PAVE Program
Peer Advisors for Veterans Education (PAVE) is a peer support program that connects incoming student veterans on college campuses with student veterans who are trained as Peer Advisors who can help students navigate college life, address challenges they may face, refer them to appropriate resources on and off campus and provide ongoing college support.
UIW was selected as one of 18 schools in the nation to join the PAVE program in Fall 2020.
Meet the PAVE Team
Phillip J. Rangel
Pave Team Leader
Phillip is a retired Air Force veteran. He is currently a student at the University of Incarnate Word in the Ph.D. program studying Organizational Leadership and Adult Education. He's a two-time graduate of UIW having earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice/minor Sociology in 2017 and M.S. Organizational Development and Leadership in 2018. During his last 10 years in the USAF, he was assigned to the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command Inspector General (NORAD/USNORTHCOM). Phillip is the UIW Student Veterans of America (SVA) Chapter President and a past member of UIW Alumni Association Board.
Elizabeth Rios
Peer Advisor
Elizabeth Rios was born and raised in Illinois. After high school, she attended community college in Missouri, earning an Associate Degree in Health Administration. Following college, she entered the Army in 2004 and served for nine years. Elizabeth has attended three other colleges before settling here at UIW, where she is seeking a BFA in Interior Design, with a concentration in Sustainability Studies. Elizabeth is a member of Student Veterans of America (SVA) and also serves as a peer advisor on the PAVE Team. Elizabeth is passionate about mental health and education and is looking forward to her time here at UIW.
Sean Conrey
Peer Advisor
Sean Conrey was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2012 and is still currently serving. Sean is an Air Defense Soldier who really enjoys what he does and is currently stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He is a student attending UIW with a major in Human Resources with a concentration in Business Administration/Management. He is very passionate about helping others and is honored to be a Peer Advisor for the UIW PAVE Team.
Isabella Olivares
Peer Advisor
Isabella Olivares is the child of a Marine Corps veteran. She was raised in the Rio Grande Valley and graduated high school in 2022. Isabella is attending UIW to major in Healthcare Sciences with a concentration in Physical Therapy and a minor in Psychology. She is excited to work with her classmates to maintain a safe and productive learning environment.
Savannah Ziegler
Peer Advisor
Savannah Ziegler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She enlisted in the Air Force in 2014 and served for eight years. Now a military spouse, Savannah currently works for the Department of Defense as an Acquisition Program Manager. She is pursuing her B.A. degree in Human Resources here at UIW. Savannah has a passion for supporting veterans and their families. She is hopeful to make a lasting impact through her dedication to as a Peer Advisor in the UIW PAVE Program.
Carlos Acosta
Peer Advisor
Carlos Acosta Castro, born and raised in Puerto Rico. After earning an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology in 1998, from the University of Puerto Rico-Ponce. He joined the Army in 1999 and served for 17 years, including five combat tours. He medically retired in 2016. He has been married to his wife, Sharmon, for 21 years. A passionate sports fan—especially of Boston teams—and enjoy playing sports, running, and swimming. Carlos holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Kinesiology and has worked as a Sports Site Director at the YMCA and Intramural Sports Coordinator at UIW. He has been a student at UIW since 2017 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D., in Student Services and Higher Education Administration. He is a current member and past Vice President of the UIW SVA.
Carlo looks forward to working for you!