Army veteran Joseph Zolper ’15 learned early that real leadership isn’t about rank—it’s about serving others and having each other’s backs, or “six” as his platoon would say, long after returning to civilian life.
Today, Zolper is connecting veterans and service members across the country with mental health resources through his work with the Road Home Program.
Based at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, the Road Home Program is a nonprofit group of researchers, doctors, psychologists, and outreach staff who provide mental health services for veterans, service members, National Guard members, reservists, and their families, at no cost and regardless of discharge status.
Zolper serves on the executive team and is manager of veteran outreach and networking, traveling the country and connecting with people in the military community.
“We serve as a bridge between the Road Home Program and the military community, ensuring service members, veterans, and their families know support is available,” Zolper said.
His work comes at a critical time. Suicide is now the leading cause of death among active duty U.S. soldiers. In addition to providing treatment programs and therapy services, Zolper said the Road Home Program also works to reduce the stigma around seeking help.
While stigma around mental healthcare still exists, seeking support should be viewed no differently than taking care of your physical health.
—Joseph Zolper ’15
“I’ve met many service members and veterans who feel their experiences are not severe enough to justify seeking care,” Zolper said. “There are outstanding programs designed to support veterans and military families, but too many people still hesitate to take that first step. While stigma around mental healthcare still exists, seeking support should be viewed no differently than taking care of your physical health.”
Building lifelong leadership skills, relationships at Illinois State
Zolper has built a career around trust and service, guided by friendships and leadership skills he formed at Illinois State University.
His path to Illinois State began with a curveball. Weeks before graduating high school, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship he had been awarded at another university was pulled due to funding cuts. Almost immediately, he received a new letter from Illinois State’s ROTC program offering the same scholarship and the chance to play Redbird football.
During a 2012 Veterans Day ceremony on the Quad, Army ROTC Cadet Joseph Zolper, right, pays his respects with then-President for Student Affairs Larry Dietz.
Zolper already knew Illinois State well. His sister Rachael Zolper ’13 was studying education at the same time he enrolled to study history education, with the goal of becoming a history teacher. But what he didn’t expect was how deeply the University would shape who he became as a leader, a soldier, a husband, a father—and eventually an advocate for veterans and their families.
“ISU is where I finally felt like I was growing up,” Zolper said. “I was doing Army ROTC, football, school, trying to figure out how to balance all of those, and finding my own way in being proud of the progress I made.”
During his time at Illinois State, he formed many meaningful connections and relationships. One of the most important was meeting his wife Alyssa Zolper ’15, and another was fellow ROTC cadet, roommate, and close friend Tom Bowe ’15, who still has Zolper’s “six.”
“We almost instantly clicked, not only because of our shared interests and similar upbringings, but because we shared a desire to lead and serve others, specifically through the military,” Bowe said.
Joseph Zolper ’15, left, and Tom Bowe ’15, right, during their time with the Illinois State University ROTC.
That sense of purpose and service began for Zolper in childhood, shaped in part by his father’s service in the Army National Guard. At Illinois State, those lessons continued to grow through ROTC.
“I would say the best way to learn is by doing. That’s something that our ROTC program did really well,” Zolper said. “During our lab sessions, we went out to nearby forests and did land navigation skills or practiced drill and ceremony. It taught me that if you want to learn something, you have to do it yourself.”
This foundation helped shape his service work after graduation. He first became a history teacher while waiting for active-duty orders, then went on to serve over four years in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2018 as a platoon leader.
“(As a platoon leader) I believed leadership required credibility, and credibility came from understanding the work alongside the people you lead,” Zolper said. “I made it a priority to understand the responsibilities and challenges my soldiers faced firsthand. Leadership was never about directing people from a distance—it was about building trust, sharing responsibility, and working alongside the team. That philosophy still shapes how I lead today.”
Bowe said Zolper’s work through the Road Home Program is vital for helping veterans and their families navigate mental health and wellness struggles.
“With over a decade in uniform, I have seen the military and veteran community come a long way in eliminating stigmas about mental health and seeking help,” Bowe said. “Although we are in a better place in terms of resources and the mentality that seeking help is encouraged, there is still plenty of work to be done. I am grateful that there are people like Joe and others in the Road Home Program who have dedicated their lives to solving this issue.”
Zolper and his organization have no plans to slow down as they continue supporting service members and their families. No matter the role or title, his commitment remains the same: serving others and showing up when it matters most.
If you or a veteran you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential, 24/7 support.