Serving those who serve: Eastern grad makes helping veterans her career

Sherri Vogt ’94 spends most of her time visiting veterans in their homes. As a veterans liaison for Hartford HealthCare, she meets regularly with service members planning their retirement to brief them on available benefits and services.

Of special note is the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, which is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs service that pays family members to take care of veterans with catastrophic injury. “When I see families able to use the program, I leave their homes feeling that I was born for that moment. It fills me with a special sense of purpose.” 

Part of Vogt’s satisfaction is the fact that she helped pass the legislation that created the program while working for U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty. Now she gets to see the legislation in action, helping families manage their finances as they support wounded heroes. 

For her many contributions to the people of Connecticut and her commitment to serving veterans, Vogt joined 13 other awardees as the 21st class inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame at a special ceremony in January 2026 at the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs campus in Rocky Hill. Among the attendees were Gov. Ned Lamont and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. 

Commenting on the contributions of the inductees, Gov. Lamont said, “The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame celebrates the many veterans from Connecticut who have gone above and beyond in their service to our nation by continuing to contribute to our communities in so many ways, even after leaving the military. … This class of inductees reflects the values of dedication and selflessness that define Connecticut.” 

Vogt is no stranger to military service. Her father served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and both her grandfathers served in World War I and World War II. Following family tradition, she enlisted in the Army at age 17 in 1986 and served for more than four years in Germany, including during the early stages of Desert Storm.  

Returning to the States, Vogt took three semesters at Quinebaug Valley Community College before transferring to Eastern Connecticut State University. Vogt majored in History and Social Sciences in preparation for a teaching career. She fondly remembers faculty mentors such as Ann Gruenberg, Jay Cobbledick, Charles Wynn, and Marcia McGowan.  

Daunted by the size of the campus and class sizes at the University of Connecticut, Vogt found Eastern to be “tranquil” in comparison and appreciated the comforting atmosphere as she transitioned back to civilian life. “I loved the small classes. The professors knew my name, they cared about me.”  

While Eastern gave Vogt the competencies necessary to teach middle school history, she was also impressed by Eastern’s commitment to civic engagement. “I learned that government matters, that we can influence policy.”  

After beginning her teaching career at private and public schools in eastern Connecticut, Vogt shifted to a political position with U.S. Congressman Joseph Courtney and then U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District. During the 2008-09 housing crisis, Esty needed a veteran on her staff, and Vogt was perfect for the position. During her time with Esty, Vogt worked with such groups as the Connecticut National Guard and the state’s VA offices. While Vogt worked in her office, Esty was successful in having the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers expanded from its initial focus on 9/11, Iraq, and Afghanistan veterans to include World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans over a phased-in, four-year period. 

Another legislative initiative that Vogt applauds was the passage of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, enacted in 2022, which acknowledged the government’s responsibility for Agent Orange and other toxic chemicals, and provided for additional health care and other services to veterans. 

In 2019, Vogt joined Hartford HealthCare and spent the first two years there working with veterans in hospice. Her current position as a veterans liaison for Hartford HealthCare’s Center for Healthy Aging allows her to go into veterans’ homes to counsel them as they plan for retirement. She estimates she spends 80% of her time in the community; in addition to home visits, she does public speaking at senior centers and the State Capitol. Vogt continues to return to Eastern’s campus, conducting meetings and workshops such as a mental health symposium on Dec. 12, 2025, at the J. Eugene Library to discuss how to reduce suicide among veterans.

She also makes note that her husband (1995), sister (1996) and brother (1997) all graduated from the University. She and her husband have three grown children, one of them a daughter who recently graduated from Arizona State University.  

Outside of family and work, Vogt stays busy serving her hometown community of Brooklyn, CT, and the residents of Connecticut. She is a past member of the Brooklyn Agriculture Commission and has served for more than 10 years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs. She is co-founder of the Veterans with Disabilities Taskforce, which recently successfully lobbied the Connecticut General Assembly for a $2 million grant to conduct research on veterans who have suffered strokes and the potential for neuromodulation treatments. She is also a member of the Brooklyn Board of Selectmen.