Three pillars: How service, identity, and community shape social work senior Eric Canel ‘26
When asked what brought him back to school after his military career, Eric Canel ’26 remembers having clarity around his next step.
Posted by: shimkojm / September 10, 2026
September 10, 2026
By Britt Board
Assistant Director of Communications
“After serving in the Army, I wanted to continue serving in a different way. Returning to school gave me the opportunity to turn my lived experience into tools that allow me to support and advocate for others.”
Service isn’t the only throughline for Eric. Two other forces shape him just as strongly: identity and community. Eric’s story is best understood through these three pillars, which have guided him from childhood to today, where he’s now paying it forward in his work with local youth.
Social Media