Veteran Daniel “Dan” Riordan works hard every day to make sure he can help guide and aid people on their journey. He is the Veterans Services Coordinator in Indiana University Northwest’s Office of Academic Success and Achievement Programs, working closely with his colleagues to assist students in earning their degrees.
“This is like being a big brother to these students,” Riordan said. “They come in here and need some type of direction, so I help them figure it out.”
Riordan was born and raised in Griffith, Ind. Once he graduated from Griffith High School, he joined the Marine Corps, being an active Marine for eight years of his life. In 2004, Riordan was deployed to Mahmudiyah, Iraq where he spent the next year of his life in active duty. Riordan officially retired in 2009. Like most, Riordan is no exception to the change that stems from war. His experience has made him more appreciative of life.
“Being a combat veteran and having to go through all that suffering, it's a large part of who I am now,” said Riordan. “It made it clear that one minute I am here and then the next second I can be gone. Those situations made me realize the reality of facing death every day, and those lessons have not left me.”
After military retirement, Riordan started attending Purdue University Northwest. A little after two semesters, he decided that maybe school wasn’t the best for him at that time. He was going from job to job trying to figure out what direction he wanted to go. Eventually, he landed on the decision to go back to school and then started taking classes at IU Northwest in the fall of 2018. This is where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in economics.
While attending IU Northwest, Riordan created an organization that offered a safe space and a sense of campus community for fellow veterans. Riordan said that most college students join sororities or fraternities to find a sense of belonging, but being a veteran is its own club entirely, so these students may have a harder time fitting in.
“For a long time, I didn’t want being a veteran to define me. I stayed away from other veterans and reinserted myself into society, but it doesn’t work like that,” said Riordan. “I learned that it's always going to be a part of who I am. I eventually embraced it because service is like a brotherhood and it brought me comfort, and I wanted that on campus.”
His passion for fellow veterans granted Riordan his job with IU Northwest, where he ensures that students who are veterans are able to get the service and help they may need. Currently, Riordan is making sure that new classes can be added under Veterans Affairs benefits. Riordan is also big on networking with outside organizations, like the Disabled American Veterans program, National Guard and Reserves, Salvation Army, and more to provide fellow veterans the best chance at success on IU Northwest’s campus.
“I do my best to be a “one stop shop” for veterans on campus,” Riordan said. “Besides helping them with paperwork, I am a place for them to go, and they have someone looking out for them, showing them options and helping them where I can, which is the greatest impact of my career.”
When Riordan isn’t working, he enjoys going to the gym, and when it’s nice outside, he rides his motorcycle. Riordan also volunteers at Operation Charlie Bravo, because it has an impact on his life, and he wanted to give back. He goes to church every Sunday, followed by family dinner at his mother’s house. Lastly, Riordan can be seen belting out tunes in his band.
