When Tony Llerena moved from Miami, Florida to Maine, he didn’t expect to find himself leading a veteran-support program at the University of Maine. Nearly two decades later, he has become an essential part of the campus community, ensuring that military-affiliated students receive the benefits they deserve.
Llerena, a Florida International University alumnus with a degree in Management Information Systems, initially relocated to Maine because of familial connections. His wife’s family was from the area, and he accepted an IT job at the University when he first arrived.
His career at UMaine oversaw managing student life services, databases and web systems. His familiarity with veteran benefits and military-related services led him to become involved in the University’s military support programs.
“I had always had an interest in the military, being the dependent of a veteran,” said Llerena. “Eventually, the role evolved into a full-time position because of the growing need for veteran support.”
Now, as a key administrator in the school’s veteran services office, Llerena and his team oversee military education benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, tuition assistance programs and VA compliance. Their efforts bring millions of dollars in funding to the university each year, directly benefiting students.
“I’m estimating that students are gonna get about $2.1 million in stipend benefits,” said Llerena. This partially comes from “$800,000 in post 9/11 GI bill payments, and then another $200,000 in Army Guard and Air Guard tuition assistance payment.”
These funds play a crucial role in helping student veterans pursue higher education without the financial burdens often associated with college tuition. The department also ensures that new academic programs are approved for GI Bill eligibility.
“Every single degree must be approved separately by the VA,” said Llerena. “We recently worked on a major approval for our collaboration with the University of Maine at Machias, allowing their students to access our support services.”
The veteran community at UMaine has changed over time, varying in both size and involvement. Although a considerable number of current student veterans are younger and may not have been in combat, they still desire camaraderie and community from peers who have undergone similar life situations.
“This semester has been one of the best in terms of engagement,” said Llerena. “We have more students coming into the veteran center. They’re joking, debating and building that sense of community that is so important.”
On top of the students bringing together a community, the university itself has been more than helpful. The administration and faculty have shown continuous support for military-affiliated students, ensuring they receive the accommodations they need for academic success.
“We’ve never really faced any pushback,” said Llerena. “There are all sorts of people across the entire campus that are always looking for ways that we can best support our community.”
Llerena is an important figure in both the UMaine and veteran community. He and his team have created a family within the university walls where everyone feels included and supported. If any military-affiliated students want to reach out, you can visit the VETS Center in Room 161 in the Memorial Union or email tony.llerena@maine.edu.
