Mark Eister, Director of Military Outreach

I serve as the Director of Military Outreach at Georgia State University and Perimeter College at Georgia State. I am a veteran of the United States Army and was a Soldier from 1990-2012. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Liberty University and my MBA from Touro University International.
Upon my retirement from the military, I moved into my current role in Military Outreach at Georgia Perimeter College, now Perimeter College at Georgia State University. With the consolidation of GPC and Georgia State, I am excited about the great opportunities for growth and expansion of services by the MOC on all six Georgia State campuses.
 I often tell people that I have the best job in the world, serving fellow veterans, military, and their family members. I mean that! Each day, it is my goal and that of the entire Military Outreach department to work together to provide excellent customer service to our students, faculty and staff. I am here to do all I can to help students earn their degree and to help make the journey both enjoyable and rewarding. There will be times when all students need assistance and support, and it is our pleasure to do all we can to provide what our great veterans deserve and need to succeed. The MOC is proud to Serve Those Who Have Served!
 

Military Outreach Center Coordinator, Clarkston

I serve as the Coordinator of the Military Outreach Center on the Clarkston campus. I am a retired Soldier who served as an Army Air Defense Artillery Officer from 1977-1994. I received my commission from North Georgia College, now The University of North Georgia. While there I received a BS in Political Science with a minor in American History. While assigned to the ROTC detachment at Mercer University, Macon from 1984-1988, I earned a Master of Liberal Studies in America Society and Government.

When I retired from the Army, I immediately got involved in my first love, politics. It’s a hobby for me just like fishing, sports or any other area. I was elected to the Newton County Board of Education in 1998, the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002 and the Georgia Senate in 2004. I later ran for the Newton County Board of Commissioners in 2012 where I currently serve.

Working with young and not so young veterans has been so very rewarding. Hearing callers to the MOC tell me they were so happy to get a human being on the phone, seeing the satisfaction of student veterans when we get their benefits rolling, or being able to sit and help them work out problems are all part of the unwritten benefits to this position. Veterans who have been in combat deserve every benefit we can get for them. Veterans who did not go to combat also deserve every benefit for stepping up and saying, I’m ready, take me!

David Garcia, Military Student Advocate, Atlanta

I am the Military Student Advocate in the Military Outreach Center on the Atlanta campus. I served in the United States Marine Corps from 2001-2007, and I received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from American Military University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Georgia State University.
Before my arrival at Georgia State University, I worked overseas as a security contractor for the U.S. Department of State for four years in several U.S. embassies and consulates.
 I developed a passion for helping military-connected students reach their academic goals during my time as a graduate student at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies here at Georgia State University, and I feel that the experience prepared me for this role. My goal is to assist military-connected students in any way possible while contributing to the university’s mission and goals. Go Panthers!
 

Military Student Advocate, Dunwoody

I am a Military Student Advocate in the Military Outreach Center on the Dunwoody Campus. I am a veteran of the United States Army and I served in the military from 1985-2001. I received an Associate’s of Science from Georgia Perimeter College and am currently earning my Bachelor’s degree in Business from The University of Georgia.

Prior to my arrival at Perimeter College of Georgia State University, I was an owner/operator of a fitness center and prior to that I worked in the air/ground transportation industry for 17 years.

Each day, it is the goal of the Military Outreach department to work together to provide excellent customer service to students, faculty and staff. As a recent Georgia Perimeter College graduate, I understand the challenges of our military-connected students entering into college and I personally strive to make the academic transition as seamless as possible. I am dedicated to providing superior customer service to the military-connected students attending the Dunwoody campus and I want to exceed their expectations. I look forward to each semester and to helping you navigate your academic journey. Thank you for your service!

Nathan Gholston, Military Student Advocate, Decatur

I am a Military Student Advocate in the Military Outreach Center on the Decatur Campus. I am a veteran of the United States Army and I served in the military from 1988-2015.  I received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Park University and I am currently working on a Master’s degree in Psychology from Liberty University.
 Prior to my arrival at Perimeter College of Georgia State University, I worked for six months as a Background Investigator, and prior to that I was a Military Student Advocate for Georgia Perimeter College at Newton campus.  I completed 26 years of exceptional service in the Army before becoming an MSA at Newton Campus.
 I’m excited to serve fellow student veterans and their family members.  It is great to continue to do what I did in service, which is provide assistance and be a mentor to our veterans and their family as they pursue a degree and write the next chapter of their life.  As a member of the Military Outreach team, my mission is to provide the best possible assistance in helping our student veterans achieve their goals and to support the faculty and staff as we strive to make their education experience with Perimeter College of Georgia State University exciting and enjoyable.  I salute you for your service!
 

Military Student Advocate, Newton

I am a Military Student Advocate in the Military Outreach Center on the Newton Campus. I am a veteran of the world’s greatest Army (The United States Army) and I served honorably from 1975- 2003. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Western Illinois University and a MBA degree with a concentration in International Business from Touro University International.

Prior to my arrival at Perimeter College at Georgia State University, I was a full time retiree living life to the fullest as I trotted around the globe enjoying all the benefits of this great world that we live in. My military career prepared me well for life in general and set the tone for the position that I am now in. The desire to help others led me back to the workforce.

My passion is and has always been to help others. Through the Military Outreach Center I am allowed to do just that on a daily basis. Customer service is not just a buzzword for me. I anticipate and expect to serve the most deserving students in the world. These students can be active duty, Reserve/National Guard, retired, veterans and family members of military/former military members. Each day, it is the goal of the Military Outreach department to work together to provide excellent customer service to students, faculty and staff. I am here to do all I can to help you earn your degree and to help make the journey both enjoyable and rewarding. I am happy to do all I can to provide what our great veterans deserve and need to succeed. Thank you for your service!

Chris Noerjadi, Military Student Advocate, Alpharetta

I am a Military Student Advocate in the Military Outreach Center on the Alpharetta Campus. I am a veteran of the United States Navy and served on active duty from 2005-2013. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from American Military University and I am currently pursuing a second Bachelor’s degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech.
Prior to my arrival at Perimeter College of Georgia State University, I had recently discharged from active duty. My last duty station was in Great Lakes, Illinois.
 I have been working with Perimeter College Military Outreach since 2013 and I take great pleasure in serving over 1,000+ fellow veterans and their family members. From GI Bill inquiries to RETP transfer requirements, we strive to help you earn your degree and make the journey both enjoyable and rewarding. Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for your service!
 

SVA membership is open to all GSU students, student veterans, current military, military family members, and staff and faculty members who support our veterans.  Non-Veterans are strongly encouraged to join!

For more information about the Atlanta Campus SVA, please visit the Military Outreach Center at 234 Sparks Hall. For more information about the Perimeter College SVA, please visit or contact the Military Outreach Center on the Clarkston Campus.  

The PAVE Program is a peer support program that connects incoming student veterans with student veterans already on campus in order to help them navigate college life, identify challenges, provide resources on & off campus, and provide ongoing support to their academic and personal ventures. GSU is the only university in the Southeast to host the PAVE Program.  For more information about PAVE, or if you are interested in becoming a Peer Advisor, please visit the Military Outreach Center at 234 Sparks Hall.