Danay Montes de Oca
Degree: Juris Master in Education Law
College: College of Law, FIU Veteran and Military Affairs
Major Danay Montes de Oca, now a three-time graduate of FIU, has served nearly 30 years in the U.S. Army Reserve while simultaneously working in public higher education in Florida.
Danay is the director of Miami Dade College’s Department of Veteran and Military Services, a position she held in addition to pursuing a Juris Master in Education Law and fulfilling her commitment as a reservist. At MDC, she helps students who are veterans or active-duty military, like herself, successfully transition out of MDC to complete bachelor’s degrees at four-year institutions like FIU.
As a reservist, Danay has been a finance officer for over a decade. She was previously a paralegal, working in Guantanamo Bay and Washington D.C., and on humanitarian missions in Nicaragua and elsewhere. For her service, Danay has earned four Army Commendation awards, two Joint Service Commendation awards and a Meritorious Unit Award.
Throughout her studies, Danay traveled between Miami, her home base of Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and other Army installations for up to two weeks each month to fulfill her duties.
Once she graduates, Danay hopes to advance her career by opening a consulting firm focused on higher education customer relationship management systems.
Clara-Meretan Kiah
Account Manager
Division of Academic & Student Affairs