DBA Student, Veteran Lands Influential Role at USC
Christopher Meraz (MBA ’23), a Doctor of Business Administration student at the University of La Verne, is an experienced manager and Navy Submarine Veteran with a 14-year track record. He has been responsible for safeguarding assets, property, and equipment valued at over $2 billion. His prior roles include working at the Center for Veteran Student Success (2022–2024) and serving as the Director of Operations at Scorpac Packaging Corporation (2019–2022).
Before transitioning to civilian life, he held the rank of Fire Control Technician, First Class (E-6) in the US Navy from 2010 to 2019. He was honored as Sailor of the Year in 2018, and Junior Sailor of the Year 2014. Throughout both his military and civilian career, he focused on mentorship, and took the opportunity to guide others in their career development and training.
His experience in the military taught Meraz about organizations and spurred his interest in studying leadership and team dynamics. In his doctoral studies he is investigating conflict management and its role in team growth and operational efficiency.
“The structure of the military is incredible,” he says. “I personally believe it is one of the most efficient organizations in the world. The military has greatly influenced my leadership style. I was exposed to so many different styles of leadership in such a short amount of time, and placed into leadership roles at a young age. The military also requires you to first be a follower, and as Aristotle said, ‘He who cannot be a good follower, cannot be a good leader.'”
Now his training, experience, and interest in mentoring are coming together as he takes on a new role as Supervisor of the Veterans Resource Center at the University of Southern California.
Meraz’s own experience gives him insight into the specific needs of military-connected students. A major challenge for them is the certification process. Each semester, a student receiving benefits must have their course schedule approved by a School Certifying Official before they can receive payment.
“I’m not sure if administrators understand just how much veteran students rely on their VA benefit as a source of income,” he says, “but any clerical errors or delays in the process can cause significant financial setbacks for the student, which then creates a situation that begins to impact mental health and well-being.”
He appreciates those at the University of La Verne who have been mentors and guides. “I have had such an incredible experience at La Verne as far as accessibility to the resources available. I have made great connections with professors such as Dr. Nelly Kazman, and Dr. Issam Ghazzawi, as well as Administrators like Juan Regalado, Dr. Alexandra Burrell, and Diana Towles. These people have made significant contributions to my personal growth and professional development.”
Meraz looks forward to his new role as advocate for students like himself, using his experiences and knowledge. “Any time I learn about a veteran initiative or program I share that information within the community.” To other veterans thinking about pursuing a job change or an advanced degree, he says, “Go for it! There is always a reason not to do something, but I can say from my personal experience that my journey in higher education has helped me transition and better prepared me for the next stages of life.”
He knows from experience that the job search process is not easy. “It can feel exhausting adjusting your resume, or cover letter, going through multiple interviews just to hear a ‘thanks but, no thanks.’ All I can say is the experience overall helped me sharpen my skills, gave me opportunities to reevaluate my approach and build a strong network.”
