The Executive Board for ���ϲ�����’s Student Veterans of America are all military veterans, and they’re all full-time students at the University. In addition to their academic responsibilities, many also hold jobs, have families and take on additional responsibilities on and off campus. It is because of their desire to be of service to something bigger than themselves that fuels the time and effort they give back to the campus community.

Get to know these impactful student veterans.

Leonel “Leo” Aviles ’26 – U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
School of Information Studies

Leonel “Leo” Aviles

Leo, as he is affectionately known among friends and the military-connected community, is president of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO) at ���ϲ�����. Originally from Florida, Aviles found ���ϲ����� through the Warrior-Scholar Project and credits the University’s admissions staff, along with OVMA’s staff with why he ultimately decided to enroll at ���ϲ�����.

“The staff at this university has open arms for veterans out there wanting to pursue higher education. The amount of people wanting to help veterans with school is incredible,” says Aviles. “I would highly encourage any military-connected student to reach out to the SVO to find out more about what opportunities are available on and off campus.”

Derick Ramos G’26 – U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
College of Arts and Sciences

Derick Ramos

Ramos served as a tank crewman in the Marines for four years and is currently the SVO’s vice president. A graduate student, Ramos is pursuing a Ph.D. in physics. One of the biggest reasons why Ramos chose ���ϲ����� was because of the competitive academic programs available, particularly for doctoral studies.

“When transitioning from the service we may believe that we are behind in some instances compared to other students attending college after high school,” says Ramos, “Keep your head down and work hard, your dreams and goals will come true. Always remember the words of Winnie the Pooh, ‘You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.’”

Jurgen Baeza ’26 – U.S. Navy Veteran
College of Engineering and Computer Science

Jurgen Baeza

Baeza discovered ���ϲ����� while still in high school in San Diego, California. His journey to Central New York required a brief stint in the U.S. Navy, serving as an aviation structural mechanic specializing in the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s safety equipment.

With an interest in computers starting at an early age, Baeza began teaching himself to code and is pursuing that interest as a computer science major. While trying to adapt to life as a non-traditional college student, Baeza came in contact with other student veterans on campus and quickly got involved with the SVO.

“As I started going to more events and talking to more of the student veterans, I would talk to them about our similar life experiences and I was able to relate to them a lot easier than those students who are a lot younger than me,” Baeza says.

Savion Pollard ’26 – U.S. Navy Veteran
College of Engineering and Computer Science

Savion Pollard

Pollard served in the Navy for eight years working on board nuclear submarines as a nuclear electronics technician. His time at ���ϲ����� has been marked by significant accomplishments, including being the first local hire for Micron and being an honored guest of U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer during the 2023 State of the Union Address from President Joseph R. Biden L’68.

“I chose to come to ���ϲ����� because it brought me closer to family, and because of its proclamation as the ‘Best Place for Vets,’” says Pollard, who is currently studying electrical engineering with a minor in computer science. “I’ve grown to love the campus community, the ���ϲ����� city community and the deep connection between the two.”

Pollard has been a member of the SVO’s executive board for a few years and says his biggest advice for new military-connected students is to “buy into the campus culture and to try new things along the way. All of my greatest achievements as a student have been due to being involved and making myself uncomfortable,” Pollard says.

Tojyea “TJ” Matally ’27 – U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Tojyea “TJ” Matally

Matally is a sophomore pursuing a degree in communications design, and he served as a combat photographer in the Marine Corps until 2023, when he opted to pursue higher education and found ���ϲ����� because of its reputation for providing educational opportunities for veterans and military families.

“I chose to attend ���ϲ����� because I had heard it was an ideal place for veterans to assimilate into higher education; plus, I wanted to remain in the New York area after being stationed on Long Island for five years,” Matally says.

His advice to other student veterans is to “be honest with your limitations and strengths, and enjoy your new transition. It’s a privilege to pause and invest in yourself for four or more years. Be grateful and lean on your community to support you throughout the journey,” Matally says.

To learn more about the military-connected students at ���ϲ����� and the programs and services available for student veterans, please visit the .

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 ���ϲ����� apart as a best place for veterans and shares his love for working with veterans and military-connected students.

���ϲ����� 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 ’97 is living out his dream job as the OVMA’s deputy director, and he’s proud of the work the organization does through its programs and initiatives while serving as the University’s central hub for veteran and military-connected students.

Dwayne Murray

“The OVMA sets our veteran and military-connected students with an opportunity to go through the entire life cycle of being connected to ���ϲ�����, from being recruited to when they graduate with their degrees,” Murray says. “We provide student success opportunities, immersion trips, job readiness activities and an outstanding 100% job placement rate thanks to our career services office.”

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.

“To 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,” Murray says. “It’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’ve learned and experiences I’ve had with our campus community.”

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Murray discusses the impact the OVMA has had on campus and around the world, explores what sets ���ϲ����� 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.

Global Impact as a Best Place for Veterans

Murray says the commitment to our veterans and military-connected students is “baked into our DNA as a University,” including the advent of the Student Army Training Corps, which was the forerunner to the Army ROTC. ���ϲ����� 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:

• a simplified, streamlined admissions process, including waiving application fees, which has led to a 300% increase in enrollment over the last 10 years;
• customized support services;
• innovative and creative programming under the leadership of Director of Veteran Career Services Jennifer Pluta G’15 that has yielded a 100% job placement rate for student veterans;
• a welcoming and inclusive environment, featuring various affinity groups;
• strong cross-campus relationships that lead to expanded opportunities for students; and
• significant scholarship opportunities that eliminate financial barriers to a degree.

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 ���ϲ����� in June 2022.

Add it all up and Murray says it’s easy to see why Military Times consistently ranks ���ϲ����� among the “best place for veterans” among private universities.

“We are fully committed to enhancing the opportunities for our students, and these efforts have led to a global impact,” Murray says. “We 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’s 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.”

National Veterans and Military Families Month

While Murray has always seen ���ϲ����� as part of his identity—when he was 7 years old, his grandmother bought him a ���ϲ����� sweatshirt from the Salvation Army that became a cherished possession—the University is also ingrained in his family.

Dwayne’s wife, Alison Murray ’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.

“Alison 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,” Dwayne says. “It’s an amazing feeling knowing we share this strong connection with our alma mater.”

Alison and Dwayne Murray.

Local attorneys will dispense free legal advice to veterans during the College of Law’s Veterans’ Advocacy, Law and Outreach (VALOR) Day event on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Hosted by the , Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc., and Hancock Estabrook LLP, Valor Day will take place during the CNY Veterans Expo and will provide a variety of free legal services to local veterans.

Local attorneys will be available to discuss the following services: Simple wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, family law, veterans law, tenant’s rights, debt, real estate and immigration.

Legal consultations are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please before Nov. 7.

The goal was to show students one of the many options that are available when they graduate. “Some students may not know that you can have an actual career as a musician in the military, but many, many people do,” said Brad Ethington, director of University bands and professor of music.

Ainsley Brouse G’26, who is pursuing a master’s degree in wind conducting in the , says the extent of what military bands do was new to her when she came to college. “I think if I had seen that younger, before college, I think it would’ve made music seem more accessible and more achievable that there is not just one path you can go down, but there’s many, many paths that you can go down,” Brouse said.

After their performance, the musicians answered questions from students about what it means to be in a military band and to be a professional musician more generally. “Anytime you can interact with the very best people in your profession in any way, whether it’s just hearing a performance, getting to ask questions, meeting them, that’s only going to be a positive thing and provide benefits,” Ethington said.

Check out other highlights from Navy Week below.

Lt. Conor Sullivan ’15, G’18, L’18, fourth from left, spoke with students at the College of Law about opportunities in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. (Photo by Beth Kubala)

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Josh Jackson (left) and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Parker (center) pose with Chancellor Kent Syverud (right). The two senior Navy leaders took part in a roundtable discussion with the Chancellor as part of Navy Week ���ϲ����� to discuss enhancing partnerships between the military branches and higher education, to offer better opportunities for tomorrow’s leaders. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

Members of the U.S. Navy Band Northeast perform for College of Visual and Performing Arts students in the Setnor Auditorium in Crouse College during Navy Week ���ϲ�����. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

A member of the U.S. Navy Band Northeast performs for College of Visual and Performing Arts students in the Setnor Auditorium in Crouse College during Navy Week ���ϲ�����. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Josh Jackson (right) visited with students in the military visual journalism program in the Newhouse School.

Misty Fox, director of entrepreneurship and small business with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, speaks during the “Doing Business With the Department of Navy” event, co-hosted by APEX Accelerators National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Josh Jackson, second from right, was honored as the Hometown Hero during the ���ϲ����� football season opener Aug. 31 vs. Ohio in the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

Jeff Wilkinson

Across the U.S. Department of Defense, there are approximately 650 commissioned flag officers, known as generals or admirals. Achieving this rank is a testament to a service member’s dedication, knowledge, leadership and ability to effect change.

For retired U.S. Air Force (USAF) Brigadier General Jeff Wilkinson ’89 the path to becoming a flag officer, and the first ever combat rescue officer to be promoted to the rank of general across the USAF, began at ���ϲ����� as an Air Force ROTC cadet.

Wilkinson, who served primarily in Air Force Special Tactics, didn’t initially see himself rising through the ranks. However, a call to service has guided him throughout his career.

“Growing up, I was interested in the outdoors, adventures as a Boy Scout, military air shows, museums and that sort of thing. I got serious in high school while figuring out how to pay for school and what I wanted to do,” says Wilkinson, a Buffalo, New York, native who was drawn to ���ϲ����� through his passion for music and playing the saxophone.

“I started pursuing scholarships. I applied for and received an Air Force scholarship and decided I wanted to be an officer and lead. It was a pathway that allowed me to attend ���ϲ����� and be part of its excellent programs,” Wilkinson says.

Music played a significant role in attracting Wilkinson to ���ϲ�����, but his undergraduate studies in mathematics and military science delivered opportunities that laid the foundation for his career. Following the loss of his Zeta Psi fraternity brother, Alex Lowenstein, along with 34 fellow students during the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, Wilkinson decided he wanted to make a difference fighting international terrorism.

One of his ROTC instructors suggested he consider the Air Force’s special operations career field. Unlike many military occupations available to him upon graduation, Special Tactics required an application and passing qualifications.

Wilkinson represents his alma mater at a sporting event.

“There are a limited number of officers in the field, so you have to apply for it, and it’s really hard to make it through the training pipeline,” Wilkinson says. “The washout rate is high. My class started with about 68 people, and six of us graduated. It’s a hard path, but it’s where I was meant to be.”

The Air Force’s Special Tactics community is primarily composed of two roles: Combat Control Team (CCT) and Pararescue (PJ). Combat controllers provide global reach opening remote austere air hubs in hostile territory along with strike capabilities delivering airpower on enemy positions, while pararescuemen offer critical medical care while embedded with other units or by entering contested areas to rescue downed aircrew or wounded service members.

Over 32 years in the Air Force, Wilkinson served on active duty, in the reserve and in the Kentucky Air National Guard as a Special Tactics officer. His service took him across the nation and around the world, supporting operations like Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

As he rose from second lieutenant to brigadier general, Wilkinson credits his success to the fundamentals he learned as an ROTC cadet. In the spring of 2024, he returned to ���ϲ����� to share his career insights with ROTC cadets of Detachment 535 before their graduation. As the guest speaker, he shared three key takeaways:

1. Trust in your training.

Wilkinson shared the story of U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Bart Decker, his combat control instructor who later deployed to Afghanistan as part of the initial response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Special Forces detachments initially deployed required immense flexibility, even adjusting to traveling on horseback through rugged terrain—a skill long forgotten in military tactics since the early 1940s.

“The foundations and processes started here in ROTC prepare you to lead in unimaginable scenarios. With a positive attitude, disciplined study and agility of thought, you will succeed. Agile thinking is encouraged in the Air Force and needed for tomorrow’s wars,” Wilkinson says.

2. Seek advice from your subordinates and be thoughtful in your decisions.

Wilkinson urged the graduating cadets to listen to the noncommissioned officers (NCOs), who often train new officers in their field’s technical expertise. He recalled advice from a senior officer that Wilkinson still considers among the best he’s received. “He told me that my new rank and certifications gave me the authority to make decisions that, if wrong, could result in the injury or death of my Airmen or, at a minimum, violations that could land me in jail. So, I better be thoughtful in my decisions and listen to my NCOs. Seek their experience and perspective when making decisions,” Wilkinson says.

3. Don’t wait to make a difference.

Wilkinson, now a senior aerospace science instructor for a high school Junior ROTC detachment in Summerville, South Carolina, has extensive experience mentoring future leaders. He urged young leaders to address issues and find solutions when the moment arises.

He recounted his time leading pararescuemen on a humanitarian response deployment to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. His team of highly trained specialists took four to five hours to search a site, while a nearby FEMA team with rescue dogs cleared an area in 45 minutes.

“With persistence, our team established the first rescue dog combat capability in the entire Department of Defense, assigned to the Kentucky Air National Guard. The capability came into existence thanks to the earnest efforts of a dedicated staff sergeant and his flight commander, and now it’s available to the broader Air Force,” Wilkinson says.

���ϲ�����’s list of military-connected alumni who reach the prestigious flag officer ranks continues to grow, showcasing the dedication to service that the university instills in its ROTC cadets. As Wilkinson says, however, it’s not the rank that matters in the end, it’s the willingness to step forward and serve.

“You stand at the forefront of our citizens, willing to be part of something greater than yourself,” says Wilkinson. “The American way of life, and American freedoms, are valuable. There’s always greater opportunities for people who produce results.”

For more information on the University’s commitment to preparing tomorrow’s military leaders, visit the to learn about the opportunities available through ROTC.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.), the U.S. veteran population has decreased by almost 25% over the past two decades. Despite this decline, veterans continue to account for a significant percentage of suicides. In 2021, more than 16% of those who committed suicide in the United States were veterans despite making up less than 8% of the population.

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the campus community is invited to the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) for the Suicide Prevention Education Talk (SPEd Talk) Mental Health Summit. The event is hosted by the ���ϲ����� V.A. Medical Center and ���ϲ�����’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF).

Mike Waldron

The summit will feature a keynote address by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mike Waldron, founder and executive director of 23rd Veteran, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans. Waldron launched the organization after overcoming his own trauma from military service and aims to provide unique mental health support for other veterans coping with similar challenges.

Waldron, a graduate of the IVMF’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans program, has been a featured guest speaker on the topic of suicide prevention before. He spoke at the NVRC last year on the topic and continues to be a passionate supporter for veterans struggling with mental health complications due to their time in military service.

