Adam Milano EdM ’24

Clinical Faculty, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Social Work

Director of Special Initiatives, Harvard Veteran Alumni Organization

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 

1. How do you contribute to public service in your community? 

Service to the community drives almost everything I do. From my time as a peer mentor in high school, through my military service, and now as an educator, service remains the North Star of my personal, professional, and scholarly pursuits. When I consider service to the community, I define community in so many ways.

As part of a national community, I served in the U.S. Army. Though my time in uniform has come to an end, I remain committed to serving the military community through direct practice and scholarship. I provide mental health support and consultation services to active-duty military, veterans, and the organizations that support them. At a broader level, I am a committed scholar of military mental health and student veteran success. I consider myself a practitioner scholar in that I aspire to add to the field of knowledge in a way that directly or immediately has a positive impact on the key stakeholders at the center of the practice. 

One of the joys of working in a school of social work is that I am surrounded by faculty, staff, and students who not only contribute to the community within the school but are also deeply invested and actively working in public service at the municipal, state, national, and global levels. Within my school community, I strive to create a supportive environment for our students and a collaborative atmosphere for my peers to accomplish this work.

I also consider myself a part of a global community of social workers and educators. I am honored to be among the faculty at the Global Social Development Innovation (GSDI) research center at the University of North Carolina School of Social Work in Chapel Hill. GSDI generates evidence to advance youth well-being globally with community driven initiatives, which requires meaningful partnerships and collaboration with multiple stakeholders. My primary role within GSDI is to create and implement means by which we can train the next generation of global scholars. As an educator, one of the best ways I can serve is to create opportunities to enhance the existing strengths of those within the communities we serve. Additionally, I see my role as one of creating collaborations that amplify the potential of our work. 

2. How has your Harvard alumni network supported your efforts in community impact and public service? 

As the director of special initiatives with the Harvard Veteran Alumni Organization, I have the opportunity to not only support annual events, such as the annual barbecue and the wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but to also find new ways to support current and past military-affiliated students at Harvard University.

In less formal but equally impactful ways, I continue to collaborate with my Harvard alumni peers as we find opportunities for mutually beneficial discourse on parallel journeys of continued commitment to public service. There is so much joy and inspiration found in hopping on the phone or emailing back and forth with a former classmate to think creatively and tap into their expertise to address problems in our communities. As we face a critical moment in higher education, it has been particularly meaningful to gain insights from my Harvard Graduate School of Education cohort and offer my perspective when it is helpful. 

3. What does public service mean to you? 

When I think of public service, especially within the context of Harvard University and the Alumni network, I cannot help but think of the inscription over Dexter Gate: "Enter to Grow in Wisdom; Depart to Serve Better Thy Country and Thy Kind." There is an inherent charge in these words to utilize the education, opportunities, and network attained through education to serve, not only in our local and national communities, but also in our global community. In that way, I believe higher education and service are linked. No matter the form of service, be it the military, social work, education, or whatever else may come, I will always find a way to serve.