Through its partnership with Dog Tag Bakery, Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies (SCS) helps veterans, military spouses, and caregivers build the next chapter of their careers. The program equips graduates to launch businesses and empower their communities. Since Dog Tag’s founding in 2014, nearly 300 students among 21 cohorts have earned a Certificate in Business Administration from Georgetown University.
Established by the University’s late Fr. Richard Curry, the Dog Tag Bakery fellowship reflects Georgetown’s Jesuit mission of cura personalis, or “care for the whole person.” Born without his right forearm, Curry was familiar with the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and dedicated his final years to empowering veterans.
Dog Tag may look and smell like a typical bakery, but it is unlike any other. The five-month program employs the University’s rigorous curriculum, instructed by SCS faculty. While many of the fellows are not aspiring pastry chefs themselves, the bakery operates as a living business school. Fellows share unique military life experiences, fostering a supportive community that facilitates success.
Military members and families are accustomed to constant change—frequent relocations, deployments, and sacrifice. While this lifestyle builds resilience, it also presents unique challenges. The partnership with Dog Tag is one of the many ways SCS supports one of the largest veteran populations at the University.
“At SCS, we believe that learning is a lifelong journey, one that empowers individuals to lead with purpose and serve their communities. Our partnership with Dog Tag Bakery exemplifies that commitment, providing veterans, military spouses, and caregivers with the support to thrive in the next chapter of their lives,” said Kelly Otter, Ph.D., dean of the School of Continuing Studies.
Addressing Food Insecurity in Military Communities
Megan Rowley, a Dog Tag alumna from the D.C. Cohort 20, embodies the resilience of military families. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 16 years old, Rowley continues to channel her strength into service by addressing food insecurity in the military community. According to the Military Family Advisory Network, one in five military and veteran families is food insecure—that number rises to one in four among active-duty households.
Rowley joined ROTC in college and planned to commission after graduation, inspired by her grandfather's service as a World War II veteran. However, she was not in remission long enough to move forward with her original plan. That didn’t stop Rowley from finding new ways to serve. Through the Dog Tag program and its Georgetown curriculum, she has helped establish a food pantry for military families at Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling (JBAB).
“The Georgetown education was a huge selling point for me,” she said.
After high school, Rowley married her husband, an officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. Adapting to the ever-changing military lifestyle, she dedicated herself to uplifting other military families nationwide. Her journey to launching a nonprofit food pantry began with a Facebook post from a military neighbor asking, “Does anyone know how to apply for SNAP?”'
“I've written a couple of papers in college about SNAP benefits, so I happen to have known that military members typically don't qualify,” Rowley said.
Rowley offered to help the neighbor find assistance, discovering there was only one military-affiliated food pantry in the D.C. area. That moment inspired Rowley to take action. She credits the program for helping turn her idea into a reality.
“Having that Georgetown piece of it, I was able to come to Dog Tag, sit in the seat, and find my purpose,” she said. “Having Georgetown on a resume, to meet with these professors, to be able to sit in the room with them, really means something.”
Empowering Veterans with Business Skill Sets
Chris McGrath has taught at Georgetown since 2006 and joined the Dog Tag program as a Business Accounting instructor in 2021. In his course, students learn how to create journal entries for business transactions, build financial statements for the bakery, and more. Through these hands-on learning opportunities, fellows learn how to use essential business tools like Microsoft Excel.
According to McGrath, what makes this course particularly special is the dedication of the military-connected fellows who bring determination and perspective to the classroom.
“They've served our country, and at times I feel like it's a responsibility for us to help them continue their public good and also be able to feel strong as they endeavor to build a future away from their former military service,” McGrath said.
Fostering community, growth, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, the SCS partnership with Dog Tag Bakery honors the service of military members, their families, and caregivers. The program enables fellows to advance their education, gain practical experience running a small business, and develop the soft skills essential for success in civilian careers.