“The idea came from my personal experience, so my business is related to my military service. I served in combat in 2003, and it was about four or five years later I fell into some pretty severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. I was struggling with panic attacks every day, multiple times a day. A lot of social anxiety, a lot of nightmares, couldn’t sleep, and I had a really hard time working. I wasn’t sleeping most of the night, and life was just a really big struggle for about four or five years there,” says Waldron. “Then I stumbled on something that worked for me, something that pulled me out of it.”

A panel discussion will follow, featuring:

• Karen Heisig, director of the Greater Central New York Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Leah Piorkowski, licensed mental health counselor with the ���ϲ����� VA Medical Center
• Kyle Thomas, peer specialist with the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program of the ���ϲ����� VA Medical Center

Organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and combating suicide in the community will also be present for a resource fair before and after the discussion. The resource fair and reception will take place in the NVRC lobby. The event begins at 3:30 p.m., with the resource fair concluding at 6:30 p.m.

To learn more about this event or to register, visit .

Jennifer Pluta has worked in career services at ���ϲ�����, including spending the last 10 years providing advice to ���ϲ�����’s veterans and military-connected community.

When enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on May 19, 1999, she had no grand plans for making a career out of her service to her country. Rather, feeling compelled to give back to her country, Pluta thought she would serve for a few years before embarking on the next chapter of her life.

Today, the military has become the focal point of Pluta’s career, connecting service members to their benefits and resources while providing both mentorship and guidance that enhances the professional development pursuits of soldiers.

Along with commemorating 25 years of military service, Pluta, a first sergeant in the Army Reserve, is celebrating another professional milestone. For nearly 20 years, Pluta has worked in career services at ���ϲ�����, including spending the last 10 years providing advice to ���ϲ�����’s veterans and military-connected community.

Jennifer Pluta

“I’ve always had a desire to go into the service. I’m so honored to have had this experience and I can’t believe I’m now at 25 years of military service,” says Pluta, director of Veteran Career Services in the , who also led the University’s Veterans Affinity Group for faculty and staff.

“I just never thought this was the plan when I first enlisted, but here I am. I love serving my country. I love helping and mentoring our soldiers on their journeys. Being a humble servant who gives back to our soldiers is the most honorable thing I can think of.”

By encouraging student veterans to discover more about the potential employment opportunities available to them, Pluta’s passion for career services has led to an impressive 100% placement rate for connecting student veterans to new careers following graduation. She achieves this through customized career coaching, mentoring, networking and her strong connections with potential employers.

Pluta’s commitment to serving veterans led to her being named a scholar for the 2023 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program by the George W. Bush Institute. The initiative supports individuals who not only give back to our nation’s veterans and military families, but are motivated to broaden their skillsets, knowledge and influence to enhance their efforts to support the military-connected communities they serve.

Pluta, who earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from the in 2015, sat down with SU News to discuss her passion for service, the joy she gets from and the role she’s happy to play in making ���ϲ����� one of the best places for veterans.

Where did your passion for this work come from?

I always had an interest in career services going back to high school, when I would read resume books and wanted to learn how to make someone’s resume standout. When I was in college [at Alfred University] I did an internship with the Alfred University Carer Development Center. When I was first deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, I wound up helping soldiers to access their GI Bill benefits, student loans and other educational assistance programs.

I didn’t know you could make a career doing this. But from the onset of my military career, I wanted to know how the military benefits worked, because, for so many, those benefits are the key reason they chose to enlist in the Army Reserve. I also knew, from conversations on the base [in Kuwait], that there were many soldiers in the military who weren’t aware of the many benefits and educational incentives available to them. I was eager to share my knowledge with as many soldiers as possible because access to education through the Army’s benefits could significantly enhance their career paths and help eliminate many financial barriers.

How satisfying has it been to connect veterans and soldiers to their benefits?

It’s always been so rewarding helping my fellow soldiers. I’m lucky that I can do something I’m passionate about while helping others achieve their goals. It’s my job to help soldiers realize that they have a tremendous skillset to offer to an employer. Too often, veterans have a limited viewpoint on the value of their skills and what opportunities might be available to them. But it’s such a rewarding feeling when they understand that employers are interested in their skills and what they bring to the workforce. That’s the reward, when they realize what’s possible.

Once I came to ���ϲ�����, shortly after my deployment in 2005, I started here as a temporary, part-time employee in the Center for Career Services. It was supposed to be on a limited basis, but it’s going to be 20 years for me with ���ϲ����� next year. I’m passionate about empowering our veterans and military-connected students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed with their professional goals. I’ve had the best time and made some of the most amazing connections by helping the people I’ve served with.

How does your role with career services impact the University’s reputation as one of the best places for veterans?

Because I served as an Army Reserve career counselor and am still active in the Army Reserve, I have an understanding of not only what our service members have been through, but how their military experiences and leadership can be leveraged and utilized to help achieve their career goals. I know what resources to use to help translate their military experience into career success. I help those soldiers who want to go back into the service, and I help our faculty and staff who need help navigating their careers in the Army Reserve. I can use my network and my experiences to help connect veterans to the necessary resources, and I’m really happy I’ve been able to contribute.

The is free and open to all ���ϲ�����-area veterans, including ���ϲ����� student, faculty and staff veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care and want to learn more about eligibility and how to sign up.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Enroll in VA health care (with a copy of DD214 and photo identification).
• File a claim with the Veterans Benefit Administration.
• Obtain a Veteran Health Identification Card (with photo identification).
• Learn how the (Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxic Acts) expands health care benefits for veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras and were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances. The PACT Act also extends eligibility to survivors of these exposed veterans.
• Engage with VA professionals.
• Visit with a variety of local community resources.

Representatives from the University’s and will be in attendance. MVLS students will guide attendees and facilitate interactions with partner organizations. For more information, contact Emma.Avellino@va.gov or egkubala@syr.edu.

In the video, ���ϲ����� Vice Chancellor , who is also the executive director and founder of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, speaks about the GI Bill’s origins and the University’s role in its inception. He also discusses the importance of other universities welcoming veterans, highlighting the positive impact they have on campuses.

If you’d like to schedule an interview with him, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at .

, is an associate professor in the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a senior research associate in the Center for Policy Research. Her expertise includes suicide prevention, and she is currently conducting multiple studies aimed at identifying and mitigating the barriers to mental health help-seeking. She writes: “As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial to recognize that individuals with severe mental health conditions may not seek help or treatment, even among college students who typically exhibit lower levels of stigma associated with mental health treatment. Our recent survey of ���ϲ����� students suggests that approximately 33% are experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms, with about 13% reporting suicidal ideation. However, only slightly more than half of those with these serious conditions sought treatment, either on- or off-campus, in the past 12 months. Given that our students have full health insurance coverage and good access to care, the low rate could be attributed to perceived stigma; quite a few of our students responded that others would think less of someone who has received mental health treatment. Mental Health Awareness Month provides an excellent opportunity to reach out to those struggling with mental health issues and assure them that seeking help is entirely acceptable.”

, is an assistant teaching professor at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. He teaches courses in human sexuality, cultural diversity, and relationship therapy with LGBTQ clients. . He writes: “Mental health is a conversation that we all should be having; this month gives us a moment to reflect on those around us who may need additional support. For example, the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of mental health needs. This is driven from the compounded impact of minority stress, or external discrimination which leads to psychological distress. This year a record number of anti-lgbt bills () have been introduced across the nation. This disheartening statistic highlights the overt discrimination and resulting fear for many. As the need for support increases, therapists should increase their accessibility to this community through LGBTQ-affirming therapy, offering support and validation of their lived experiences.”

, is an associate teaching professor of social work at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a mental health therapist, family advocacy officer in charge, and as manager of the alcohol and drug prevention and treatment program. . He writes: “Addressing the mental health challenges and suicide risks within the military demands a multi-pronged and proactive strategy. This approach should include enhancing mental health services, bolstering support for families, and advocating for a sustainable work-life balance. Such a balance would help soldiers understand the significance and impact of their work on the lives of American civilians, underscoring its meaningfulness. Confronting systemic issues is a critical step towards fostering a healthier, more resilient, and operationally effective military force. By committing to these measures, we can offer robust support to our soldiers, contributing significantly to the establishment of a fortified and capable military entity.”

, associate professor at the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, is a parenting researcher who joined the Falk College in 2012 following a series of faculty appointments, including a Fulbright fellowship in Cyprus. In both teaching and research, he seeks to understand the principles by which parents and families support optimal child development. He has a broad interest in working to enhance teaching in the developmental sciences. He writes: “In terms of parenting and mental health, one of the most current topics is the work outlined by Jonathan Haidt in his newly-released book ‘The Anxious Generation’ In that work he is basically arguing that an over controlling, overprotective approach to parenting that also encompasses funneling kids into using phones and other media is what is responsible for the growth in mental health challenges. The idea is that parents are overly concerned about the physical harms that might happen to their children so they keep them away from free unsupervised play. Through free unsupervised play, children learn to feel more confident and less anxious- and also spend less time with phones. So this overprotectiveness based on anxiety about potential harms leads them to actually experience high rates of anxiety because they are less prepared to deal with the challenges of adolescence.”

Attendees at a press conference learned about a new initiative from Google that would provide funding for free access to specific Google coursework. The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) will receive $3.5 million. J. Michael Haynie, third from right, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive director of the IVMF, spoke at the press conference in Washington, D.C.

���ϲ�����’s (IVMF) received a $3.5 million grant from Google to help train our nation’s transitioning service members, veterans and military-connected spouses on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence topics.

The funding, part of Google’s $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, will provide free access to Google’s AI Essentials Course and the Google cybersecurity certificate to ) participants. The IVMF is one of the fund’s first recipients.

“We’re excited to partner with Google on this new initiative, which will help make AI training universally accessible throughout the country. With this new Google AI Essentials Course, we are confident that we can arm veterans and military spouses with the training and skills necessary to begin to leverage the technology and put it to use in their career,” said , vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive director of the IVMF, at a press conference today in Washington, D.C.

Over the next three years, the goal is to train transitioning service members, veterans and military-connected spouses on how to best leverage and incorporate AI into their daily lives.

“AI offers significant opportunities to accelerate economic growth, particularly if people have access to the right resources and training,” said James Manyika, senior vice president for research, technology and society at Google. “Google.org’s new AI Opportunity Fund and Google’s AI Essentials Course are important next steps in our commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere can access AI training. No single employer or policymaker will be able to modernize workforce programs on their own—we are committed to collaborating across industry, civil society and government to ensure the opportunities created by new technologies are available to everyone.”

Haynie said the IVMF team provides training, education and technical assistance to more than 20,000 service members, veterans and military-connected family members annually. Recently, Haynie said one of the most asked about questions from the veteran community involved ways to learn more about AI and its everyday uses.

This grant from Google addresses both a specific need for veterans and a specific gap in training nationwide, as only half of workers have access to sufficient AI training opportunities, according to the .

J. Michael Haynie

“We’ve found that military veterans are eager to embrace the technology in their professional life to increase productivity, whether while running their own small business or working for one of America’s employers. We were working to find the right answer for them, but with an increasingly crowded marketplace of resources and training it was difficult to identify the right opportunity…enter our friends at Google. This training will have a lasting impact on veterans and military spouses,” Haynie said of , which has supported IVMF with its efforts of preparing transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses to bring their skills to civilian careers since 2013.

According to Google, its online AI Essentials course, taught by the tech giant’s industry experts, will train people to use generative AI effectively in their day-to-day work. Participants will receive practical, hands-on experience with AI—including best practices and how to responsibly use AI—and those who complete the course will earn a certificate from Google to share with their network and with potential employers. The course normally costs $49 per person, but thanks to this grant, IVMF participants can learn these skills at no cost.

Kubala writes: “Here at ���ϲ�����, we pride ourselves on being the “Best Place for Veterans,” especially when it comes to ���ϲ�����’s support to veterans who utilize their VA Education Benefits to pursue their educational goals.  Today, the Supreme Court ruled that an Army Veteran may use educational benefits that he earned under both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  The decision is a win for Veterans and allows them to receive the full extent of the benefits they earned.  No veteran should be penalized for their continued service by having to choose one benefit when they earned two.  Here at the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal clinic we have cases involving education benefits and I’m thrilled to see the Court find that service members who accrue these benefits may use them as they choose.”

Vanessa Marquette G’19, media relations specialist, and Daryl Lovell, associate director of media relations, both in the Division of Communications, were honored with separate awards.

Providing Support to Members of the Military

Marquette G’19 was recognized by the National Infantry Association (NIA) with the Shield of Sparta – Heroine of the Infantry award after her husband’s most recent deployment in Africa. This honor is awarded to a spouse who has contributed significantly to the infantry. The NIA’s goal is to recognize spouses of infantrymen and other soldiers in support roles whose contributions deserve special recognition. The award is a token of appreciation for the sacrifice and commitment demanded of the spouses and supporters of infantrymen and other soldiers. It further symbolizes these individuals as true patriots with selfless ideals and the courage to send their soldier into harm’s way.

Ryan and Vanessa Marquette

Marquette’s military connections go further back as her grandfathers and great-uncle all served in WWII in the Army and Navy. Her parents, retired Chief Master Sgt. Steven Slachta G’71 and retired Lt. Col. Yvonne Slachta, both served in U.S. Air Force active duty and reserve for almost 30 years. She endured much more than typical drill weekends and long training exercises as a child as both parents were deployed overseas at times. Not only is her husband currently serving, but her nephew is in the U.S. Navy too, where she has supported his last three deployments on the USS Harry S. Truman. Her family’s dedication—and her own understanding of the sacrifices that families make—ultimately inspired her commitment to give back to the military community and to military families in many ways.

For the last 13 years, Marquette has selflessly devoted her time to supporting her husband, Ryan J.D./MPA’22, a U.S. Army veteran and member of the Army National Guard; his fellow infantrymen and their families through her work on numerous family readiness groups, according to the award. Whether it was relocating to where her husband was stationed, serving as a mentor to military families by relying on her lessons learned and struggles encountered as a child during her parents’ deployments, Ryan’s previous deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa, and through her previous work at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA), organizing events and ceremonies or just providing to military families in need, Marquette did all this while working full time—and never asked for anything in return. It was the sacrifices she made and the selfless support she provided for others, which made her an obvious candidate for this award.

Providing Support to Military Families

Daryl Lovell and Vanessa Marquette

Lovell was presented with the Service Member Patriot Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve in the Office of Secretary of Defense. This honor is given to employee supervisors and reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.

