HAHIRA, GA, September 30, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Monica A. Close, MAAD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Close currently serves as the institutional strategy leader for higher education reform, military advocacy, and federal compliance at Valdosta State University, a position she has held since 2025. In this capacity, she acts as the university's military advocate and liaison, overseeing compliance with United States Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs requirements, assisting with admissions for military-connected students and working to connect these students and their families with essential resources. Her commitment to supporting service members' educational journeys is evident in her focus on bridging gaps between military and academic communities. Since 2026, she has also contributed as a board member for Red Carpet of South Georgia Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides support and resources to active-duty family members at Moody Air Force Base.

Between 2020 and 2025, Ms. Close worked as a military outreach coordinator at Valdosta State University. In this role, she was instrumental in recruiting military members and facilitating their pursuit of higher education. Her efforts extended to outreach at the Albany Marine Logistics Base, Moody Air Force Base, and Kings Bay Naval Base, as well as international initiatives and marketing campaigns through national and local publications.

Prior to her tenure at Valdosta State University, Ms. Close served as a unit program coordinator for the command support squadron of the 100th Comptroller Squadron/Wing Staff Agency at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2020. During this period, she managed a range of responsibilities, including information technology liaison, security management for secret clearances covering both active-duty and civilian personnel and design work for morale jersey shirts — a tradition aimed at boosting unit cohesion. She also earned her Six Sigma Green Belt certification while in this post.

From 2017 to 2018, Ms. Close was employed as a senior sales representative in the Cash Cage for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service in Brandon, United Kingdom. This position followed several years as a qualification specialist at the University of Phoenix in Arizona from 2013 to 2017, during which she began her professional journey in higher education.

Academically, Ms. Close holds a Master of Arts in art education from Kennesaw State University, earned in 2025. She pursued this advanced degree with the intention of using art therapy to help veterans address mental health challenges, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Her undergraduate studies culminated in a bachelor's degree in business with a focus in marketing from the University of Phoenix in 2016, which she completed while working for the institution — an opportunity that arose while she was employed there.

Reflecting on her career, Ms. Close attributes much of her success to resilience, determination and guidance from exceptional mentors throughout her journey, particularly senior enlisted personnel, officers, and chief warrant officers who provided invaluable perspective and opportunities for growth.

Beyond her career roles, Ms. Close is deeply engaged in civic activities and creative pursuits. In addition to her work at Red Carpet of South Georgia Inc., she also teaches art classes to adults and teenagers at the Tifton Council for the Arts in Tift County, where she addresses a shortage of art instructors and encourages participants to rediscover creativity. Her achievements have been recognized with several honors, including an Exemplary Civil Service Award from the United States Air Force as well as quarterly awards at both squadron and group levels.

Originally from Arizona, Ms. Close is passionate about visual arts — particularly watercolor, acrylic and graphite media — often drawing inspiration from Southwest and desert landscapes. She maintains a website for commission-based artwork and finds fulfillment in helping others explore artistic expression.

Ms. Close hopes to pass on her grandfather's advice to never stop learning and always to ask questions, as well as a former supervisor's reminder that meaningful ideas cannot be found solely behind a screen, but emerge through engaging with the world, connecting with nature, working with others and embracing collaboration. Above all, Ms. Close emphasizes the value of stepping outside one's area of expertise, a philosophy she credits with contributing to the breadth and diversity of her own professional experience. She also points to her family's extensive military history, including her father's service of more than 30 years.

In her personal life, Ms. Close values her animals as part of her family and enjoys caring for them in her free time. Looking ahead, she hopes to pursue an additional degree, considering options between a master's degree in management or a doctorate in public administration. Her foremost professional goal is to raise awareness of supporting service members' education by developing resources that bridge communication gaps between educators and service members — an effort she regards as vital to improving outcomes for those who serve.

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