From Coast Guard to Commencement: A Commitment to Service Continues

Eric Brosnihan’s journey to Montclair State was far from typical. A retired U.S. Coast Guard veteran who served over 20 years — with deployments spanning from Maine to Puerto Rico to the Middle East — Eric returned to the classroom after completing his military career, bringing with him a sense of purpose and discipline.

“When I made the decision to retire, getting a degree became my new focus,” he says. Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, Eric settled in West Orange with his wife and two daughters. Choosing Montclair State was both practical and intentional: “I ended up choosing Montclair State because of its proximity, the strong reviews I read, and the Veterans resources, which played a large role in my decision.”

Eric credits much of his smooth transition to campus life to the Veterans and Military Resource Office. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Jonathan Gubitosi and Leslie Crowley,” he says. “They made my transition from curmudgeonly old sailor to student seamless and helped me along in so many ways.”

Eric majored in Political Science and Law, a field that aligns with his lifelong interest in politics and his ongoing commitment to public service. “I’m interested in local politics and veterans issues. Political Science was the major that interested me most — and I want to continue to serve the community after graduation.”

His academic career has been marked by excellence: he made the Dean’s List every semester and contributed to campus life as part of the Peer Mentor Collective. Among his courses, International Relations stood out as especially meaningful. “It was my first class at Montclair and made me realize how interested I was in the theory behind political actions.”

A highlight of Eric’s academic experience was participating in Campaign Politics (POLS 306), a course offered during election years that provides students with real-world experience working on political campaigns. As part of the course, Eric interned with Representative Josh Gottheimer’s (D- NJ) congressional campaign, where he conducted voter outreach and assisted the field director at campaign events. The hands-on experience gave him an up-close view of electoral strategy and grassroots organizing, complementing his classroom studies in political theory and public policy.

He also credits Dr. Brigid Harrison as a major influence. “She was instrumental in helping me realize that I had more to say — she encouraged me to use my voice.”

One of the biggest lessons he’s taking with him? “Seeing my professors engaging with real-world politics helped me understand that education and public service are linked. That’s something I’ll carry forward.”

Eric’s next step is a Master of Public Administration at Rutgers-Newark. His long-term goal is to continue making an impact, particularly in veterans policy and community-based leadership.

When asked to define success, Eric reflects on the journey: “Success for me is realizing that I love learning and that I’ve found what I want to do. It’s knowing I can help others by doing what I love.”

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

Prospective Students and Parents: Learn more about Montclair admissions, Political Science and Law and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Written by Meaghan Morin, Director of Communications, CHSS