According to the award, Lovell showcased her knowledge that military service is not just a service member commitment but a family commitment. Often, employers do not understand the stressors and commitments that a military spouse endures which makes employers—often unintentionally—unsympathetic toward military spouses who request accommodations to their work schedule so that the service member’s spouse can see their spouses off as they deploy overseas and welcome them back upon their return.

Not only did Lovell provide support to Marquette before, during and after her husband was deployed, but she has also been supporting veterans and military families since she began at University. As the liaison for OVMA and IVMF she has maneuvered through occasionally challenging circumstances to get the job done and ensure the stories of veterans and military families are told. Whether it was being prepared at 5 a.m. to facilitate back-to-back Veterans Day media interviews for J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, attend the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) program in Atlanta to support the new board member, or help promote the research that comes out of the IVMF Lovell makes it happen which made her beyond deserving of this award.

Recognizing the Support Provided

“Daryl and Vanessa embody what it takes for ���ϲ����� to be the Best Place for Veterans,” says Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “They are consistent supporters of our military-connected students and employees and use their professional talents to tell this important pillar of our university’s story. Staff play a large role in our University’s work on behalf of veterans and military families, and I am proud of Daryl and Vanessa for setting a stellar example for our community.”

Ryan Marquette was the driving force behind both of these nominations, recognizing how critical the support was that his wife provided him and how being part of a team that allowed her the flexibility to be there for him. He honored both Vanessa and Lovell during a Communications division meeting.

“Having not only one but two members on our media relations team recognized for their commitment to veterans and their families is something that we are very proud of,” says Ellen Mbuqe, executive director of media relations. “Surprising both of them on the same day in front of our entire division was truly an inspiring moment for everyone on our team and we have Ryan to thank for spearheading both of these honors.”

From left to right: Ryan Marquette, Daryl Lovell and Vanessa Marquette

Cindy Boyd

For Cindy Boyd G’04, the journey toward becoming a military aviator was motivated by a desire to be at the forefront of engineering. She originally showed little to no interest in the military while growing up in Northeast Pennsylvania.

As a self-described scrapper and daughter of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Boyd initially did not view the military as a viable option until a cousin introduced her to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. However, early on, people began suggesting she pursue an alternative path.

“Even though I was a straight-A student coming out of high school, a member of the National Honor Society, and all of that stuff, I was told it was highly unlikely that I was going to get into West Point,” Boyd says. Despite having a stellar academic record, she was advised to have a backup plan for West Point simply because she was a woman.

The prestigious military academy was still in the process of adjusting to the reality of being a co-educational institution. In 1980 the first group of women graduated from West Point and, like other military academies throughout the ’80s and ’90s, change to accommodate women was begrudgingly slow.

“I was accepted into the class of ’92, and the first year was a struggle because I had a lot of making up to do. The high school I came from didn’t have a strong STEM program, and I had to catch up to my peers,” says Boyd. “The beautiful thing about West Point is once they invest in you, they have the leaders and the instructional staff there to help you overcome those setbacks.”

Boyd attributes her success to her parents, who instilled in her the drive and determination that played a significant role in overcoming challenges. Out of approximately 1,500 first-year cadets, or “plebes,” Boyd remembers around 150 being women, a number that dwindled to approximately 95 by the time she graduated in 1992 with a degree in engineering.

Upon graduation, Boyd was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant. Having secured one of 16 highly sought-after aviation branch assignments, she underwent rigorous flight training to become a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot. At that time, being a woman and a military aviator was a significant accomplishment. However, Boyd’s determination and grit propelled her to continually seek out the next big challenge, and years later she would become one of the very few women in the military at the time to command a company.

Cindy Boyd G’04 flying a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk

“In the early ’90s, there weren’t many women in officer roles, even fewer who were in charge, so you get a lot of visibility. You’re going to have your naysayers,” says Boyd, who served as the commanding officer of a combat aviation unit at Fort Bragg, now known as Fort Liberty, in North Carolina. “I had a lot of people who did not invest in my success, but I had to find a way to overcome it.”

Boyd reminisces about the immense pride she felt in commanding troops, and while leading troops is a pinnacle of achievement for most military leaders, Boyd says she had other goals that were out of reach in the Army. She began shaping what she wanted her post-service life to look like.

“When I was in the military, I really wanted to become a maintenance test pilot, but as a commissioned officer that wasn’t really endorsed,” says Boyd. “It was one of those things where, just like back in the ’80s when people told me I would never get into West Point— when people say that, that’s when I go and do it.”

Civilian life did not curb Boyd’s trailblazing determination. A position with Carrier Corporation brought her to Central New York after leaving the Army. Soon after she leveraged her military and engineering networks in the region;  she became one of the first women hired by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation as a test pilot.

“Back in the day, there was a woman who helped Igor Sikorsky; she’s really considered to be their first woman test pilot. But it had been 80 years since they had another one, and so they hired me,” says Boyd. “I had the engineering degree, the military background and the flying qualifications. I think they brought me in with a little bit of risk, but they figured they could train me, and I loved it.”

As a test pilot for Sikorsky, which produced the UH-60 helicopter she flew in the Army, Boyd developed an interest in the business aspect of engineering. Although she could have settled for her day-to-day work as a test pilot, her curiosity drove her to apply to the , where she pursued a master’s degree in business administration.

Cindy Boyd G’04 with her husband, daughter and family dog enjoying the Adirondacks.

“���ϲ����� was perfect because of the quality of the instruction, the professors, and of course because it was in my backyard. Working with the program managers at Sikorsky, I saw the value in making good, solid business decisions, and I wanted to understand that world a lot better because I didn’t see myself flying for the next 30 to 40 years,” says Boyd.

After completing the MBA program at Whitman, Boyd initially took a position with nearby Lockheed Martin as a contract manager, later transitioning into program management. Today, she continues to work today as a senior manager in program management, focusing on the company’s development of U.S. Navy airborne radar programs.

Boyd resides with her husband and daughter on a plot of farmland outside of ���ϲ�����. She acknowledges the barriers placed before her simply for being a woman working in environments where men had traditionally barred women from entry, but still encourages young women to seek out mentors, both women and men, who will provide honest feedback.

“Looking back at it now, having been through a lot more leadership experience, I think I would have reached out and networked more with not only my peers but with my senior leadership to get their mentorship,” says Boyd. “That was a real gap in my life experience back then, and I value it now more than ever.”

Together, they have created a new and innovative partnership starting this spring that will greatly benefit veterans as well as students from the in the .

Nick Armstrong (left) and Ken Marfilius

Marfilius, a U.S. Air Force veteran and assistant dean of online education and associate teaching professor in the School of Social Work, and Amstrong, a U.S. Army veteran and head of public sector at , teamed with Cabana co-founder and CEO to form a partnership that will integrate their immersive group support technology into the School of Social Work’s curriculum and tap into the combined strengths and capabilities of both organizations.

“Our collaboration with Ken and Falk leverages our immersive support technology platform, Cabana, and combines it with ���ϲ�����’s academic excellence and its nationally recognized commitment to veterans,” Armstrong says. “Our plan includes hands-on initiatives such as internships, collaborative education and joint research. These efforts will bring our partnership to fruition and strengthen our shared commitment to serving military communities.”

As ���ϲ�����’s first Post 9/11 GI Bill recipient, Armstrong earned an M.P.A. and Ph.D. from the . He spent nine years at ���ϲ�����’s before joining Cabana, which builds innovative technology solutions that provide guided mental health support for employers, health care workers and military professionals.

Marfilius, who received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from ���ϲ����� and M.S.W. and D.S.W. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, developed the first military mental health course at the Falk College, serves as Falk’s student veteran liaison, and led the creation of the partnership between Falk and the University’s College of Law that helps  veterans access the legal services they need.

So, when Armstrong reached out to Marfilius to discuss ways in which they could partner around the services Cabana provides to military populations, Marfilius jumped right in and started working with Armstrong and Black on the framework for their collaboration.

“I believe the partnership between Cabana and the Falk College is innovative in social work education and mental wellness,” Marfilius says. “It offers the ability to integrate real-world internships and cutting-edge tele-mental health training into our curriculum. We can prepare our graduate students for the future of social work, ensuring they are not only skilled but also technologically adept.”

Cabana’s immersive group support technology for clients includes a video component (center), a chat feature (right) and the functionality to be anonymous and mute your microphone within the group setting (left).

Here are the highlights of this unique partnership:

• Cabana Internship. Cabana will host one graduate student intern from the School of Social Work to support ongoing peer group support operations and psychoeducational content development. The intern will work under the supervision of Cabana’s head of mental wellness for a minimum of 500 hours.

• Tele-Mental Health Training and Education Support. Cabana will collaborate with the Falk College faculty to embed its immersive group support technology into ongoing coursework and curricula to foster training and preparation of future social work professionals.

“The tele-behavioral health landscape is evolving rapidly, demanding practitioner and client adaptability to virtual environments,” Armstrong says. “Our partnership infuses Falk’s curriculum with leading-edge tools via Cabana’s underlying technology platform, better preparing students for client engagements through digital platforms.

“Moreover, Falk students, equipped with an advanced tier of military cultural competence, will enhance our clients’ experiences—and their future clients—with more relatable, informed support that builds trust and overcomes stigma,” Armstrong says.

• Military and Veteran Virtual Peer Groups. Cabana will work with Falk faculty and its alumni network to assist ongoing virtual peer support groups for military and veterans starting this spring.

“This collaboration aligns with the ���ϲ����� mission to be the best place for vets, and it uniquely positions us to offer specialized support to our military and veteran communities,” Marfilius says. “Through virtual peer support groups and the development of tailored psychoeducational content, we are providing them with the essential mental health support they deserve.”

• Military and Veteran Psychoeducational Content Development. Cabana will work with Falk College faculty to review and evaluate Cabana content as a third-party reviewer.

“Engaging with industry partners allows us to bring practical, real-world experiences into our academic environment,” Marfilius says. “This partnership brings vast possibilities for research collaborations and advancement in peer interventions and group psychoeducation.”

• CEU/Education Credits. Falk College faculty will provide feedback, evaluate and, where appropriate, certify Cabana groups and content to satisfy New York State CEU (continuing education unit) requirements for well-being hours.

• Research Collaborations. As opportunities arise for Cabana and the Falk College, the two entities agree to evaluate research collaborations and grant opportunities surrounding peer interventions, group psychoeducation and other forms of mental health support.

“This collaboration aims to address the critical national shortage of mental health professionals, leveraging technology to extend reach and overcome barriers to access, especially for underserved populations,” Armstrong says. “It’s not just about serving more; it’s about serving smarter and cultivating a workforce ready for the challenges of today’s and tomorrow’s mental health landscape.”

Social work students interested in getting involved in this partnership should email Marfilius at kjmarfil@syr.edu, or School of Social Work Director of Field Education Tracy Walker at ttwalker@syr.edu. Graduate students interested in the internship will go through an interview process with the School of Social Work and Cabana, and the intern will receive a modest stipend.

Eric Watson

“One of the biggest things I learned during my time at ���ϲ����� is association with my fraternity brothers,” says Watson, who was a member of Omega Psi Phi. “They helped me understand how to be a part of a group, or a team, and how to work collectively with others.”

Watson had grown up as a traditional latchkey kid and being the only child of a single mother had made him fiercely independent. At an early age, Watson learned to cook for himself, care for himself, and take care of things around the house while his mother worked two, sometimes three jobs to pay the bills.

Watson says his mother’s determination still serves as a guiding beacon and that her work ethic continues to be an influence on him today.

“At the end of the day, I didn’t even graduate with a computer science degree. I was just into the philosophical aspect of computer science,” says Watson, who graduated with a degree in philosophy from the with a minor in math. “The philosophy behind all of it, and how it works in the background was intriguing to me, but the actual X’s and O’s of the operations of making things happen was just not my cup of tea at the time.”

As a young man, another thing that intrigued him was the prospect of doing something exciting after graduation. Watson was in the Schine Student Center while a U.S. Marine Corps selection officer had a table display set up featuring a video of the various military aircraft used by the Marine Corps. The thought of flying seemed cool, and after speaking with the recruiter about how to become a pilot, Watson’s intrigue became focused on a goal.

The fact that the Marine Corps was the only branch that offered a guaranteed flight option was the most appealing aspect to Watson, who reported to Officer Candidate School at Marine Corps Base Quantico in April 1992. If Watson had joined another branch, there was a chance he would have been ed in another job, something Watson didn’t care for.

After two years of flight training in Pensacola, Florida, Watson became a certified AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter pilot. The Cobra is a lightweight, nimble attack helicopter that provides close air support for Marine Corps ground forces. Cobra pilots are often forward deployed, meaning the Marines they support from the air are also the same Marines they eat meals with. When Watson spoke to ground units on the radio while he was in the air above them, it wasn’t a stranger’s voice speaking back to him, and Watson’s voice was often a welcome relief for his fellow Marines on the ground.

Watson bounced around between flying and serving in staff positions as a commissioned officer. A few promotions later, Watson wound up switching platforms to fly the UC-35 Cessna Citation, a small business jet the Marine Corps uses for passenger and cargo transport. Watson flew the Citation around the world, in and out of places like Qatar, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Jordan among others.

“Flying was great, I could still fly today but it would take the money away from my kids’ activities,” says Watson, who with his wife, Tammie, has raised four children; Erykah, Taneya, Eric, and Teyana, ranging in age from 15 to 27.

“I think, for me, it was just being exposed to the different cultures around the world and being able to go different places and see different things that I never would have experienced had I not been in the Marine Corps.”

Upon retirement, Watson transitioned within the Department of Defense from the U.S. Marine Corps to the Defense Health Agency. It was here he combined his interest in computers and technology with his background in managing operations as a Marine Corps officer as an information technology project manager.

“I think anything we do in our staff jobs as Marines is, in some way, shape, or form, associated with some type of project, it’s very project-oriented work and that was a natural progression for me and my career if I wasn’t going to fly,” says Watson, who earned his project management professional (PMP) certificate and became an Information Technology (IT) project manager after his military service.

Watson still works as a project manager in IT, but just like in his Marine Corps days, he’s focused on protecting people. Watson now works for the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, protecting consumers from predatory practices by banks, credit lenders and credit reporting companies alike. While not the same as flying attack helicopters and business jets, Watson says he leans on his military experience to find success in his current career.

“My military background definitely helps with the leadership and the prioritization of work. It helps in that it lets me maintain a level head in different situations and scenarios,” says Watson.

Living in Maryland, Watson now enjoys the opportunity to connect with other ���ϲ����� alumni in addition to his fraternity brothers and fellow veterans in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. Special events on campus bring him back from time to time, but technology helps him stay connected to his friends too.

