Tedd Cogar
As director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center at IUP, Tedd Cogar is the go-to person for students using VA benefits to pay for college. He helps them and their families apply for and use these crucial resources. His whole goal is to make sure student veterans succeed in their educational journey.
Beyond benefits, Cogar runs the Six O’Clock Series, which offers presentations on current issues, and helps with assessment in Student Affairs. What he loves most is seeing students find their self-reliance and celebrate when they push through a tough class.
Learn more about him in this Faces of IUP feature.
In a nutshell, what is your role in serving students at IUP?
As director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center, I support any students who are using benefits from the Veterans Administration to help pay for college. I help students and families apply for benefits from the VA and show them how to use them, as each of the benefits is different.
I also coordinate the Six O’Clock Series, working with faculty and staff to have presentations that address current issues and advance new perspectives. I want to help students be successful in their educational journey.
I also work with assessment in the Division of Student Affairs.
For you, what’s the most rewarding part of working with students?
The most rewarding part of working with students is their happiness and discovery of self-reliance. Knowing that I played a small part in a student being successful is rewarding for me.
Seeing students work hard, study, and then pass a course that they’ve struggled with is always a reason to celebrate.
What advice would you give students about how to succeed in college?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is a faculty member in a class, or an advisor for an organization, or a person in an office, we are all here to help students be successful. It is important to have fun and enjoy this time, but also recognize that attending and participating in class is important. Get to know the employees, faculty and staff. Join at least two student organizations, one connected to your major and one for fun.
Tell us something most people may not know about you.
A lot of people are surprised to find out that I’m a Lutheran (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) pastor. I work with the Council on Spiritual and Religious Life at IUP and serve Zion Lutheran in Indiana, Luther Chapel in Coral, and Lutheran Campus Ministry at IUP. The church brings a balance to my own life that allows me to address needs and issues in a different way.