Veteran Affairs Staff

The staff of The University of South Alabama's Office of Veteran Affairs has many years of experience assisting students with questions and issues involving veteran benefits. If you have any questions, contact us.

 

Simeon Barbour - Associate Director/School Certifying Official

Simeon served four years in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman and did two deployments to Iraq. He left the Marine Corps in 2010 to start a family.  In 2018, he left the construction world to go back and get his degree in history. He has been with the University of South Alabama since 2020 and took over as Associate Director in September of 2022. On the weekends, you can usually find Simeon working in the yard or listening to some smooth jazz.

Duties: Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter33, Chapter35, Chapter 1606, Tuition Assistance, ANGEAP,  Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship, Compliance, Lead SCO, student wellness and engagement, student financial advice.

 

Lauren Newman - Veterans Affairs Specialist II/School Certifying Official

Lauren is a graduate from Auburn University with a degree in journalism in 2009. Afterwards she married into the military and her husband is a Major in the Air Force Reserves. She is working on her Master's in Communications and expects to graduate next year! She joined the team in 2022 and has made it known to all peoples that she is one of many dedicated Swifties. 

Duties: Chapter 30, Chapter 35, Chapter 1606, ANGEAP, Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship, VA Work Study supervisor.

 

Cathryne Smith - Veterans Affairs Specialist II/School Certifying Official

Cathryne is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a degree in biological anthropology.  She is married to a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force and has two wonderful children. While not in the office, she is heavily engaged in working on her Master's Degree in Forensic Science. She also has an affinity for unsolved mysteries, and crocheting. Cathryne joined our team in March of 2024.

Duties: Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 33.

 

Julia Bristow - Graduate Assistant

Julia is a graduate from Mississippi State University with a degree in nutrition in 2022. She is currently in graduate school at the University of South Alabama, pursuing her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She joined the team in May 2023, and in her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family.