“You lose contact with a few people over the years, but then there’s a mechanism to reach back out and get back in contact with things like Facebook and social media,” says Watson. “I had a blast while I was at ���ϲ�����, but it’s always been the people that I’ve had a blast with while I was there, and still have fun with today.”

The connection to campus has encouraged Watson to give back to the community that had a distinct impact on his life. To support the , which provides critical financial assistance, leadership training, and alumni mentors for underrepresented students at ���ϲ�����, Watson established the Our Time Has Come Eric R. Watson Family Scholarship. Watson’s scholarship will contribute to those efforts with a preference towards military-connected students.

For more information on supporting the Our Time Has Come Eric R. Watson Family Scholarship, or to learn more about programs to support underrepresented students at ���ϲ�����, please visit the .

U.S. Army veteran Benetta Dousuah G’25 (center) poses with two of her fellow service members.

In reflecting on her resettlement experience, Dousuah expresses deep gratitude for the social workers who played a pivotal role in providing stability for her family, especially considering Liberia’s dire circumstances during the 2014 West Africa Ebola Virus outbreak, the worst in recorded history. In the remote villages scattered throughout West Africa, young women are often an indicator of viral outbreaks since they often serve as caretakers in their rural communities.

The enduring memories of U.S. Army soldiers providing humanitarian aid in her homeland influenced Dousuah’s decision to enlist in the military. While she was initially drawn by the educational benefits like the post-9/11 GI Bill, her desire to give back and assist those in need also significantly influenced her choice.

“After we came here from Liberia, I remember seeing soldiers helping out on the news. At the time it spoke to me, and I wanted to reciprocate that same energy, so I chose to enlist in the Army,” says Dousuah.

Dousuah served as a unit supply specialist, a crucial role in the logistical backbone supporting the U.S. military’s global presence. The military’s logistical units often play a vital role in humanitarian operations, particularly in remote areas with limited infrastructure.

Benetta Dousuah and her daughter pose with a dolphin.

In 2014, the U.S. Army responded to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia by constructing specialty field hospitals and providing essential medical services throughout the region. By 2021, Dousuah, now a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and a mother to a young daughter, found herself offering the same kind of assistance to refugees that her family was shown when they fled Liberia

“We were deployed to Indiana to help with the Afghan refugee resettlement process,” says Dousuah, who identified parallels between her experiences coming to the U.S. and the Afghan families she assisted. In addition to her regular duties, she contributed to developing classes for children and volunteered as a teacher. This direct involvement inspired a long-term goal of establishing a school in Liberia.

“I plan on going back to Liberia after graduate school just to get the idea of what I need to do first, but ultimately I want to get the foundation going to try and build, and then open, a school there,” says Dousuah.

As an Army veteran, Dousuah is committed to supporting service members and veterans dealing with mental health challenges. Her motivation stems from personal experiences working with soldiers struggling to access adequate behavioral health services and recognizing the insufficient support for Black women in particular.

Benetta Dousuah G’25 (lower right) with other student veterans during a student veteran career emersion trip to Washington, D.C.

“Our mental health is not taken as seriously as it should be. If I’m experiencing social anxiety I may not be comfortable in the situation, but that’s not how people see it,” says Dousuah. “They just label us as angry, and it puts a lot of pressure on us when it comes to our mental health.”

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, women veterans aged 26 or older are among the most vulnerable members of the veteran population when it comes to suffering major depressive episodes. Dousuah sees her studies as a way to integrate both goals.

“While my concentration is on the clinical side of social work, I’ve also been able to take AIP (Advanced Integrated Practice) classes, which are more policy-related in a way,” says Dousuah. “My classes are helping me implement what I’m learning into the idea of building the school.”

Dousuah also seized an opportunity to assist her fellow veterans by interning with the .

“The work that I do in my internship is compelling because I get to help other veterans, particularly veterans like me or going through things I’ve been through. It’s helped me understand the whole holistic aspect of connecting veterans to resources, some of which I knew nothing about before,” says Dousuah.

To learn more about military-connected students at ���ϲ�����, or the programs and services available to them, please visit the website.

More than 20 people from the University’s military-connected community attended the 16th Annual SVA NATCON this year.

This year, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs sponsored 13 student veterans to attend NATCON in Nasveville to include conference admission, lodging, and travel, a gesture made possible by the generosity of Veteran Legacy Fund donors.

According to U.S. Navy veteran John Nipper ’22, G’23, who serves as the president of the Student Veterans Organization, the event proved to be an outstanding success.

“The conference provided a plethora of sensational job opportunities and unparalleled networking experiences with industry giants such as EY, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and more,” says Nipper, a graduate student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

As a chapter of the SVA, the Student Veterans Organization plays a crucial role in keeping its members informed about G.I. Bill benefits and the latest educational opportunities available to veterans nationwide.

In addition to the student veterans, ���ϲ����� is well-represented by faculty and staff at NATCON each year. The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families consistently sends staff to NATCON, contributing valuable research briefs on current issues impacting student veterans, military families and service members today.

Rosalinda Maury, the director of applied research at the IVMF, expressed the significance of presenting at the SVA National Conference. “It was a profound opportunity to highlight the critical research conducted here at ���ϲ�����. It’s a testament to our commitment to enhancing the lives of veterans through education and entrepreneurship,” Maury says.

Maury, alongside other research staff from the IVMF, engaged in several presentations in Nashville, covering topics from the basics of entrepreneurship for veterans to veteran employment trends. In some instances, they were joined by veterans from the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.

“Representing ���ϲ����� at the national conference each year is truly a rewarding experience. This university is well known for its historic commitment to veterans, and that shows in our presence at NATCON each year,” says Dwayne Murray, the OVMA’s deputy director and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel.

Murray also participated in presentations with the IVMF’s Linda Euto and Corrinne Zoli. The three spoke about navigating student veteran experiences in higher education and how to foster a community of belonging for military-connected students.

Moreover, attendees had the privilege of hearing from the conference’s keynote speaker, Merryl Tengesdal, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who holds the distinction of being the first black woman to break the sound barrier in the SR-71 Blackbird. Tengesdal, who also spoke at the IVMF’s Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship conference in Jacksonville, Florida, last year, often shares her experiences of overcoming diversity as a black woman in the Air Force prior to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Student veterans attending the 16th Annual SVA NATCON were able to enjoy an evening at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee

NATCON not only offers valuable professional insights but also serves as an opportunity to explore a new parts of the country. Participants from ���ϲ����� enjoyed an evening at the Grand Ole Opry house, where they were treated to performances by various musicians, including ���ϲ����� native Tony Trischka, a banjo player who began his music career in the early 60s and has since become an influential figure in the Bluegrass music scene.

Overall, the three-day 16th Annual SVA National Conference in Nashville was an enriching experience for ���ϲ�����’s military-connected community, providing a platform for professional growth, meaningful connections and a celebration of the spirit of entrepreneurship and resilience among our nation’s veterans.

As participants return to classes, the echoes of inspiration and camaraderie will undoubtedly resonate, fostering a supportive community of success at ���ϲ����� that will continue to make it “the best place for veterans.”

Joseph Ditre

The (A&S) is pleased to announce the opening of the Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation (CHBRI). The center will promote and support innovative health behavior research, training and community outreach endeavors across disciplines in A&S and will work with other University research centers that study behavioral health.

The center’s inaugural director is , professor of psychology. A faculty member at ���ϲ����� since 2012, Ditre’s program of translational clinical research involves basic and applied work in the areas of health psychology and behavioral medicine, with an emphasis on the intersection of substance use and chronic pain.

A Collaborative Approach

As director of CHBRI, Ditre will help promote connections among faculty that extend beyond departments and colleges. These partnerships will allow researchers to better understand and address the complex impact of individual and group actions, behaviors and decisions on physical and mental health, disease development and management, and overall well-being.

Signature areas of focus include behavioral determinants of health such as substance use, diet, exercise and sleep; the interplay of psychosocial factors like stress, resilience, trauma, cognition and affective processes; the application of emerging technologies such as biometric monitoring, mobile intervention delivery and virtual reality; and the adaptation and integration of personalized treatments.

Biopsychosocial and behavioral factors influence all states of health, disease and human thriving, and ���ϲ����� is well-positioned to make additional important contributions to the field by leveraging shared expertise.

—Joseph Ditre

According to Ditre, the center will support collaboration among faculty whose work spans the translational spectrum of health behavior research, from human laboratory studies to the development and subsequent implementation of innovative assessment and intervention approaches.

CHBRI has three areas of emphasis:

• Research and Collaboration
  CHBRI will cultivate cross-university interdisciplinary research collaborations among faculty, students and community partners from diverse fields including psychology, medicine, sociology, epidemiology, public health and policy. By working closely with local and national organizations and health care systems, CHBRI aims to increase opportunities for faculty and students to secure funding and conduct high impact health behavior research.
• Health Equity
  Through a commitment to health equity—where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health—CHBRI will unify and build upon the interests and expertise of faculty and students who investigate and address psychosocial determinants that underlie and contribute to health disparities.
• Education and Training
  CHBRI will help train the next generation of health behavior researchers and clinicians by providing integrated opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Experiential and inquiry-based learning, along with health behavior-oriented educational programs will help prepare future researchers and healthcare professionals.

A Commitment to Veterans

Building on the University’s existing strengths and resources related to the field of military and veteran studies, one of the center’s first major projects will be a collaboration between A&S, the  and the  (IVMF). This initiative will establish a health behavior research program with an emphasis on promoting mental and behavioral health, well-being and resilience among veteran and military populations. Through this partnership, the center will hire two postdoctoral scholars to help establish and grow the IVMF/CHBRI collaboration.

According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 5 million veterans experience a behavioral health condition each year. Furthermore, over half of veterans with a mental illness and more than 90% of those experiencing a substance use disorder did not receive treatment in the past year. With behavioral health being a key driver of overall health, the work at CHBRI will yield essential insights that iteratively inform the development and dissemination of innovative and scalable programs and services.

A&S Dean notes that Ditre’s extensive history of collaborative research and work with the veteran population make him the perfect person to lead this effort. “Thanks to the collaborations that will be fostered by Professor Ditre and the center, our faculty and students will be contributing to much needed improvements in health care and health equity,” says Mortazavi.

, vice president for research and Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics says, “The Office of Research is enthusiastic to support this new collaboration between Arts and Sciences and the D’Aniello Institute. The new center will open possibilities for new research collaborations not just between psychology and the IVMF’s research team, but across many different research areas at ���ϲ����� that impact behavioral health. The center’s research is closely aligned with our excellence in the area of human thriving and the University’s goal of being the best place for veterans.”

, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive director of IVMF says, “The vision for advancing ���ϲ�����’s commitment to veterans and military families has always been to engage partners across the University in the work of the IVMF. This new center is a high-potential example of that vision in practice and is well-positioned to positively impact the health and well-being of the nation’s veterans and military-connected populations.”

The Northrop family, from left to right: William, Gabby (William’s wife), Dana, John, Kristen and EJ with grandparents Janet and Ed Heinrich

Two of Kristen’s three sons, William Northrop ’19 and John Northrop ’22, contracted through the , a career path that Kristen says neither she nor her husband anticipated early on. It wasn’t until high school that it became apparent their middle son might follow in the footsteps of his grandfathers and enter military service.

“Both my father and my husband’s father served. My father was in the Air Force; my father-in-law was a Marine. Both were Cold War vets,” says Northrop, assistant director of the Office of Research and Creative Activity at the Newhouse School. “Both our families grew up with an admiration and respect for the military that was obviously passed down to our boys.”

The Northrop brothers came to ���ϲ����� after growing up in nearby Camillus. Kristen had taken a job at the University to take advantage of the dependent tuition benefits offered to employees. Kristen’s husband, Dana, had graduated from the University in 1986 and worked in the Central New York region.

Brothers William (left) and John Northrop participate in a field training exercise with the Stalwart Battalion.

All three of their sons attended the University, but each pursued widely different degrees. Kristen’s oldest son, E.J., graduated from in 2018 and now teaches at the nearby Public Service Leadership Academy at Fowler High School with the ���ϲ����� City School District.

William, her middle son, graduated from the College of Engineering and Computer Science with a degree in civil engineering. John, the youngest of the brothers, graduated with a degree in sociology from the College of Arts and Sciences. Both William and John also contracted with the Stalwart Battalion and are now serving in the U.S. Army as commissioned officers.

“Early in Will’s time in high school, he went to a lacrosse camp at West Point Military Academy. He’s always liked a very structured environment and has a ‘Type A’ personality,” Kristen says. “Later, he went to Boys State and really liked that regiment; the routine and detail of it all but not the politics.”

While the boys attended games and other events on campus while growing up, ���ϲ����� wasn’t an automatic choice for them. During his junior year of high school, William toured the campus and spoke with Eric Schaertl, the recruiting operations officer for Stalwart Battalion. After seeing the resources and opportunities available to students, he solidified his choice for which direction he would go in life.

John was not far behind, entering his freshman year at ���ϲ����� while William was entering his final year of college. The brothers had plenty of opportunity to spend time together on campus. Both competed on the same club lacrosse team, and both were cadets together in the same ROTC detachment.

John wasn’t interested in following in Will’s exact footsteps, though, and worked hard to make sure he wasn’t seen as just the youngest Northrop brother. Kristen recalls that John’s experience was a bit more challenging, as most of his college experience was spent amid hardships of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“At one point, John was looking at opportunities with other colleges and universities including Texas A&M; he was considering a transfer,” Kristen says. He quickly realized the benefits he was receiving at ���ϲ����� were pretty hard to compete with, referring to the free room and board benefit offered to ROTC cadets who receive the national scholarship.

Kristen says that the boys kept pretty busy throughout their time on campus, limiting how much time she did see them around, but bumping into them from time to time was unavoidable.

“It was, and still is, such a feeling of pride walking around campus, or up to the Quad, and you see the cadets in their uniforms,” Kristen says. “I would run into them on occasion, they took their role as a cadet very seriously. If they came into my office, it was, ‘Yes sir’ or ‘No sir’ to my colleagues and my boss. They were always very respectful.”

John (left) and William Northrop

The level of professionalism is something she says she continues to notice among ROTC cadets. The location of her office has given her opportunities to engage with underclassmen and ROTC cadets alike, both using spaces for group projects or leadership labs.

“It’s not that a bunch of Army cadets can’t ‘yuk it up’ or whatever, but that just wasn’t the case. I could hear their conversations amongst each other, they were very different, always very focused. The ROTC cadets are always respectful to their cadre and professors alike, and they dress appropriately even when not in uniform, always upholding their cadet image.”

