Student Veterans of America – UIC Chapter

The purpose of Student Veterans of America - UIC Chapter shall be to foster a community that can assist student veterans and their dependents at UIC to identify and utilize the resources available to them to advocate for their success in academics, career development, and social integration.

Visit Student of Veterans of America website for more information about the national organization and the resources and opportunities associated with membership. If you are interested in joining, create your account and then reach out to the president of the UIC Chapter.

Primary Student Veterans of America contact: Dallas Godina: dgodi3@uic.edu

Dallas Godina

Dallas Godina

President

I proudly served in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Rifleman and Basic Security Guard for Security Forces. Now, I am a senior at UIC, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. Looking ahead, I plan to bypass a Master’s program and go straight into a PhD in Engineering Management, with the long-term goal of starting my own consulting firm to help businesses integrate AI into their workforce.

Throughout my time at UIC, I’ve been involved in several impactful roles, including serving as a committee member and mentor in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. I also assist freshmen and transfer students as a Teaching Assistant in the College of Engineering’s Engineering Success Program. Additionally, I lead a team of prompt engineers, leveraging AI tools in various projects as part of my internship with the Veterans Affairs’ Digital Media Engagement Team.

I’m passionate about helping veterans and their families succeed—we’ve earned it, and we all deserve it. My advice to those considering joining Student Veterans of America? Come and experience the sense of belonging that’s often hard to find as a non-traditional student. No matter your background or branch of service, we’re a family here, united by our desire to succeed.

As president, my goal is to strengthen our veteran community, making the transition from service member to college graduate smoother for everyone. Together, we can help each other thrive.

Blessing Souvannavong

Blessing Souvannavong

Director of Student Activities

I am a Navy brat through and through! My mother enlisted in 1996 and continues to serve today as an O-4. I saw her leave for deployments under Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Growing up, I moved with her every three years to live in Rhode Island, Virginia, Indiana, Georgia and Illinois. Packing up my house and saying goodbye to my friends was hard every time, but making new friends always got easier and I still have connections from all over the country.

I am pursuing my bachelors in Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship. I am set to graduate in Spring 2026. I am also employed in the UIC Student Veterans Affairs office, working on program development and leadership skills.

Serving veteran and military connected students comes naturally to me, as I was raised among other military families and was a big fan of getting my hair cut at the NEX. Growing up like this taught me how to think fast, take action, and make new and meaningful connections.

I hope to make Student Veterans of America’s UIC Chapter a fun and social place where military connected students share great experiences. Creating community is key to growing and moving forward, so that’s my goal this year for Student Veterans of America.

Join SVA today!

Kadin Green

Kadin Green

Treasurer

I am Kadin Green, an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and a dedicated student veteran advocate. As the Treasurer of the Student Veterans of America (SVA) UIC Chapter, I manage the organization’s financial operations, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to support and uplift the veteran community at UIC. My role includes budgeting, securing funding, and maintaining financial transparency to strengthen the chapter’s impact.

Beyond my work with SVA, I am committed to academic excellence and personal growth. My passion lies in problem-solving and leadership, and I aim to use my engineering background to address real-world challenges.

Advocating for student veterans is at the heart of my mission. I strive to create opportunities that help veterans transition smoothly into academic and professional environments. Through my work, I aim to foster a supportive community that empowers veterans to succeed and achieve their goals.