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Academic Resources for Veterans

VA Certifying Official at MICA

VA Certifying Officials act as liaisons between the College, its students, and all the agencies involved with VA benefits.

They are authorized to sign and submit forms to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs on behalf of veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard members and their dependents. Certifying Officials certify (confirm to the VA) enrollment, document changes in status, and report circumstances affecting benefits. The Certifying Official is an employee of Maryland Institute College of Art, not the VA. The Certifying Official cannot determine eligibility for VA Educational Benefits. 

This website is your first stop for information for student veterans' benefits. We encourage you to use it to acquaint yourself with your rights and responsibilities as a veteran student. We hope you will find it helpful.

We are personally available to assist you.

Our office is located in the Registrar's Office on the 2nd floor of the Bunting Center at 1401 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217.

Phone: 410) 225-2315, Fax: (410) 225-2548, Email: va@mica.edu.

Meet Our VA Certifying Official

Our VA Certifying Official, Edna Blackwell, joined the MICA community in January 2002 and has more than 20 years of administrative support and customer service skills.  She shares a unique relationship with our military students and their families as a mother of a former Marine who served in Iraq and as a member of the Gold Star Mothers, an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter while in the service of our country.  As MICA's VA Certifying Official she ensures that veterans have access to information regarding the education benefits they have earned and to which they are entitled for their service to our country.  Edna has associate's degrees in Art and in Culinary Arts.  When she's not fine-tuning her culinary skills, she enjoys spending time in her home art studio, gardening, or enjoying time with her family and their labradoodle Maximus.