Since graduating, both of the Northrop brothers have pursued their dreams of going into Army aviation. William is currently a captain and pilots the AH-64 Apache helicopter; John is currently a lieutenant and has just completed his CH-47 Chinook helicopter flight training. Both, Kristen says, recognize the importance of their background and experience here with ���ϲ�����.

“They understand the importance of the ROTC program to the school, the longevity of the program being here. They talk it up amongst their colleagues with great pride, and I think that both of them would say their training here with Stalwart Battalion prepared them well to launch their careers,” Kristen says.

For more information on the benefits available for aspiring military officers or to learn about the benefits of the Reserve Officer Training Corps at ���ϲ�����, please visit the .

USAF Lt. Col. Michael Skarda and his wife, Jess, in front of an RC-135 military aircraft

In 2002, Skarda joined the Air Force’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Maryland, a path he had already seen his older brother successfully navigate and wanted to pursue for himself.

Skarda says the time was memorable for him in many ways. His brother was able to come back to campus and take part in the commissioning ceremony, providing a brotherly welcome into the officer corps of the U.S. Air Force.

Additionally, Skarda recalls being an ROTC cadet prior to the U.S. entering combat operations in Iraq. When the invasion began in 2003, he says many of his fellow cadets stepped back from their decision to join the military. His familial bond and desire to serve guided Skarda forward into what would become a remarkable career.

Currently, Skarda serves as the ranking officer for ���ϲ�����’s Air Force ROTC detachment, where he and a small staff of cadre prepare the next generation of military officers for the challenges that await them in an uncertain world.

Michael Skarda in front of a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle in Niger.

“The challenge for the cadets, as I look forward in this global security environment that we operate in, is wondering where the next spot will be,” says Skarda. “We know the Pacific will certainly be active, but things are changing so rapidly that I hesitate to say any one location in the world is going to be the next hotspot.

Skarda’s first experience with real-world operations came early in his career. One of his first tours placed him in Germany where, as an intelligence officer for combat aviation units, he found himself amidst the struggles of a post-Cold War Europe and the demands of new, growing conflicts within the Global War on Terrorism.

Not long after Germany Skarda served aboard the RC-135, a signals intelligence reconnaissance aircraft that supports military and strategic leaders with real-time on-scene intelligence collection.

Skarda flew in the skies above Afghanistan supporting operations on the ground, and in his role was responsible for the acquisition and transmission of real-time intelligence information for decision-makers on the ground.

From the Heart of Africa to Central New York

The mission of U.S. Air Force ROTC is to, “develop air and space force leaders of character who are expected to fight and win the nation’s wars.” Skarda realizes that in today’s global environment, the cadets he is helping to train and mentor will soon be military officers, some of whom will be in positions to make critical decisions in ways he didn’t have to face.

Skarda in front of the U.S. Embassy in Niamey, Niger.

“Flexibility and adaptability are going to be absolutely key,” Skarda says. “As I look forward there’s just going to be things where the pace in which things happen is going to be incredible. Flexibility is key to air power to get it correct, and that’s only going to become more true in the future.”

In addition to flexibility, Skarda credits perseverance for his own success in life. Throughout most of his career, he has been fortunate to get his top choice of job assignment or duty posting. When he decided he wanted to get some experience outside of the intelligence field, however, it required a little more tenacity.

“I applied to become a foreign area officer and I actually did not get selected on my first two applications, it is a very selective program, especially amongst those in the intelligence field,” says Skarda. “A good piece of advice for anybody who’s ever wanted to do anything, persistence is typically the recipe for success. As boring as that sounds, that is often the truth that I’ve discovered.”

As a Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Skarda was at the forefront of the nation’s diplomatic efforts from within the Department of Defense. According to Skarda, being FAO is what a lot of people think they’re going to do when they go into military intelligence in the Air Force.

Foreign Area Officers help develop policy positions on regional affairs, helping to make recommendations on security assistance and international agreements. They receive, evaluate, and translate information from national and international agencies to better inform Air Force leadership.

Skarda was assigned to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), headquartered in Stuggart, Germany. The assignment required him to spend nine months learning French at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and then an additional six months traveling to U.S. embassies in Africa to gain regional experience.

“Folks often speak of Africa like it’s a country, but it is massive. China, the United States, most of Western Europe can all fit into the African continent and still have plenty of space,” Skarda says. After the completion of his time as an FAO, he set his sights on going back into instructing. The ROTC became an obvious choice based on his own experiences.

Time to Give Back

Skarda arrived on campus over the summer, and after the first few months in his new position says he’s excited to be in this environment, particularly around cadets.

Skarda teaching a group of cadets in the USAF ROTC classroom inside the National Veterans Resource Center.

“Any time we get to instruct cadets, whatever it is, there’s this new kind of energy that I feel. After a 17-year career, some of that energy and excitement can leach out over time,” Skarda says. “You start to remember it once you speak to cadets, you remember why you joined, and so it’s kind of energizing to mentor and raise up this next generation of Air Force officers.”

One challenge Skarda will face in the coming years is recruitment. Earlier this year, the U.S. Air Force missed its active-duty recruiting goal for the first time since 1999. Skarda realizes that it’s more than just a numbers game, the expectations for what officers can achieve have risen, but the population of eligible recruits has dropped over the years.

“Something like 23 percent of American youth are eligible for military service, only 23 percent,” says Skarda. “The cadets that make it into through this program are, in the truest sense of the word, elite; not everyone can do it,” Skarda says.

He does, however, want to make sure those eligible know the opportunities are there.

“Do they at least know about it? Do they know that we’re here? That we’re accessible, we have scholarships, and we offer a path toward an honorable line of work in service to our country? We have to continue beating that drum and getting that message out there,” says Skarda.

Those interested in finding out more about the opportunities available in the Reserve Officer Training Corps are encouraged to visit the .

This year’s celebrations commenced with the release of the Military Times Best for Vets College rankings on Nov. 6, where ���ϲ����� once again secured a spot in the top 10% of colleges and universities. Such an achievement is only possible due to the unwavering dedication of the University’s faculty and staff, along with a supportive campus community.

From left to right, student veterans Jack Pullano ’24, Benetta Dousuah G’25 and Raphael Grollmus ’24.

Throughout the week, three student veterans and one veteran alumni member of the OVMA advisory board shared their stories with the campus community. Benetta Dousuah G’25, Raphael Grollmus ’24 and Jack Pullano ’24 shared their reflections on their service and how ���ϲ����� is impacting their post-service lives.

Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Ginsburg ’72, a member of the OVMA advisory board and a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, spoke about a lifetime of service to those who have served and his selection for a leadership position within a national veterans’ service organization.

The Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center, in collaboration with the Department of Digital Stewardship, launched the digital exhibition, “.” Additionally, library staff created a table display to showcase the work of several student veterans and veteran alumni. A central focus of the display was a recently published book about , a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot during World War II who was a member of the historic Tuskegee Airmen.

On Nov. 10, things kicked off early as more than 230 registered participants arrived on campus in the chilly morning hours for the annual Veterans Day 5K Walk and Run, hosted by the OVMA. The event welcomed participants from the Central New York region onto campus for a run with military-connected students, faculty and staff to build camaraderie and esprit de corps.

The ���ϲ����� Veterans Day Ceremony official party. From left to right, Sheneé Bletson; John Nipper ’23, G’24; Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol; Chancellor Kent Syverud; and Retired Lt. Cmdr. Laurie Coffey L’25. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

After the run, the doors opened at the D’Aniello National Veterans Resource Center to welcome guests for the University’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony. The ceremony featured Sheneé Bletson, a U.S. Air Force veteran who works in the Office of Inclusive Excellence as an office coordinator; U.S. Navy Veteran John Nipper ’23, G’24, president of the University’s Student Veteran Organization; and , a student in the College of Law who served as the keynote speaker.

“It is crucial that young people of diverse backgrounds and circumstances are exposed to the inspiration and confidence that come from having someone believe in them. ���ϲ�����’s position of educating leaders is a conduit to a better future,” said Coffey, who served for more than 20 years as a combat aviator in the U.S. Navy. “It is through community that we may come together and empower young people to achieve and gain self confidence.”

U.S. Air Force Lt. Cmdr. Sean Stumpf ’07 in the pilot’s seat of a C-130. (Photo courtesy of Sean Stumpf)

On Nov. 11, the Orange men’s football team faced the Pittsburgh Panthers at Yankee Stadium in New York City, marking 100 years since the two teams came together in 1923 to establish the collegiate football tradition at the historic baseball field. Taking place on Veterans Day this year, the game featured members from the University’s ROTC Color Guard presenting the national colors and a flyover by Lt. Col. Sean Stumpf ’07, a C-130 pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

In a poignant moment during the game, twin brothers and U.S. Army veterans were proudly featured as the game’s Hometown Heroes. The Watts twins both competed on the University’s track and field team in the early 1990s before serving in the U.S. Army. William stood in for both of the brothers on Saturday, as Clarence passed away due to complications from cancer in 2015.

���ϲ�����’s Hometown Hero presentation to William Watts ’94. (Photo by Dwayne Murray)

Michael Greifenstein, ’27, a military-connected student and broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School, was among a handful of winners from the OVMA’s Orange in the City competition, which paid for transportation to and from the game, accommodations in the city, tickets to the game and other ���ϲ�����-related festivities over the weekend.

“Getting to experience the 100th anniversary game, especially from the venue my girlfriend and I were in, was an unforgettable experience,” says Greifenstein. “Growing up as a Yankee fan and studying now as a ���ϲ����� student, this a time I won’t soon forget.”

From ���ϲ����� to New York City, OVMA Deputy Director Dwayne Murray ’91 played a crucial role behind the scenes to ensure a smooth celebration of Veterans Day at ���ϲ�����. Murray, who grew up in the Bronx and also competed on the University’s track and field team with the Watts Twins, shared his reflections on the weekend’s events.

“Spending time in Bronx while representing ���ϲ����� and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs on Veterans Day was an enchanting experience,” says Murray, who grew up close enough to Yankee Stadium to hear the cheers after a home run. “From the color guard and the flyover by one of our very own alums to the hometown hero presentation, Veterans Day just meant a little bit more this year.”

For more information about OVMA, or how you can support the University’s goal of being the “Best Place for Veterans,” visit the OVMA website at veterans.syr.edu.

Robin Michel Caudell

���ϲ����� Press has announced that “Black Heel Strings: A Choptank Memoir” by Robin Michel Caudell is the 2023 Veterans Writing Award winner.

Caudell is an award-winning Press-Republican staff writer. Her work-in-progress is a speculative documentary, “Witness Tree at Union Road,” in collaboration with The John B. Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative at Skidmore College and the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association, of which she is a founding board trustee.

Her poetry has been anthologized in national and international publications. A native of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Caudell, mother to Nikki, is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park and Goddard College. She is an alumna of Cave Canem, Gotham Writers Workshop, Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She served in the U.S. Air Force and was a John L. Levitow Honor Graduate.

Veterans Writing Award judge praised Caudell’s work, noting “The author’s gifts recall Toni Morrison. Sentence after sentence reads like poetry. The earth and sea come alive through her words, as though the author’s language gave birth to the natural world itself. Simply stunning.”

���ϲ����� Press, in cooperation with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), established the Veterans Writing Award in 2019. The mission of the award is to recognize the contributions of veterans to the literary arts, shine a light on the multivalent veteran experience and provide a platform for unrecognized military writers.

Leading up to Veterans Day, three current student veterans who are active leaders on campus—Jack Pullano ’24, Benetta Dousuah G’25 and Raphael Grollmus ’24—reflect on their military careers, discuss the valuable lessons they learned through enlisting and share how the University is helping them achieve their academic goals and providing a blueprint for giving back to their communities.

Student veterans (from left to right): Jack Pullano, Benetta Dousuah and Raphael Grollmus

Jack Pullano ’24

Jack Pullano (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

After earning his high school degree from Parishville-Hopkinton High School in Parishville, New York, Pullano couldn’t wait to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. He was so eager to serve his country that he took the first assignment he could: as a refueling journeyman for planes and helicopters.

“My dad told me I should wait it out and not do this contract because he didn’t think I would like the work, but I was a young, stubborn 18-year-old who didn’t want to listen to him,” says Pullano, a health and exercise science major in the who is involved in the ���ϲ����� Student Veteran Organization. “Things played out in my favor. I didn’t enjoy refueling, but I was lucky to be on an Air Force Special Operations Command Base where there was a special fuel duty called the Special Operations Forward Area Refueling Point Team [FARP] that supports special operations command in combat locations. The tryout I had to go through for FARP was intense, and that experience started me down the path that led to ���ϲ�����,”

Branch of the military: U.S. Air Force, serving on the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, helping fuel different kinds of aircraft. In his third year, Pullano was deployed to Afghanistan as part of a three-man FARP team. He served four years in the Air Force.

Pullano served four years in the U.S. Air Force, helping fuel different kinds of aircraft.

Why serve? “Because of my parents, Jim and Kelly. My dad joined the Air Force when he was young like me, doing one enlistment and then pursuing his education. My parents were always involved in my community growing up, especially with the sports I played. Seeing that community involvement probably instilled in me the service aspect that drives me today.”
Why ���ϲ�����? “It was my personal interest in the human body from the intense physical tryout to get on the FARP team. I became interested not only in working out, but in what was causing changes to my body. I was learning about the human body by watching YouTube videos on how different muscles work. When I was looking at colleges, I wanted to pursue something I was interested in, and exercise science stood out to me. ���ϲ����� has a strong program.”
How do you want to make a difference when you graduate? “Part of why I joined the military was the service aspect. Service was a goal of mine since I was young. When I got out of the Air Force, I wanted to continue to serve in ways that could be impactful to the community. Physical therapy drew my attention because of my past experiences and my drive to work one-on-one with patients trying to overcome an obstacle in their life. I’m currently interning at the VA [Veterans Affairs] Medical Center and that really opened my mind that I could not only continue with service that impacts people, but I could do it in the VA system, helping veterans with physical therapy.”

Benetta Dousuah G’25

Benetta Dousuah

When Dousuah was in the U.S. Army, she says soldiers dealing with mental health issues didn’t discuss their struggles openly, instead choosing to bottle up their emotions and their issues. Seeing the stigmas associated with mental health inspired Dousuah to pursue a master of social work degree from the Falk College.

