Dennis "Denny" Cosmo '19
Nine weeks after transferring to Bryant from the Community College of Rhode Island in fall 2017, Denny Cosmo had submitted a constitution to establish a chapter of Student Veterans of America on campus, joined the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), attended Bryant Venture meetings, and written a business plan to enter a competition for a grant for the student organization he’s spearheading.
All this in addition to attending a full slate of classes.
His ability to manage his time with such discipline is no surprise. Prior to enrolling in college, Cosmo spent nine years in the Army. “I was in infantry school when the World Trade Center towers were hit on 9/11,” he says. “I was in the first wave of military deployed to Iraq in 2003 as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.”
In 2004, he graduated from U.S. Army Ranger School, heralded as the “toughest combat course in the world,” and re-classed to military intelligence in 2005. “I attended the Defense Language Institute for Arabic at the Presidio of Monterey, and went back to Iraq, this time with the 75th Ranger Regiment.”
Cosmo’s military background and education helped cultivate his leadership skills, so much so that the Student Veterans of America (SVA) chose him to be one of 100 members to attend the SVA’s Leadership Institute, held in October in Dallas, TX. “We were completely immersed in hands-on learning of values-based leadership,” which he describes as “a set of core values or leadership principles that are genuine and authentic. It’s about individual relationship building, rapport building, building trust. It’s putting others’ best interests ahead of yours.”
Today, Cosmo is CCRI’s Veteran Resource Coordinator.
Bryant is ranked No. 3 on the Best Colleges for Veterans (Regional Universities North) list by U.S. News & World Report. “I immediately felt at home and part of the community at Bryant," Cosmo notes. "Each individual has to choose his or her own path, but if someone’s looking for opportunities and options, Bryant offers more than any college I’ve ever seen.”
Real World Experience
Leadership
- One of only 100 students around the country selected to attend Student Veterans of America's Leadership Institute Class of 2017 in Dallas
Clubs
- Established a chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA) on campus
- Member of the Bryant chapter of Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization
A Connected Community
Bryant's purposeful student life delivers co-curricular immersion with an inspiring, collegial community. Students forge deep connections that last a lifetime.
“I like being involved in a lot of things. I’ve learned so much about myself and grown so much as an individual. The things I’m doing at Bryant are helping me become a better leader.”
“One reason I picked Bryant was because I wasn’t sure what area of business I wanted to go into. I chose to go to Bryant because it was a very good business school, and I knew that whatever I chose would be a good option.”
She found an outlet for her passion for nature through Bryant's Environmental Science program