Brokob strengthens support for military-affiliated students 

For Marlena “Lena” Brokob, DNP, RN, supporting military-affiliated students is deeply personal. A United States Marine Corps veteran, nurse educator and former transfer student, she understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges of transitioning from military service to higher education.

This Veterans Day, the UNC School of Nursing recognizes Brokob’s military service and the experience she brings to her role as Military Pathways and Student Support Coordinator. Since stepping into the role earlier this year, she has focused on strengthening support for military-affiliated students across the School’s programs, including active-duty service members, reservists and veterans. 

Brokob served nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, she worked as an aircraft mechanic on the EA-6B Prowler with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons. Her service included three deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan in support of operations during the Global War on Terrorism. In her final assignment as the Maintenance Training Staff Noncommissioned Officer within Quality Assurance, she oversaw training and standardization efforts for more than 200 personnel. 

Following her military service, Brokob continued her education at UNC-Chapel Hill through the Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (CSTEP). Drawing on her own experiences navigating the transition to civilian and academic life, she became an advocate for fellow student veterans. She helped revitalize UNC’s student veterans organization, represented student veterans before the Board of Trustees and contributed to the effort that established UNC’s veteran resource center. 

“Finding other student veterans, especially women who shared similar deployment experiences, gave me a space where I could be myself and begin making sense of that transition.” —Marlena “Lena” Brokob, DNP, RN

Today, Brokob brings those experiences full circle, drawing on her military leadership and her personal journey as a student veteran to help military-affiliated students navigate nursing education and find their place within the academic community. 

“Transitioning out of the Marine Corps was more than adjusting to college. I was trying to figure out who I was outside the military. Finding other student veterans, especially women who shared similar deployment experiences, gave me a space where I could be myself and begin making sense of that transition,” Brokob said. 

Her role spans recruitment, admissions, academic advising, mentorship and curriculum innovation for military pathway students. She also works to strengthen partnerships with ROTC and military education programs such as the U.S. Navy’s Duty Under Instruction (DUINS) program and to guide the development of new pathways into nursing. 

Since joining the School as a clinical instructor in 2022, Brokob has taught across multiple nursing courses and served as an informal mentor to military-affiliated students. She has also served on the University’s Military Affairs Advisory Committee since 2023, continuing her commitment to improving the experiences of military-connected students across campus. 

Her work reflects the School’s commitment to recognizing the leadership, skills and experiences that military-affiliated students bring to nursing and providing the support they need to thrive. 

This Veterans Day, we honor Brokob and all members of our School of Nursing community who have served. Their service, perspectives and continued contributions enrich our classrooms, our profession and the communities we care for. 

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