“I want to be that person who lets you know that it’s okay to seek help if you’re struggling. I want to be that voice that says there shouldn’t be a stigma among military members who want to seek behavioral health and mental health help,” Dousuah says. “While I was in the service, a lot of people told me they were scared to seek help because they wouldn’t be promoted or they would be judged. I started going to behavioral health to let the soldiers know that it’s okay to admit you need help while bringing awareness to mental health,”

Branch of the military: Served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. Stationed at both Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos in Texas) and Fort Drum (Watertown, New York), Dousuah was involved in supply logistics, ensuring her company had everything they needed, from arranging broken equipment repairs to ordering supplies.

Dousuah was a sergeant in the U.S. Army involved in supply logistics.

Why serve? “When I was younger, my mother used to remind me that I wanted to be a police officer. I don’t know why; all I know is from an early age I wanted to serve. The military allows you to go to college for free after your service is over, and that really appealed to me. I’ve always known I wanted to earn a college degree and be part of something bigger than myself.”
Why ���ϲ�����? “I wanted to be somewhere where I could not only feel at home, but still feel like I’m connected to the military family. I chose ���ϲ����� because of its reputation as a military-friendly school, but also because of the pride people take in going to ���ϲ�����. It’s like being in the Army. When you meet someone who was in the Army, we’re proud of our service and will usually say, ‘Go Army.’ The same is true for someone who attended ���ϲ�����. They always say, ‘Go Orange,’ and I’m blessed to be part of that community. I’ve been introduced to so many resources available to veterans.”
How do you want to make a difference when you graduate? “Right now, I’m the first Wendy Goidel Scholar, and through my work at the , I connect our veterans to the available resources within the community. I have a passion for working with veterans, and this scholarship has been a great fit. When I graduate, I want to work at the VA Medical Center here in ���ϲ�����, but I also want to work with at-risk African American youths. I feel like my story could be every young Black girl’s dream—coming from nothing, serving my country in the military and then earning a master’s degree. I could be an inspiration to others who want to follow my path.”

Raphael Grollmus ’24

Raphael Grollmus (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Grollmus didn’t need to look far in his family tree to understand why military service was important. Grollmus became the sixth member of his family to enroll when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012. While he enjoyed his time, Grollmus always knew he wanted to utilize the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to earn a college degree. Today, Grollmus is working toward a bachelor’s degree with a double major in forensic science and psychology in the .

“The time I served better prepared me for not only going to ���ϲ�����, but life in general. I learned to think critically and to assess a situation before reacting,” Grollmus says. “For the student veterans at ���ϲ�����, there are so many tools and resources available to us. Many veterans I talk with didn’t know all of the resources they had when they went back to school, but that’s where ���ϲ����� has excelled. They take care of their veterans.”

Branch of the military: Served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years as a military policeman at the Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni, Japan, and at Camp Pendleton (Oceanside, California). Later, Grollmus assisted in combat operations as a forensic analyst stationed in the Middle East in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq. After reenlisting, Grollmus finished his Marine security guard training and was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali, and the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Grollmus served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years.

Why serve? “My mother, brother and sister were all in the Army. My grandfather on my mom’s side, Hank, fought in World War II, while my grandfather on my dad’s side, Paul, fought in the Korean War, so I grew up knowing the importance of service. After I graduated from high school, I enlisted in the Marines’ delayed entry program and ended up serving nine years. It goes back to my time as a military policeman. I want to protect people from the bad things that could happen to them. I also want to give back to people who have been wronged or been taken advantage of. I can’t go back in time and right the wrongs, but moving forward I can help give back to them.”
Why ���ϲ�����? “When we were in the Middle East, we did forensics work and I was lucky enough to go to a monthlong forensic bootcamp. When transitioning out of the Marines, I wanted to study something I actually enjoyed. What we did in the Middle East was probably the most influential work from my military career and I was proud of what I was able to contribute. I wanted to keep doing forensic science and ���ϲ����� has a great forensic science program. All the classes I’ve taken have been fantastic.”
How do you want to make a difference when you graduate? “My dream job would be working for one of those three-letter agencies [i.e., the Federal Bureau of Investigation]. That’s shooting for the stars, but I’d love to enter government service. But right now I’m taking a forensic pathology course that is fascinating and I genuinely love it. Crime scene investigation is a really interesting career path to consider.”

In the 2023 Military Times Best for Vets rankings, ���ϲ����� once again secured a position in the top 10% of private nonprofit colleges and universities, emphasizing its dedication to providing exceptional educational opportunities for those who have served. Additionally, ���ϲ����� clinched second place among colleges and universities in the Northeast.

���ϲ����� has once again received national recognition from The Military Times for how the University supports veterans and military families.

rankings, an editorially independent news project, meticulously evaluates various factors contributing to the post-service lives of service members, veterans and their families. Following extensive surveys of over 325 colleges and universities across the nation, the results were unveiled by the Military Times on Monday.

“���ϲ�����’s place in the 2023 Best for Vets results from the dedication of our faculty, staff, students and alumni to the success of our nation’s veterans,” says , vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “Veteran and military-connected initiatives across the university have helped grow and enrich our community through multi-disciplinary research, more diverse classrooms, and national convenings to explore the future of our commitment to serving those who have served. Making ���ϲ����� the nation’s ‘best place’ for military-connected students, veterans and their families stems from our unique and historic connection to that community and remains a top priority going forward.”

���ϲ����� claimed the twenty-third position overall in the Military Times rankings, which used a comprehensive list of categories to formulate their analysis, most of which ���ϲ����� excels in, including:

• career support;
• VA work-study availability;
• Yellow Ribbon program;
• admissions preference;
• academic support for military-connected students;
• priority registration;
• financial assistance;
• veteran’s services;
• mental health services; and
• accreditations

���ϲ����� ranks among the top 10% of colleges and universities across the country for veterans.

A driving force behind ���ϲ�����’s success is the , a one-stop shop for all things military and veteran-related on campus. The OVMA provides military-connected students with a wide array of essential programs and services, whether they are learning remotely or in person.

“This ranking is an important benchmark for us as it’s a primary source of information for the approximately 200,000 service members who leave military service each year. ���ϲ����� may be known as the ‘Best Place for Veterans,’ but for those who are less familiar with us, this list may be their first introduction to what opportunities we provide,” says , OVMA’s executive director and a retired U.S. Army Colonel. “Our growing team of dedicated staff, many of them veterans themselves, can look proudly on these results and know they have made a difference in the lives of our veteran alumni.”

The University has yet again placed support for veterans and military-connected students among its top priorities within the new . In previous years, the University has overhauled admissions processes, registration procedures, credit transfer policies, new student orientation and housing policies to align with the unique needs of potential military-connected students.

���ϲ����� is already moving forward to secure better placement on the list in the coming years. Through the growth of its programs and services—including those offered through the —the University continues to be an innovative and supportive home for those who have served our country.

For more information on ���ϲ�����’s innovative measures to be the Best Place for Veterans, please visit the .

A previous year’s Veterans Day writing station in Bird Library.

���ϲ����� Libraries is celebrating Veterans Day and honoring student veterans from Nov. 8-14 with the following events in the Miron Learning Commons, located on the first floor of Bird Library:

• A book display highlighting several books by or about ���ϲ����� alumni veterans, including: “,” a new novel about student athlete and veteran Wilmeth Sidat-Singh ’39 written by Scott Pitoniak ’77 and Rick Burton ’80; “Shooter: Combat from Behind the Camera” and “A Photojournalist’s Field Guide,” two books by ’80; and ‘Through The Glass Ceiling to the Stars’ by U.S. Air Force Col. (Ret.) and retired NASA astronaut with Jonathan H. Ward.
• In collaboration with members of the a display of several posters that student veterans created in which they share photos and reflections about their lived experiences and identities as veterans, students and members of the ���ϲ����� community.
• As in years’ past, there will be a letter writing station where Libraries’ users are encouraged to send a letter, card or drawing to veterans and active-duty military service members. The Libraries will coordinate distribution of the letters with .

In addition to the aforementioned activities on the first floor, ���ϲ����� Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center in collaboration with the Department of Digital Stewardship launched a digital exhibition this month titled “,” which details the history of ���ϲ�����’s commitment to serving veterans, dating back to the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944.

On Friday, Nov. 10, the campus community is invited to the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building for the observance of the ���ϲ����� Veterans Day ceremony 2023.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 10, and last for approximately one hour. The ceremony will be held in the K.G. Tan Auditorium, followed by a reception in the Bisignano Grand Hall inside the NVRC.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kari Mickinkle ’11, G’22 will open the ceremony and serve as the emcee. Mickinkle is a school-certifying official with the Office of Veteran Success.

Student-veteran John Nipper ’23, G’24, a U.S. Navy veteran and the president of ���ϲ�����’s Student Veterans Organization, will speak about his personal experience as a military-connected student on campus as well as the history of ���ϲ�����’s commitment to veterans and military-connected students. Nipper is currently a graduate student in the pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.

Sheneé Bletson, who served in the U.S. Air Force, currently works as the office coordinator in the Office of Inclusive Excellence. Bletson will speak about the history of Veterans Day and the national importance of honoring those who have served in defense of the nation.

���ϲ�����  will deliver remarks as well as introduce the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Laurie Coffey, L’24 will serve as the guest speaker.

Coffey, a Corning, New York native, served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Coffey accrued over 25 combat missions, 100 combat hours, 2,400 flight hours and 300 carrier landings, part of which was featured on a PBS 10-part Emmy-award-winning documentary, “Carrier.”

“When I started to look to law schools, ���ϲ����� stood out for its recognition and acknowledgment of the contributions of Veterans,” says Coffey, who was celebrated as ���ϲ�����’s Hometown Hero during a recent football game. “This has been my first foray into a ‘civilian’ university, and  I wasn’t sure what to expect but I immediately found the environment welcoming. Having the connection with other Veterans on campus is really important to me, the camaraderie of a common experience and background is vital to the transition out of service.”

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP through the university’s . The NVRC has limited accessible parking spaces available for those who require parking accommodations; those who plan on attending are asked to email kslantry@syr.edu if they require access to one of the available parking spaces. All others are requested to find parking available around campus.

Temporary classrooms behind Crouse College, circa late 1940s. University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, ���ϲ����� Libraries

’ new digital exhibition, “,” is available beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1. Curated by University Archivist Meg Mason, the original physical exhibition was on view at the Special Collections Research Center galleries in 2016. The exhibition explores the dramatic impact of the GI Bill and the subsequent influx of veterans on the University campus following World War II. This online exhibition was a collaborative effort between the Libraries’ Department of Digital Stewardship and the Special Collections Research Center.

Between 1945 and 1950, the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill, supported some 2.3 million students nationwide. Few universities in the country were more closely identified with the GI Bill than ���ϲ�����. Chancellor William Tolley promised servicemen and women that there would be places waiting for them at the University when they returned, and enrollment more than tripled in the years immediately after the war. Although still a small university by national standards, ���ϲ����� ranked first in New York State and 17th in the country in veteran enrollment.

Photograph of Red Cross staff serving meals at the Army Air Base in Mattydale on the first night of veteran students’ arrival, 1946. University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, ���ϲ����� Libraries

The exhibition features an array of materials from University Archives that document this critical period in the University’s history and the associated changes to the campus landscape, social and cultural life, and academic programs. There are photographs of temporary classrooms and housing for veterans, including old barracks and trailers, which filled the campus and surrounding areas; cartoons of veteran student life on campus; aerial shots of the Main and South campuses showing changes in the landscape; personal items from veterans who attended ���ϲ�����; and Daily Orange articles about the impact of veterans on campus.

Photos by Charlie Poag

When the Army football team from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point arrived on campus to take on the ���ϲ����� football team, they were met by a campus community celebrating ���ϲ�����’s rich military-connected history. The day started with the 9th Annual Stars & Stripes Tailgate, a free event hosted by the for veterans and military families in the local community.

With construction ongoing at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, this year, the tailgate was held outdoors next to the Women’s Building at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Comstock Avenue. Those who attended were able to participate in raffle drawings, food and a variety of traditional tailgating activities.

The following is a collection of images highlighting the events that marked the esteemed heritage the university shares with the military-connected community.

U.S. Army Veteran Eric Kessler ’20, G’22 (left), and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Anthony Ruscitto ’22, G’23, pose for a photo at the 9th Annual Stars & Stripes Tailgate. Both Kessler and Ruscitto were active members of ���ϲ�����’s Student Veteran Organization and served on the organization’s executive board while enrolled as student veterans at the University.

The University’s Office of Admissions hosts multi-day introductory tours throughout the year for future transfer students from the nation’s four Military junior colleges. The students are part of the U.S. Army’s two-year early commissioning program, and some will select ���ϲ����� to complete their undergraduate degree requirements before serving as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army. Students from the Georgia Military College and New Mexico Military Institute were able to attend the tailgate and military appreciation game during their visit, showing them an unrivaled experience with a campus that goes the extra mile to support its military-connected community.

���ϲ�����’s rich military history stretches as far back as World War I when the Student Army Training Corps (SATC) was established. The SATC was the precursor to today’s U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). More than 20 Army ROTC cadets took the field to take the Oath of Office, including two from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

���ϲ�����’s military-connected community consists of many West Point alumni, including College of Law 2L candidate Lu Weierbach, a Captain in the U.S. Army and a 2023 Tillman Scholar. ���ϲ����� and West Point haven’t met each other on the football field since 1996, making this game particularly special for many in the local military and veteran communities who have a connection to both universities.

Among those West Point alumni was the game’s Hometown Hero, Dr. Nicholas Armstrong G’08, Ph.D. ’14. Armstrong graduated from the prestigious military academy in 2000 and was able to attend the last matchup against ���ϲ����� in 1996. Armstrong went on to serve in the U.S. Army prior to becoming ���ϲ�����’s first Post-9/11 student veteran. He earned a master’s degree in public administration and his doctoral degree in public management from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Before the opening kickoff of the game, Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, was welcomed onto the field during the coin toss to be recognized as the honorary game captain. The day before the game, Bellavia delivered a speech on the lessons of leadership during an afternoon session for the D’Aniello Speaker Series at the National Veterans Resource Center in the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building.

Other on-field celebrations acknowledging those who have served the nation and the campus community included the addition of Ben Schwartzwalder’s name to the Ring of Honor. Schwartzwalder served as a Captain in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during the historic D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Schwartzwalder famously coached the ���ϲ����� men’s football team through some of the school’s most iconic years in football, including the school’s 1959 National Championship season. During that time he coached iconic University football greats like Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis.

In honor of Schwartzwalder’s service, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs launched a new scholarship for student veterans and announced the first student veteran to receive the scholarship, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Brian McDonald, ’25, a student veteran at Falk College of Sport & Human Dynamics.

