Northern Virginia Community College

Terri Payne, a native of Hampton, Virginia, is the VA Program Administrator Manager for the Office of Military and Veterans Services at Northern Virginia Community College serving military-affiliated students. In this role, she leads the School Certifying Officials team with the administration of program certifications, planning, management, coordination, supervision, and evaluation of services to veterans, military members, and their families.  

Prior to joining Northern Virginia Community College Office of Military and Veterans Services in 2017, Terri served in numerous positions at different schools within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). She was the Academic Advisor for Military Programs at Tidewater Community College from 2013-2017, and a Military Career and GoArmyEd Specialist at Virginia Peninsula Community College from 2007-2013 assisting servicemembers and their families in their pursuit of higher education .

With over 18 years of experience in military education and being an U.S. Army dependent in the continental U.S. and overseas, Terri is very dedicated to serving those who serve. She has extensive experience in the VA certification process, state approving agencies program approval procedures, liaising with the National Training Team – Schools Education Service with the Department of Veterans Affairs; to make the process of utilizing benefits easier, and provide accurate knowledge to both students and other colleges in Virginia.

Kerstin Lopez currently serves as the Military Educational Benefits School Certifying Official and Team Lead in the Office of the University Registrar at the University of Virginia. Her main responsibilities are ensuring timely submission of certifications and to function as the liaison between all UVA military-affiliated students and the VA. Since coming to UVA in 2018, she has held multiple roles to include Student Services Coordinator, Athletics Certification Specialist, and Academic Records Certification Specialist. Kerstin received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Kentucky; a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Ashford University; and a Master of Public Administration from Grand Canyon University. She grew up as an “Army brat” with her father serving 23 years in the Army and she, too, served in the Army as Military Police for one enlistment. In addition to that, she has traveled the world while being married to an active-duty Army soldier, who retired in August 2021. Her life has revolved around the military in some capacity, and she continues her passion by working closely with military-affiliated students.

Angela Sawyer, a native of Spotsylvania, Virginia, is a VA Program Administrator/School Certifying Official  for the Office of Military and Veterans Services at Northern Virginia Community College serving military affiliated students. In this role, she has maintain knowledge of federal/state legislation, rules, policies and procedures pertaining to Veteran student benefits, updating policies and procedures as necessary to ensure compliance with all federal and state rules and regulations. She also maintain enrollment records in 100% compliance with federal and state requirements, reviewing and internally auditing 350-800 individual student files multiple times throughout the semester to find any changes in status. Verify enrollment status on a weekly basis and update corrections, adjustments, and amendments with Veterans Administration’s Regional Office.  Research extensively and resolve financial discrepancies regarding the over- or under- payment of student accounts, collaborating with the Central Finance Office, State Approving Agency and the Veterans Administration. Prior to employment with Northern Virginia Community College she work at Germanna Community College, and University of Mary Washington. Angela is very determined to help all she can and giving them the best services.

Brandie Weaver is originally from Richmond, VA and currently resides in Williamsburg, VA with her super crazy, super sweet dog, Willis.  She has been working in Higher Education since graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Spanish.  She started at Strayer University as the Admissions Secretary and quickly transitioned to the Business Office where she assisted with Financial Aid, Veterans Benefits, Third Party Contracts, and Collections. While working at Strayer, Brandie earned her MBA from Strayer in 2011. In 2014, she found her calling as the Veteran Services Coordinator and lead SCO at Thomas Nelson becoming Virginia Peninsula Community College.  Since then, her passion to assist veterans and her commitment to SCO compliance duties has led her to become the Manager of Military & Veteran Services. Throughout her career as a SCO at Thomas Nelson, she has embraced assisting her fellow SCOs and has always been willing to help those who have questions, even assisting with SAA trainings prior to the enactment of annual training requirements. Brandie found her passion with Veteran Services and looks forward to many more years serving the military student population as an advocate, cheerleader, and SCO. Brandie has served on the VASCO Training Committee and feels it is time to do more.  She believes her knowledge and passion can help bring other Virginia SCOs together to accomplish our central goal of helping Veterans access their Education Benefits.