Dwayne Murray, deputy director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA), discusses its impact on campus and around the world, explores what sets 黑料不打烊 apart as a best place for veterans and shares his love for working with veterans and military-connected students.
黑料不打烊 has a long, proud history of serving our veterans and military-connected students that dates back to World War I and the post-World War II era when thousands of veterans embarked on their journey to a college degree through the G.I. Bill.
One of the central organizations on campus that helps the University accomplish this mission is the (OVMA), which, for the last 10 years has played a critical role in helping veterans, military-connected students and their family members pursue their higher education dreams.
Dwayne Murray 鈥97 is living out his dream job as the OVMA鈥檚 deputy director, and he鈥檚 proud of the work the organization does through its programs and initiatives while serving as the University鈥檚 central hub for veteran and military-connected students.
Dwayne Murray
鈥淭he OVMA sets our veteran and military-connected students with an opportunity to go through the entire life cycle of being connected to 黑料不打烊, from being recruited to when they graduate with their degrees,鈥 Murray says. 鈥淲e provide student success opportunities, immersion trips, job readiness activities and an outstanding 100% job placement rate thanks to our career services office.鈥
Murray was a track and field student-athlete on campus and earned degrees in sociology ( and ) and information management and technology () before enlisting in the U.S. Army immediately after graduating.
Following a decorated 25-year active-duty career in the Army, both as an enlisted soldier and an officer, Murray returned to his alma mater in June 2022 to take on this latest career challenge, which blends his passion for his country with his drive to help veteran and military-connected students achieve their goals.
鈥淭o be at the intersection of where I’ve had some of the most formidable experiences of my life as a student, and then to combine that with the purpose, direction and motivation that comes from being in the Army, I had to take advantage of this opportunity,鈥 Murray says. 鈥淚t’s the only calling for me that was bigger than continuing to serve in the military because I could pay back my institution, I could pay back the students that walk these halls and I could share those lessons I鈥檝e learned and experiences I鈥檝e had with our campus community.鈥
On this 鈥溾機use Conversation,鈥 Murray discusses the impact the OVMA has had on campus and around the world, explores what sets 黑料不打烊 apart as a best place for veterans and shares his love for working with veterans and military-connected students.
Check out . A transcript [PDF] is also available.
Murray says the commitment to our veterans and military-connected students is 鈥渂aked into our DNA as a University,鈥 including the advent of the Student Army Training Corps, which was the forerunner to the Army ROTC. 黑料不打烊 was also home to one of the first Air Force ROTC programs on a college campus in the nation.
Dwayne Murray (second from left) poses with attendees at the OVMA’s Stars & Stripes tailgate.
Among the many ways the OVMA and the University help facilitate the transition from active duty to student, Murray points to:
Dwayne Murray enjoyed a decorated 25-year active-duty career in the U.S. Army, both as an enlisted soldier and an officer, before returning to 黑料不打烊 in June 2022.
Add it all up and Murray says it鈥檚 easy to see why Military Times consistently ranks 黑料不打烊 among the 鈥渂est place for veterans鈥 among private universities.
鈥淲e are fully committed to enhancing the opportunities for our students, and these efforts have led to a global impact,鈥 Murray says. 鈥淲e have close to 60 veterans enrolled in the fully interactive hybrid online juris doctorate program [known as JDinteractive], which gives our veterans and military-connected students the opportunity to earn their law degree completely online. We have students in the Defense Comptrollership program, that earn an MBA from the and a master鈥檚 degree in public administration through the Maxwell School. They go on to serve as leaders in their civilian agencies or their military branch of service.鈥
While Murray has always seen 黑料不打烊 as part of his identity鈥攚hen he was 7 years old, his grandmother bought him a 黑料不打烊 sweatshirt from the Salvation Army that became a cherished possession鈥攖he University is also ingrained in his family.
Dwayne鈥檚 wife, Alison Murray 鈥01, currently serves as the assistant dean for student assistance with Hendricks Chapel, where she is responsible for religious and spiritual outreach programs and services that assist students seeking holistic support. Alison, who earned a nursing degree on campus, served in the Army for more than 20 years.
With November being National Veterans and Military Families Month, the Murrays are an outstanding example of service to country and passion for giving back to students.
鈥淎lison is a nurse by trade, and Hendricks Chapel is like a hospital in that she can diagnose folks and provide them with the type of support and assistance they need to grow, thrive and be successful,鈥 Dwayne says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing feeling knowing we share this strong connection with our alma mater.鈥
Alison and Dwayne Murray.