The game concluded with an impressive 29-16 win for ���ϲ�����, but the military-appreciation festivities would continue through the next day when West Point’s band performed during a joint concert with ���ϲ�����’s Wind Ensemble at Crouse College’s Setnor Auditorium. Next year, ���ϲ����� will travel to Michie Stadium on West Point’s campus to take on Army in the second game of a four-game slate.

For more information on the university’s celebration of its military-connected heritage, please visit the .

, of Enterprise, Mississippi, celebrates the grand opening of her business, L’Academie de Cuisine, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Roth, a U.S. Army veteran, found support in her entrepreneurial journey through the U.S. Small Business Administration and entrepreneurial training services offered by the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

In a recent announcement at the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated the University’s as one of 43 grantees of the MBDA Capital Readiness Program (CRP). This groundbreaking initiative, backed by a $3-million grant, aims to provide invaluable support to veteran-owned businesses across the United States.

“The IVMF has been educating, connecting and supporting veteran and military-affiliated entrepreneurs for more than a decade. This new award will enhance pathways to capital for veteran entrepreneurs, support the development of curriculum to educate future business owners about capital access, and facilitate research and analysis that will inform policymakers and practitioners as to the opportunities and challenges associated with military-connected business ownership in the U.S,” says J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor of strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive director of the IVMF.

A significant aspect of the program is its commitment to building pathways to success for minority and underrepresented veteran-owned small businesses. The services offered will combine both virtual and in-person opportunities to reach a broad and diverse audience. To extend their reach to businesses located in rural communities, the IVMF has formed a strategic partnership with the . NACCE is renowned as the nation’s leading advocate for transforming underserved communities through community college engagement.

Rebecca Corbin, president and CEO of NACCE, expressed enthusiasm in looking ahead at the opportunities this grant will provide. “NACCE is delighted to partner with ���ϲ�����’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Affairs to execute the MBDA Capital Readiness Program. This transformative initiative will reach thousands of underserved and would-be entrepreneurs and advance NACCE’s vision to create equity and prosperity for all, through our network of over 360 community colleges, universities, and HBCUs.”

Launching and expanding a business can be a daunting challenge for anyone, but for veteran-owned businesses, unique obstacles often stand in the way. This program will focus on veteran-owned businesses in their first ten years of operation and with revenue under $10 million. According to , these young and new ventures are most impacted by the barriers associated with accessing the capital required to launch and grow a business.

Over the next four years, the CRP is expected to provide support to more than 2,500 eligible business owners. This extensive program will include up to six networking events annually, with the goal of generating over $8.5 million in raised capital for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

The IVMF’s innovative approach is designed to address the challenges faced by veteran entrepreneurs comprehensively. Their program will offer education, technical assistance, access to capital and vital networking opportunities. These elements are crucial for veteran-owned businesses to harness corporate and federal contracts, which can significantly boost their growth and success.

For more information on how the IVMF supports veteran and military-affiliated entrepreneurs, please visit the .

Nataliia Kalmykova, a Fulbright scholar who became executive director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation weeks before the Russian invasion, is shown (center) with ���ϲ����� faculty during a recent visit. From left are, Richard Naperkowski, researcher with the Institute for Security Policy and Law; Elizabeth Kubala, teaching professor at the College of Law and executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic; Laurie Hobart, associate teaching professor at the College of Law; Kalmykova, the Hon. James Baker, professor of law in the College of Law and professor of public administration and international affairs by courtesy appointment at the Maxwell School; Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs at Maxwell and principal investigator of the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence; and Maria Cudowska, Faculty Fellow at the College of Law.

Since the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukraine’s veteran population has increased from roughly 500,000 to over 1.2 million and counting, yet the country’s ability to support its servicemembers has declined due to the war’s impact on the economy and infrastructure.

Two Maxwell School scholars say this dichotomy threatens the national security of Ukraine and other states on the frontlines of Russia.

The Hon. James E. Baker and Vice Admiral Robert Murrett (U.S. Navy, retired), the director and deputy director of the ���ϲ����� Institute for Security Policy and Law, respectively, are leading academic partners representing the University in a coalition that seeks to address the crisis by forging connections between U.S. and Ukraine veterans’ organizations.

Called the US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge, the coalition is comprised of U.S. veterans’ organizations and human rights advocates united in supporting Ukraine’s emerging veteran community. In partnership with the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation (UVF), the Bridge connects American and Ukrainian veterans, leaders and experts in areas such as health care, benefits administration, education, employment, reintegration and family. “In Ukraine, the treatment of veterans is an immediate national security concern as well as a humanitarian one,” says Baker, who additionally leads an interdisciplinary network of scholars from the U.S., Ukraine and Russia’s frontline states called “Ring Around Russia: Partnership for Law and Policy.”

Baker outlined the connection between the care of veterans and national security in a position paper he recently shared with the U.S. government and Ukraine’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs. He wrote, “A society of demobilized veterans can be a force for good, as the World War II G.I. Bill boom demonstrated in the United States. It can also result in instability if those veterans are alienated from society or government and subsequently mobilized as a political movement or military force.”

Baker and Murrett are connecting Bridge organizers with resources at ���ϲ����� and offering their expertise in the pipeline, sharing best practices and guidance gleaned from their own experiences. A highly regarded national security lawyer, policy advisor and former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, Baker is professor of law in the College of Law and professor of public administration and international affairs by courtesy appointment at Maxwell. Former director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Murrett is professor of practice of public administration and international affairs and is principal investigator of the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence.

In addition to the Institute for Security Policy and Law, Veterans’ Bridge is supported at ���ϲ����� by the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs at Maxwell and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). The University’s involvement with Veterans Bridge follows campus visits this past spring by Nataliia Kalmykova, a Ukrainian Fulbright scholar at the University of Buffalo who became executive director of the UVF weeks before Russia’s invasion.

Kalmykova met with Baker, Murrett, Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke and numerous other University representatives and Ukrainian students. She has since convened weekly Zoom meetings to coordinate resources from the University in support of Ukrainian veterans. “Our involvement is important because the Ukrainians deserve whatever support they can have from us at ���ϲ����� to ensure a better future and to restore the territorial integrity of their country,” says Murrett. The connections are mutually beneficial to students. Murrett points out that a group he teaches in Maxwell’s master of public administration program, for instance, is exploring Ukraine’s challenges related to security and governance in a fall semester workshop inspired by Veterans Bridge.

The Hon. James Baker is shown during an appearance on a Ukrainian news station during a recent visit to the embattled country. During the interview, he advocated for the care of the growing population of Ukrainian veterans to bolster national security. Seated on the right is Nataliia Kalmykova, a Fulbright scholar who became executive director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation weeks before the Russian invasion.

Similarly, Baker says the related Ring Around Russia initiative he leads provides faculty and students with opportunities to collaborate with scholars and students in the frontline states on pressing global issues. For Ring Around Russia, he has coordinated scholars from 11 universities in the U.S., Ukraine, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania and Slovakia who are committed to using national security law and values to enhance European security. The goal is to develop national competencies and capacities in intelligence oversight, national security decision-making, the regulation and use of emerging technologies, and responding to Russian disinformation.

Baker was inspired to develop Ring Around Russia following a series of remote lectures he provided in February 2022, two weeks before the full-scale Russian invasion. His audience included academics, lawyers and government officials in Ukraine. “During each question-and-answer period, the question participants returned to was: ‘Does law matter when a nation faces an existential threat?’” says Baker. “I had heard the question before, in the U.S. government. When I left the sessions, it occurred to me that these were messages that warranted emphasis throughout the frontline states.”

He has since traveled throughout frontline states to meet with university scholars, government officials and civil society groups. “Many of these countries are evolving from post-Soviet systems,” says Baker. “Our network of scholars is trying to spread the word. Good process leads to better results and the good faith application of law protects democracy and enhances our physical security by making our security services more professional and effective. My vision is to have this network of professionals to offer best practice guidance on how to build a national security architecture committed to democracy and law as well as security.”

Baker’s travels this past year have included two trips to Ukraine, the most recent of which was in June and included 16 meetings and a television appearance during which he advocated for the care of Ukrainian veterans.

In the crisis, he sees hope. “The scope of the destruction Russia has wrought is criminal and tragic,” he says, “but I feel hope and optimism observing this generation of civil society leaders in Ukraine, as well as the resolve of Ukraine’s leaders. The people of Ukraine are resilient. It is hard to describe how resilient until you hear person after person declare ‘We are Ukraine’ and ‘We will win this war.’”

The College of Law’s Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic provides representation to veterans and their families who are seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a to the College of Law’s (VLC). The program is a first-of-its-kind grant opportunity from the VA to fund legal services providers.

To effectively deliver legal services to homeless and at-risk veterans throughout upstate New York, the VLC is partnering with:

• the ���ϲ����� VA Medical Center’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans program;
• the program with the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, which supports social work graduate students interested in working at the intersection of law and social work and promotes a stronger legal system that can address the holistic needs of clients; and
• ���ϲ�����Serves, a program of ���ϲ�����’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) located in the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC), which supports a coordinated care network of local and national providers dedicated to serving the military community by collaborating to efficiently connect families to available services.

The grant program partners will identify, coordinate and deliver legal services that include discharge upgrades and complex disability claims assistance to this population.

“The VLC is honored to be part of this first-of-its-kind VA grant opportunity to fund legal service providers to better reach this vulnerable group of veterans. This is an excellent opportunity to deepen our relationship with the VA regarding the breadth of legal services the College of Law’s clinics can provide and to help shape further funding for legal services,” says Professor , executive director of the VLC.

The VLC provides representation to veterans and their families who are seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or upgrading an unfavorable discharge through the various military services. While representing real clients, College of Law student attorneys gain an understanding of military culture, interact with government agencies, develop case management skills, improve advocacy skills and instill the value of pro bono service.

“Our student attorneys benefit from gaining hands-on legal experience with real clients and our community benefits from veterans receiving the much-needed legal services they otherwise could not afford,” says Kubala.

Entrepreneurship is one of the three major pathways that servicemembers pursue during the transition to their post-service lives. According to the , veterans are not only more likely than their civilian peers to start and run their own businesses but on average, they also out-earn their non-veteran counterparts.

The ���ϲ����� 2023 cohort for Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (photo courtesy of Angela Ryan).

During the Saturday evening graduation ceremony at the National Veterans Resource Center, J. Michael Haynie, IVMF’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, shared his personal opinion on what makes the program a success in preparing veterans for the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Mike Haynie, vice chancellor of strategic initiatives and innovation at ���ϲ�����, welcomes the 2023 EBV ���ϲ����� cohort.

“The EBV program really embodies the convergence of two truths that I hold very closely. The first of those is the power of business ownership to change the trajectory of lives and families,” says Haynie, a U.S. Air Force veteran and the University’s vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “The second truth is the resiliency, the grit, and the selflessness of those who have served, and how those attributes translate to the relentless pursuit of the next big challenge, however daunting that challenge may be.”

With more than 2,400 EBV graduates to date, the program also calls upon previous graduates who have seen significant success after attending one of the IVMF’s entrepreneurial training programs. One such graduate is U.S. Marine Corps veteran Chris Dambach, owner of Industry Standard USA. Dambach’s business provides construction and facility support services for government projects and has been featured on the Inc. 5,000 list celebrating the fastest-growing businesses in the United States.

Dambach also had a hand in recruiting one of this year’s graduates, local ���ϲ����� business owner and U.S. Air Force veteran, Brandon Johnson. Johnson is the owner of Crossett Property Management, which manages several properties located primarily in the Strathmore area of the city.

“I met Chris at a veteran-focused conference a few years ago, and we were talking about getting into the government contracting space eventually, and he told me I had to do the EBV program,” Johnson says. “Just feeling the energy in the room and being exposed to the faculty that’s here, it’s just a great refresher to keep our tools sharpened to go out there and be successful in business.”

Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School, teaches a class for the 2023 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans at ���ϲ����� cohort.

The program does more than teach about small business management, however, it also gets the participants out into the local community to speak with local business owners. This year’s cohort visited Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Talking Cursive to learn firsthand what struggles local owners go through as they grow their businesses.

In addition to the EBV program, the at ���ϲ����� leverages access to world-class faculty for introductory lessons in entrepreneurship for a small group of participants with the Warrior Scholar Project (WSP).

The WSP program is designed to prepare transitioning service members for higher education. Understanding that most of the program participants haven’t been in an academic classroom for several years, WSP prepares participants for the rigors of higher education, equipping them with the tools necessary to be successful in the pursuit of their academic goals.

The WSP program spanned the course of two weeks; the first week focused on humanities and the second week focused on entrepreneurship. Tristan Whipps, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran studying information management technology and professional technical writing at the School of Information Studies, served as a business fellow over the summer to help guide and mentor this year’s participants after being a program graduate with last year’s cohort.

“The business week is designed to demystify business as an undergraduate degree. They’re getting a crash course on topics related to entrepreneurship like some legal considerations for entrepreneurship, branding and marketing, as well as small business finance,” Whipps says.

Crystal Houston, an adjunct professor in the Newhouse School, teaches a class on how to leverage social media to help grow a small business.

Both cohorts would not be nearly as successful without the dedication and support from professors and faculty members of ���ϲ�����. This year, 11 professors and faculty members from outside the IVMF taught crucial lessons in a range of disciplines between the two programs. Those faculty members are:

• Sean Branagan, director of the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Craig Champion, professor of history, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Carol Faulkner, professor and associate dean for academic affairs, the Maxwell School
• Tim Gerkin, professor of writing and rhetoric in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Crystal Houston, adjunct professor, the Newhouse School
• Thomas Keck, professor of political science, the Maxwell School
• Eileen Schell, professor of writing and rhetoric, the College of Arts and Sciences
• Alex McKelvie, interim dean, the Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• John Torrens, professor of entrepreneurial practice, the Whitman School
• Kenneth Walsleben, professor of practice, the Whitman School
• Elizabeth Wimer, assistant teaching professor, the Whitman School

John Wildhack, the University’s director of athletics, served as the guest speaker during the graduation ceremony. Wildhack shared some of his personal insight from his time during the startup of ESPN and provided some of his own advice to guide them on their path upon leaving campus and returning to their entrepreneurial journey.

“As you embark on your next chapter or continue to grow the business you’ve already established, identify what motivates you, what drives you, and what’s most important to you both in your work and as an individual,” Wildhack says. “For me, it’s the three F’s: Family, Faith and Friends.”

For more information on the programs and services offered to service members, veterans, and military-connected spouses, please visit the.

Under the first-of-its-kind agreement, ���ϲ����� will award 51 course credits to warrant officer candidates and senior warrant officers completing programs of instruction at the USAWOCC. The agreement is designed to assist participating soldiers in obtaining one or more of the following undergraduate degrees through the including business management, creative leadership, knowledge management and policy studies.

