the role of chief of staff, Deonne Yeager to the role of director of parent and family programs and Rhonda Laylo to the role of director of student services and special assistant to the vice president.
Stacy Fritz, Ph.D., PT, has been appointed Chief Health Officer and Associate Vice President of Student Health and Well-Being, effective Dec. 2, overseeing Student Health Services, Counseling, Campus Recreation, and related wellness initiatives. An accomplished researcher and health professional, Fritz will enhance student wellness through collaborative leadership.
In this pivotal role, she will lead the communications and marketing team, driving the strategic vision for the division.
Kate Lehman has always been fascinated by students' college experiences and trying to find the sweet spot between academics and student affairs.As director, she'll spearhead research on first-year experiences across the world and continue building on USC's top-ranked first year experience in the country.
Student Health and Well-Being (SHWB) has welcomed three key leaders to its core management team as part of an ongoing commitment to provide comprehensive health and well-being services at the University of South Carolina (USC).
In this role - a new one for the division - Brown will contribute to the professional growth and career development of Student Affairs and Academic Support staff members.
Congratulations to the winners of Student Affairs and Academic Support's annual awards, which were given at the Awards Celebration April 23.
The University of South Carolina has been named a recipient of the 2023 Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention. Presented by Vector Solutions, the Seal of Prevention is awarded to colleges and universities that have demonstrated leadership in digital prevention programming focused on student safety, well-being and inclusion.
Jim Walczyk leads the planning, development and implementation of a range of recreational programs, activities and facilities to promote the overall health and well-being of the Gamecock community.
The university joins 140 organizations - including nonprofit and philanthropic groups, health systems and local governments - in taking action to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases across the nation by 2030.
Amber Fallucca brings a wealth of experience in student engagement and experiential learning to the new role working across USC to ensure students have greater access to the resources and support they need to embark on their professional journeys before and after graduation.
Vice President J. Rex Tolliver shares a message with students.
The recognition comes from ACPA-College Student Educators International and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine.
The University of South Carolina's FIrst Things First retreat for incoming first-generation students won the top program honor from NASPA, the national association for student affairs professionals in higher education.
Kennedy, associate vice president for the residential experience, won the NASPA Faculty Council Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Scholar-Practitioner.
In his role, he will lead the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs team, focusing on the strategic vision for the division.
The Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support has added to its leadership team with recent hires in University Housing and division-wide construction and renovation.
Beginning Sept. 18, Galloway will develop and execute the vision for financial services and lead the team responsible for the operations and administrative systems supporting a team of over 500 with budgets greater than $100 million.
For the past 15 years, Kim McMahon has helped set up first-year students for success as director of the Russell House University Union. This year, McMahon was awarded the Dennis A. Pruitt Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students Award.
The Office of Student Advocacy – formerly the Office of Undergraduate Ombuds Services – has moved to Russell House West Wing Suite 115. The change, along with a planned expansion of services, will give students greater access to support.
Between April 10 and 13, Student Affairs and Academic Support will host three candidates for the position of associate vice president for student health and well-being.
A University of South Carolina staff member and program were recognized for excellence at the Association for Student Conduct Administration annual conference in Portland, Oregon.
New Vice President for Student Affairs and Academic Support J. Rex Tolliver describes the path that led him to working in student affairs and where he sees the road leading as he takes the helm at UofSC.
Over the course of his 20-year career in higher education, J. Rex Tolliver has learned to ask questions — and seek solutions — in student affairs. And one question in particular drives his efforts: What can we do to improve the student experience?
Tolliver, who will begin Aug. 22, will lead all student affairs and academic support units that serve the university’s 36,000-plus student population, including Student Health Services, Housing, Student Success and Student Life.
Beginning July 18, Mercer will lead Fraternity and Sorority Life operations and oversee 7,300 students, 20 facilities, 23 staff members and two graduate assistants.
Beginning July 5, Hinds will be responsible for coordinating staff development and training; leading the department's emergency management planning; and overseeing marketing, communications and assessment offices.
The award, given by the League of American Bicyclists, recognizes successful efforts to create a bikeable campus using strategies that include design, education and planning.
Ed Gatzke, associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, has been selected as the new faculty principal for the Green Quad living and learning community.
The Office of New Student Orientation hosted the 2022 Southern Regional Orientation Workshop -- more commonly known as "SROW" - March 4-6 at the University of South Carolina.
The UofSC Career Center is committed to advancing the professional development of all students, regardless of their status and background. Amy Gardner, manager of student employment, shares her insight about a new initiative to help staff recruit student employees and to make the on-campus job experience more meaningful for students.
After nearly four decades leading the University of South Carolina’s student affairs division, Dennis Pruitt will retire from his role as vice president and vice provost when his contract expires in January 2023.
Alison Hughes has been named the new director of the Office of New Student Orientation at the University of South Carolina, a role she'll begin March 21.
Shaomian, associate professor in sport and entertainment management, has been selected as the new faculty principal for Preston Residential College at the University of South Carolina.
