CLARKSVILLE, TN – Retired Army CW4 Brandon Morris, a first-year clinical mental health counseling master’s candidate at Austin Peay State University (APSU), learned a lot during his 20 years of service – but his biggest takeaway was a desire to give back to veterans.

Now he’s taking that opportunity as one of the inaugural Vet Center Scholarship recipients, earning a full ride to complete his master’s degree at APSU starting in July. After his graduation in December 2025, Morris will have a guaranteed six-year job placement providing counseling services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“I’m really interested in emotional intelligence, and I think that’s historically something we haven’t done a good job of in the military,” said Morris, who recently earned a bachelor’s degree in leadership science from APSU. “I think that needs to change because it’s very impactful on the other side of service once you retire … I want to help people find the words for their feelings because being able to explain how I was feeling was truly the most impactful thing for me as a veteran.”

The Vet Center Scholarship Program provides aspiring mental health professionals like Morris with funding for up to two years of graduate studies in a related field. From there, recipients will receive a full-time job at one of the VA’s 300 Vet Centers, which provide social and psychological services to the military community.

“I think any time the VA is offering a very specific track it’s a call for help, so I took [this scholarship] as a sign that veterans like myself need more people to talk to,” Morris said. “Once you finish the graduation requirements, you work with the VA team to figure out an underserved community that you’re willing to move to.”

Wherever Morris’s career leads, Dr. Kimberly Coggins, the coordinator of Austin Peay’s Master of Science in Counseling program, said his dedication will enrich the University community.

“I’m excited for our students to have this additional scholarship opportunity, and it’s great to have someone so qualified coming in,” said Dr. Kimberly Coggins, the coordinator of Austin Peay’s Master of Science in Counseling program. “Brandon will be getting trained to work with the population he’s most excited about, and that translates to quality mental health care.”

Coggins said the program helps students gain a strong understanding of counseling theory’s foundations, allowing them to develop their core counseling skills before graduation.

“Our students end up working in a lot of places, from schools to jails to hospitals,” she said. “For Brandon especially, these skills will translate very well to working with veterans. APSU has really made an effort to be welcoming and open to veterans … I think that we’re well-positioned to help students who are interested in working with veteran populations, and this scholarship affirms we’re a great school for training people to work with the military community.”