Daemen College will open an office next month devoted to the recruitment and retention of military veterans seeking college degrees.

The new Center for Veterans and Veteran Family Services will be overseen by retired U.S. Marine Corps. Sgt. Patrick Welch, who since 2008 has been director of the Erie County Veterans Service Agency. Welch, who will begin June 7, will work with federal and state veteran agencies, county veteran groups, veterans' hospitals, employment services and community groups.

The Amherst college paired up with the county veterans agency last year in an attempt to help veterans obtain college degrees, especially those returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. One offshoot of that pairing is Listening Circles, a Daemen-based program for veterans and their families to work through post-active duty issues.

More than 20 veterans received GI benefits at Daemen College during the 2009-10 school year, a spokesperson said. The college has no set number of veterans it aims to enroll through its new center, but it did say it will enroll all veterans who express an interest in Daemen.