Powell will be responsible for $100 million in budgets for more than 30 departments and five responsibility units in the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support.
Schiff is responsible for directing the planning, development, design and construction of University Housing projects.
Marc Shook, dean of students, deputy Title IX coordinator and interim university assistant vice president for civil rights and Title IX, won the AVP/Senior-Level Student Affairs Professional Award, which will be presented March 22 at the NASPA awards ceremony in Baltimore.
Beginning Nov. 16, Parks will direct the planning, strategic development, design and operations of information technology systems within the division.
Flynn is responsible for promoting the Department of Student Life through communications and marketing, planning and implementing major events, managing the department's emergency communication planning and overseeing the student ticketing office.
First-generation students from low-income families who arrive at the University of South Carolina find a home and support through the Opportunity Scholars Program, where a combination of smaller classes, mentoring, advising and workshops improves students’ academic performance and graduation rates.
Badesha, who began her role June 15, oversees disability-related compliance at South Carolina and facilitates accommodations for students with disabilities on the Columbia and Palmetto College campuses.
The Substance Abuse Prevention and Education office was awarded a $528,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services to support collegiate recovery and substance misuse services.
Beginning April 16, Law will provide guidance, monitoring and analysis in budgeting and finance for the departments comprising Student Affairs and Academic Support.
The award from the Association of Student Conduct Administration recognizes excellence and innovation in the field of student conduct.
University 101 had its most successful semester ever in fall 2020, according to results from course evaluations and the First-Year Seminar Assessment. Students agreed that they recommend future UofSC students take University 101, the course improved their transition to the university and taking the course was a valuable experience.
South Carolina has re-established the President's Council on Sustainability, whose members are charged with providing "input and expertise to the Office of Sustainability regarding goals, programming and evaluation of sustainability at the university."
One year after COVID-19's arrival in the United States, it's clear that its effects go beyond the disease itself. Conclusive, long-term data on how the pandemic has impacted substance abuse is not yet available — but the short-term data suggest an overall increase.
Holt will serve as the primary contact for parents and families of undergraduate students at South Carolina and will be responsible for managing events and communications that help parents and families support their students' success.
A grant from the International Town Gown Association through the Molson Coors Great Plays Program will be used to promote risk reduction strategies, substance abuse education and alcohol-free programming to promote safety and health for students.
After losing both of her parents, Antonia Adams has made a new start at the South Carolina Honors College. Her journey shows the importance of perseverance and the belief that education can restore confidence and hope.
The University of South Carolina is once again recognized for offering the best first-year experience of any public college in the nation by U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Monday (Sept. 14).
A conversation with the Leadership and Service Center's Ambra Hiott, director, and Carly Zerr, leadership coach
Established by the late Robert "Bobby" Dobson III ('60, '62 J.D.), the Dobson Volunteer Service Program has touched lives on campus and around the world for more than 20 years. Since funding its first student trip in 1999, the program has supported more than 1,300 student trips to 60 countries on five continents.
The University of South Carolina strives to be an environment where all students can flourish and succeed, regardless of their backgrounds. Essay sat down over coffee to discuss the programs and support that South Carolina offers first-generation and low-income students with three champions of these inclusive efforts: Althea Counts, director of TRIO programs; Joey Derrick, director of student financial aid and scholarships; and Dana Talbert, director of the Student Success Center.
Junior Andee Poulos's battle with a life-threatening injury sparked an organization dedicated to helping families facing the same hardships.
Haleema Adly, a freshman nursing major from Columbia, has used her life experiences to become an educator and advocate for multicultural people.
Anna Book, a senior public health major from Charleston, has found community at South Carolina by leading the Homecoming Commission as its president.
James "Davis" Hayman, an international business and finance major from Johnson City, Tennessee, has created a platform to advocate for the disabled community.
Ryleigh Waiters, a senior University Ambassador and exercise science major from Lancaster, South Carolina, has turned giving back to the university into her passion
Uriah Chapman uses his Magellan Guarantee Research Grant to study the disparities between police interactions with people of different races
Beginning Jan. 13, 2020, Silvia Patricia Rios Husain will partner with university and external stakeholders to advance the retention, timely graduation, career readiness and life-long employability of our students and inform and enhance best practices in higher education student success.
The University of South Carolina has the top first-year student experience among the nation’s public universities, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings.
The five-story center next to the Russell House opened in fall 2017 with open spaces, indoor plants and built-in efficiencies. It is one of 16 buildings on the UofSC Columbia campus with LEED certification.
Year after year, the number of lives transformed by the University of South Carolina’s Gamecock Guarantee program keeps growing. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story.
Financing college isn't always a simple process for students and their families. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at the University of South Carolina, led by director Joey Derrick, has set out to improve it.
Junior Andee Poulos’s battle with a life-threatening injury sparked an organization dedicated to helping families facing the same hardships.
