快活视频

By GRACE HOGGARTH '22 on September 18, 2024

It鈥檚 unlikely to see Tiffany Marsh without her service dog and partner in crime, Roxy, while strolling campus. After over a year and a half of navigating life together, the pair has made their mark on 快活视频by empowering fellow veterans and their family members.

The reason this dynamic duo ended up at 快活视频is because Marsh always had a passion for uplifting the deaf community. She even learned sign language in elementary school to communicate with her best friend.

After receiving her first bachelor鈥檚 degree in deaf studies in her home state of California, Marsh moved to Florida to pursue her second bachelor鈥檚 in language, speech and hearing sciences鈥� all of which led her to TU鈥檚 audiology (Au.D.) program in the College of Health Professions.

鈥淚 love TU. It鈥檚 crazy that a year and a half ago I had no clue what 快活视频was. Now here I am, thriving,鈥� Marsh says.

Coming off active duty and reintegrating into civilian life after a deployment in South Korea, particularly in a new state, was a challenge for Marsh. Thankfully, with the help of TU鈥檚 Military & Veterans Center (MVC), Marsh felt supported before stepping foot on campus.

Dario DiBattista, director of the MVC, and Toby Frevert, coordinator of military-affiliated supports and services & lead school certifying official listened intently to Marsh鈥檚 concerns and helped get her service animal needs met鈥攕upport she hadn鈥檛 experienced at a previous institution.

When Marsh started at TU, she admittedly didn鈥檛 anticipate being very involved in the MVC. But as soon as she met the community in person, she couldn鈥檛 not be.

鈥淭he MVC has been a critical part of my life here in Towson,鈥� Marsh says. 鈥淓veryone was so welcoming, kind and supportive. You come into the office, and then you look down and realize it's been six hours. It's like a home away from home.鈥�

Providing peer support

A domestic violence survivor herself, Marsh is passionate about helping others who are battling post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and other mental health issues.

Soon after getting involved in the MVC, she became a peer support specialist. Marsh makes students aware of their military benefits, helps them take advantage of the benefits and provides them a safe space to be mindful of their mental health.

She knows from personal experience sometimes people won鈥檛 take care of themselves until someone else reminds them to do it.

Many veterans or military family members are unaware of the financial and mental health benefits they have access to. Marsh and fellow peer support specialists鈥攎any of whom are former active duty, reserves or have 100% disability鈥攁im to change that.

"The best part of this role is that you鈥檙e actually helping people,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e have a breadth of experience, and we can provide resources and assistance to just about anyone who comes in. We鈥檙e here for you, and we mean it.鈥�

Marsh is the first veteran student in her doctoral program to have a service dog in class. Roxy regularly attends Marsh鈥檚 clinical courses and is beloved by everyone she meets.

She doesn鈥檛 just support Marsh though. Dubbed the MVC鈥檚 unofficial mascot, Roxy has become a pillar in the center and brightens everyone鈥檚 day. While Roxy is task trained, she provides significant emotional support as well.

鈥淲e like to joke that Roxy鈥檚 working on her 鈥榙og-torate,鈥欌�� says Marsh.

Following Roxy鈥檚 lead, Marsh has wanted to further build community among veterans and military members. So she took over as the president of the , an organization run by veterans and military members to assist students with educational, medical and/or career needs and social support on campus.

Too often, active service members and veterans are taught to suppress or 鈥渢ough out鈥� traumatic experiences. The greater conversation surrounding mental health in the military is still somewhat taboo.

Through community-building organizations like the Tiger Veterans Group, Marsh and the MVC are inviting change to this narrative, starting at TU.

鈥淭iffany is a 'cheat code' for us as far as I'm concerned鈥攇iven her maturity, experience and the leadership she provides as a Marine Corps veteran,鈥� DiBattista says. 鈥淎s an ambassador of our community, she absolutely shines while uplifting us all, and I'm so appreciative she wants to be a hype person for us."