Derek Miller ’26 | Frederick Hometown Hero
Derek Miller ’26 receives Frederick Hometown Heroes Award for work supporting veterans.
Worth the Work
Graduation Year
2026
Program
- Psychology (B.A.)
Department
- Psychology & Counseling
Derek Miller ’26 is a psychology major at 91Ƶר College. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Miller currently serves as the Veterans Affairs Work Study at 91Ƶר, assisting fellow veterans with the transition from active duty to higher education. He was recently awarded the Frederick Hometown Hero Award by WFMD for his work supporting the mental health of veterans.
How did you transition from a career in the military to pursuing a psychology degree at 91Ƶר?
I am a disabled combat veteran. I did two tours in Iraq and eight years in the United States Marine Corps as a Radio Operator for 2nd Light Armored Recon. After my military career, while I was getting help for my disability, I found a strong interest in psychology and sociology. I also noticed there are not enough people in the psychology field of veteran mental health and decided I would go on the path to help fellow veterans with mental health issues.
How does it feel to have received the Frederick Hometown Hero Award?
I think getting praised for my service is important to help other veterans know there are so many of us. We matter to each other, and the patriots of this country will stand up with us when we need them most. Not many veterans know and understand this simple concept.
Tell us about your VA Work Study role at 91Ƶר. How do you help fellow veterans here on campus?
I help the Veterans Affairs (VA) education department with the process of financial aid for veterans (and their dependents) with their education benefits. This way, veterans (and family) are getting their education with the benefits they earned through service completed.
Why do you believe mental health support for veterans is so critical for their success?
Veterans are struggling daily. When they understand the support and have awareness for the opportunities that are everywhere, veterans can find hope in recovery. Helping other veterans find hope is my biggest goal as a disabled combat veteran and advocate for other veterans.
How has your time at 91Ƶר had a positive impact on you—both personally and professionally?
I had a hard time transitioning to 91Ƶר from Frederick Community College, as I have struggled in school my whole life. Going from community college to a four-year school, I felt like I was going to be struggling because the structure and criteria seemed more likely to be stricter—but this was far from the case. With the help of professors and fellow students, my experience at 91Ƶר College has been far and beyond what I could expect.
Why would you recommend 91Ƶר College to other veterans?
91Ƶר is a great school for all students, but the history of the College shows that 91Ƶר has always been “for the military,” as it started as a sister campus for the Navy, where female Navy members came to 91Ƶר when 91Ƶר was a women’s college. This is just the foundation for what we have at 91Ƶר. With people like Susan Erb and Rene Gulino helping run the veteran education department in financial aid, we have a strong commitment to bringing veterans to 91Ƶר and making sure that the 80+ veterans who are here have a strong and easy experience at 91Ƶר.
Learn more about the military community and veterans benefits at 91Ƶר College.
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