Kirsten Kennedy has been named associate vice president for housing and well-being, a position she's held in an interim capacity since January.
Marc Shook has been named dean of students and deputy Title IX coordinator, a new position in the UofSC Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support.
NASPA, the national organization for student affairs professionals, recognized three UofSC programs and a former associate vice president for excellence in the field.
Anna Edwards has been named associate vice president for student life, a position she's held in an interim capacity since July 2017.
David Tran, a first-generation college student from Greenwood, South Carolina, dreamed of becoming a doctor. Thanks to the Gamecock Guarantee financial and academic support program, Tran will graduate this December and head to medical school.
On Sept. 15, a 6-foot-5, 773-pound bronze statue of the beloved mascot will be dedicated in front of Davis College, just off Greene Street next to the Melton Observatory. Cocky is seated on a bench, with one hand raised high with a spurs-up sign. His other hand rests on a stack of books, a nod to Cocky’s role as a literacy leader around the state.
With its soothing interior colors, lush plants, comfy seating and walls of windows, the new student health center might become the next cool place for students to hang out. And if that happens, executive director of student health services Debbie Beck will be more than a little pleased.
To provide local students with a first-hand look at the benefits of gardening, sustainability and wellness, the Office of Sustainability collaborates with the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department to host a two-week, interactive summer program.
Each year, as students move out of their residence halls, they leave behind thousands of pounds of unwanted items — from futons to lamps to clothing. These donated items will be up for grabs Friday and Saturday (May 19-20) at the Give It Up For Good yard sale sponsored by University Housing.
Record rainfall in October 2015 caused widespread flooding and devastation in Columbia. UofSC staff members worked around the clock to ensure student safety and to provide essential services.
Out to Lunch, a longstanding program run by the Student Success Center in partnership with Carolina Dining Services, was started as a way to improve interaction outside the classroom by encouraging students to invite their instructors to a meal and then talk about — well, that’s up to them.
As spirit chair of UofSC's Relay For Life team, Stephanie Pacheco encourages others to work hard in the fight against cancer. Pacheco needs no extra encouragement. Her motivation is her family.
Real food, as in fair, local, humane and ecologically sound, was something that Ryan Gaucher says his group had “moderate interest” in before filming its documentary, “Something to Chew On.” But Gaucher and classmates Cole Haltom, Coleman Krietemeyer and Colin Rex were able to use a class assignment to better understand and improve their community.
UofSC's Multicultural Assistance Peer Program helps students of color find everything they need to fit in, have fun and get the most from their college experience.
Hilary Lichterman, associate director of residence life, University Housing, describes the residential curriculum and its implementation at UofSC.
French professor Lara Lomicka Anderson loves being part of and building communities. As the newly named principal of Preston Residential College, she and her family will move into the residence hall, where they will experience the college journey with undergraduates for the next three years.
Five years ago, there was no Gamecock Sailing Club. Today, there’s an active club with up to 80-plus members during any given semester. Meanwhile, the club’s president, a senior finance major who graduates this week, hopes to turn her passion into a career in the sailing industry.
When a 1,000-year deluge inundated the city of Columbia, University of South Carolina students rolled up their sleeves.
The University of South Carolina presented its top honors, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Steven N. Swanger awards, to four graduating seniors during the university’s annual Awards Day ceremony Thursday on the historic Horseshoe.
Helping her peers, especially other young women, find their leadership voice is Caroline Westberg’s passion. She has spent the past year – her senior year at the University of South Carolina – creating Women LEAD. On Wednesday, Westberg was named the 2016 Outstanding Woman of the Year.
UofSC's Supplemental Instruction program has been named the 2016 Outstanding SI Program by the International Center for Supplemental Instruction.
If you're looking for a path to success, find someone who has done what you want to do and follow in his or her footsteps. If you've already been down that path, show someone else the way. It's called mentoring, and at UofSC it leads to great things — we've got the programs to prove it.
Even with two majors and a minor, Jory Fleming still finds time to volunteer in the community. And so does his service dog, Daisy.
Teamwork, leadership, passion and hard work. These are just some of the words, Austin Royal and Patrick Pope would use to describe the success of their student organization, Ducks Unlimited at the University of South Carolina.
The university's team for the Midlands Heart Walk this year is being led by the girlfriend and friend of a UofSC police officer who lost his battle with heart disease at the age of 29.
Jill Goodtree, Olivia Currey and Richard Lipkin are interns for the university’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs. The three public relations majors in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications had the opportunity to work for CNN during the television network’s two “town hall” events at the UofSC law school, leading up to the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries held in South Carolina in February.
For 30 years, the University of South Carolina has brought together students around the region to talk about leadership and diversity. This year, students and faculty from across the SEC also will be part of that conversation.
Vernon Pryor came to Carolina through the Gamecock Gateway program, and the sophomore electrical engineering major has since earned a scholarship that covers all of his educational costs until graduation. The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship also guarantees him a job as a civilian employee in the Department of Defense for three years after graduation.