“This partnership agreement dramatically expands access to ���ϲ����� for active duty, guard and reserve warrant officers who have or will complete Warrant Officer Career College,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “Our commitment to providing flexible and progressive pathways for military-connected students immediately extends to the approximately 28,000 Warrant Officers serving in the United States Army.”

���ϲ�����’s enduring commitment to veteran and military-connected students dates back more than 100 years. As one of the best private schools in the country for military-connected students, the University offers online and residential part-time undergraduate study to active-duty military, guard and reservists earning the distinction of being the Best Place for Veterans.

Army warrant officers, who are admitted to one of the transfer-eligible online bachelor’s programs, can use their tuition assistance (TA) benefits to cover 100% of their tuition. Consistent with its commitment to enhancing affordability, ���ϲ����� honors the Department of Defense TA rate of $250 per credit hour for US military members who aspire to earn an undergraduate degree.

“Active duty military, guard and reservists are life-long learners—members of the largest population of students enrolled in higher education today. Making ���ϲ����� more affordable and accessible is both a natural continuation of the University’s history of supporting non-traditional students and an appropriate response to the changing needs and expectations of those who could most benefit from a ���ϲ����� education,” says Frasciello.

Active military, guard and reserve members interested in more information about enrollment opportunities at ���ϲ����� may contact the College of Professional Studies admissions team at 315.443.9378 or parttime@syr.edu. Veterans and military-connected students can learn more about .

From left, Bill Rielly L’23, Amanda Higginson L’24, Natasha DeLeon L’25 and Katherine Quartaro 18, G’20, attended 2023 Pat’s Run as ���ϲ�����’s Tillman Scholars.

Amanda Higginson L’24, Natasha DeLeon L’25, Katherine Quartaro 18, G’20, and Bill Rielly L’23 joined 24 other Tillman Scholars from across the country to assist in leading approximately 1,000 participants each through the corral and through the 4.2-mile course of the event.

Tillman was a professional football player with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals who, shortly after the events on Sept. 11, 2001, famously turned down a multimillion-dollar contract to serve in the military. After becoming a U.S. Army Ranger, Tillman deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2004, Tillman was killed in action while supporting combat operations near the city of Khost. Several months after the world learned of Tillman’s death it was discovered the incident was due to a tragic friendly fire incident, instead of being due to enemy action as had been previously reported.

Tillman’s family and friends came together soon after his death to figure out a way to honor his legacy and started the first Pat’s Run in 2005. The first event brought approximately 5,000 runners together outside of Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium.

Over the years since the event has seen an increasing number of participants each year, and its current attendance rate places it on par with larger runs like the Marine Corps Marathon, which brings in roughly 25,000 runners on average, and Chicago’s Hot Chocolate 5k, which sees more than 23,000 cross the finish line on average each year.

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Ron Novack, the executive director for ���ϲ�����’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, also participated in the run this year, along with Jolynn Parker, the director of the Center of Fellowship and Scholarship Advising. Both are regularly involved with the Tillman Scholarship selection process each year, Parker is regarded as a “must-see resource” for those interested in applying for the Tillman scholarship at ���ϲ�����, and Novack serves one of the national quarterfinal selection committees that review and selects the Tillman Scholars annually.

Jolynn Parker, director of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (left), and Ron Novack, executive director for the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs at the 2023 Pat’s Run

“It was an honor to attend the Pat Tillman Foundation’s kickoff reception and participate in Pat’s Run in Tempe this year.  It was particularly inspiring to meet so many Tillman Scholars and to hear from representatives of the foundation. They really are building the next generation of innovators and leaders,” says Parker, who also assists military-connected students interested in applying for a wide variety of scholarships and academic opportunities.

���ϲ����� is one of 18 University Partners with the Tillman Foundation and typically has at least one military-connected student selected as a Tillman Scholar each year. In 2022, four students from ���ϲ����� were selected as Tillman Scholars: Bill Rielly, Natasha DeLeon, Amanda Higginson and Anthony Ornelaz G’23, the largest cohort from ���ϲ����� selected for the scholarship in a single year.

The 2023 Tillman Scholars will be announced in June. Those scholars will later attend the Tillman Foundation’s leadership institute in Chicago where they will meet with previous Tillman Scholars and participate in Pat’s Run the following year.

Those military-connected students interested in applying for the Tillman Scholarship are encouraged to reach out to the , and check for updates from the on upcoming application windows and criteria for submitting.

As far back as the Revolutionary War, women had fought for liberty and freedoms they themselves, as women, could not benefit from. Passing the integration act officially recognized women as a part of the military, but there were still heavy restrictions that limited their career opportunities.

In 2013, 65 years after integration, women were authorized to enter jobs placing them on the front lines—a place they were already serving in the decade prior of conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In honor of the 75^th Anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, we proudly acknowledge and celebrate the contributions women from ���ϲ�����’s military-connected community have made through service. Several of them share their thoughts on the significance of, and their contributions to, the legacy of women in the military below.

Colleen Drum – U.S. Marine Corps Veteran

Drum served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a field radio operator from 2003-07. She says she joined for the adventure of seeing the world and to gain a sense of greater purpose. She now works as a program manager for the ’ (IVMF) Onward to Opportunity career training program.

Drum says that her military service taught her to be reliable, consistent and meticulous about planning. “I gained confidence in myself to know I can adapt and tackle anything that comes my way,” Drum says.

She says she’s proud to see the advancements women have made in the military, but also looks forward to seeing the positive accomplishments that will be made in the future.

“Women are powerful and by encouraging and empowering our strengths I believe the U.S. will continue to be the strongest military force in the world,” she says.

2^nd Lieutenant Liz Green – U.S. Air National Guard

Green is the executive director for with the College of Professional Studies. She recently completed the U.S. Air Force’s Officer Training School, having earlier in the year.

Her decision to join was influenced by her experiences with speaking about the University’s online programs for Air Force personnel at nearby Hancock Field.

“I spent a lot of time on the base, meeting with people like prospective students at least once a week. I had a connection with some of the wing leadership, so I was fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to them about the work I was doing,” says Green. “As that conversation meandered, they had an opportunity in public affairs they said would be a good fit, and the rest is history.”

Working in public affairs makes her aware of the issues facing the military today, including the ongoing effort for the inclusion of women within the military. Green says she’s already been exposed to some influential women, however.

“I am fortunate to have been inspired and supported by the women at my current unit, the 174^th Attack Wing, as well as the female trainees and instructors at Officer Training School. I hope to demonstrate even the tiniest bit of the leadership and resilience they have shown. It is through demonstrating such qualities that female service members can continue to empower positive change for the next generation,” says Green.

Kari Mickinkle ’11, G’20 – U.S. Marine Corps Veteran

Mickinkle is a school certifying official with the University’s . She supports military-connected students by handling the necessary administration between the University and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

From 2012-17, Mickinkle served in the U.S. Marine Corps, assigned to the military police. She says she joined looking for a sense of purpose she had not found in life, and thought doing something unexpected would help her find it.

Mickinkle says that while she has seen positive changes for women in the military, she wants to make sure that women are being given a seat at the table not just because of a “check-the-box” mentality, but because women have earned it.

Her time in the service was influenced by other women who went before her, and she recalls a particular mentor that taught her a lot about leadership.

“I had a female first sergeant who knew the appropriate times to educate versus going straight into chewing someone out,” says Mickinkle. She was impressed by the woman’s ability to make it clear she wasn’t someone to cross.

“To do that in an organization where you don’t see a lot of female leadership, especially on the enlisted side, was just awe-inspiring,” Mickinkle says.

Amanda Gritsavage LaLonde ’23 – U.S. Navy Veteran

LaLonde recently finished her undergraduate studies at ���ϲ����� and was selected as a in 2022. She graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a bachelor’s of science in psychology and forensic science and now works as a program coordinator for the IVMF’s Community Navigator Pilot Program.

LaLonde served in the U.S. Navy from 2005-14 as a Machinist Mate Second Class in the Navy, she says one of the first lessons she learned during her nuclear engineering training has stuck with her.

“It was the 6 Ps: Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance,” says LaLonde. She says it reminds her to plan ahead to keep disappointments at a minimum.

LaLonde’s great aunt, Alice Gritsavage, retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel and served as an inspiration for her decision to join the military.

“My great aunt served during World War II and the Korean War and was appointed by General Douglas MacArthur as Chief Nurse of the Far East Command,” says LaLonde. “She was able to obtain medical supplies and equipment when they were scarce during the war. She is also the first woman to have a VFW [Veterans of Foreign Wars] Korean War Veterans chapter named in her honor.”

During her time in the Navy, LaLonde says she experienced plenty of moments where being a woman resulted in her being passed up for advancement opportunities. Enlisted women were not able to serve on submarines until the year after she left the Navy.

“Women can now serve aboard submarines, In 2022 the first female executive officer of a submarine was appointed, as well as the first enlisted female chief of a submarine, serving as senior enlisted advisor to the commanding and executive officers,” says LaLonde. “These are huge milestones for women in the Navy, but there can certainly be more progress made.”

Patricia Piazza – U.S. Navy Veteran

Patricia Piazza served in the U.S. Navy from 1982-2002, retiring after 20 years of service as a Navy leadership facilitator. She is currently the Florida military community program manager for .

During her time in the Navy, Piazza found her passion for career development and training, something that continues to benefit her to this day as she helps service members navigate the complexities of transitioning out of military service.

Piazza served at a time when the military had placed a cap on how many women could serve, fearing substantial readiness issues if it allowed too many women into the ranks.

Known as the “Woman Pause” of the 1980s, the policy limited women’s representation in the military to 2% of the total armed forces, and each military branch was limited to a single commissioned officer at the 0-6 rate.

Piazza acknowledges that the military has advanced in opening doorways for women, but there is still work to be done.

“I think the military has made some progress since I was on active duty however, my daughter is now serving on active duty and she is still facing the same stereotypes and biases I did in equality and fairness on evaluations, billet options and career enhancement opportunities against her male counterparts within her command,” Piazza says.

Mast Sergeant Jennifer Renee Pluta G’15 – U.S. Army Reserve

Jennifer Pluta runs within the University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA). She has served with the U.S. Army Reserve since 1999 and continues to serve as an Army Reserve career counselor.

Her overlap in career counseling helps her develop and maintain crucial relationships with the University’s hiring partners and companies actively seeking veterans for their workforce.

“I am privileged to serve as an Army Reserve career counselor, which has impacted my career at ���ϲ�����. This role has uniquely positioned me to understand the skills and experiences of student veterans, specifically having the ability to see how their experiences transfers into their desired career paths,” says Pluta.

She has observed extensive changes in the military and how restrictions have been lifted on women over the course of her career. She recalls how women like Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniels, the command general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, navigated historically unforeseen challenges within today’s Army Reserve.

“Today’s Army is one that has opened up the doors of opportunity for female soldiers, opportunities that once were limited to male soldiers,” Pluta says.

As part of the initiative to make ���ϲ����� the best place for veterans, the University routinely observes and recognizes significant anniversaries in military history, and celebrates the accomplishments of its military-connected community. For more information, visit the .

Located in the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is a nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy and advancing free societies.

Abner

Abner and Pluta will both meet the rest of this year’s 34-person cohort on July 11 when they travel to Dallas, Texas, for their first in-person session. While some of the program is designed for remote learning, the scholars will meet in person in Dallas three times, and then a final time in Washington, D.C., for their last in-person session.

The institute developed the first-of-its kind Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program to support individuals serving our nation’s veterans and military families. Particularly, the institute seeks those who are motivated to broaden their skillsets, knowledge and influence across the country in their individual efforts to support the military-connected communities they serve.

Abner is the Texas region program manager for Onward to Opportunity and works remotely from the San Antonio area. As the daughter of a U.S. Army soldier, the wife of a U.S. Navy veteran and mother of a U.S. Navy veteran, she brings valuable insight into the issues and challenges facing military families around the world.

Abner says her experience as a military spouse was frustrating at times. The lack of professional connections, or even the ability to develop such connections, was challenging for her. Like many professional spouses throughout the military, Abner didn’t feel welcome in the spouse groups, and she often avoided the social events hosted by her husband’s command. According to her, the Bush Center has rolled out the red carpet in accepting her to the cohort and supportive in her mission.

“I want to develop and cultivate a socially robust career development program that assists military spouses with identifying a meaningful career direction after active military service in a fun and connective way,” says Abner.

“I thank the IVMF leadership for believing in my ability to participate in VLP while maintaining the highest level of service for the Onward to Opportunity program in Texas,” she says. “I cannot wait to get started and I appreciate this opportunity to potentially build something that will bring value to our organization and for the military spouses we serve.”

Pluta

Pluta is the director of at the OVMA and a master sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve, where she has overlapping duties as a career counselor for troops in her unit. By providing valuable career-related guidance to troops and veterans alike, she brings unique insight into the employment situation for the military-connected community.

Pluta has maintained a 100% employment rate for graduating student veterans at ���ϲ����� for more than five years, contributing heavily to what makes the University stand out among other institutions of higher education when it comes to providing services for student veterans.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be among those selected to attend the Class of 2023 George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program this year. I look forward to the challenges and educational opportunities that come from attending and can’t wait to begin networking with other dedicated advocates within the veteran community,” Pluta says.

“The lessons I learn over the five months of this program will let me better serve our military-connected students here at ���ϲ�����, as well as the troops in my reserve unit, and I look forward to bringing that knowledge back to share with my colleagues,” she says.

More than 170 people have graduated from the Veteran Leadership Program, both veterans and nonveterans alike, and come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. The IVMF has been fortunate to have representation in each of the program’s cohorts to date and looks forward to contributing subject matter experts to help in the development of this year’s cohort.

Veterans often face a unique set of legal issues related to their service that require specialized knowledge and understanding to resolve. Those issues can become increasingly complex as veterans age, further intersecting with various aspects of physical, social and emotional well-being. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 80% of U.S. military veterans are over the age of 55.

The College of Law and the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics have formed a partnership to help veterans, and especially aging veterans, access the legal services they need and obtain the benefits they have earned and deserve.

College of Law students at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Staffed by attorneys from the College of Law’s Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, law students and graduate social work students, the Legal-Social Work Partnership program provides free, high-quality legal services for veterans, such as assistance with disability claims and discharge upgrades, benefits counseling and more. The partnership also works to educate veterans about their rights and how to navigate the legal system.

The partnership operates under the College of Law’s Office of Clinical Education, where ���ϲ����� law students apply doctrinal law while representing clients under the supervision of faculty-mentors.

The Legal-Social Work Partnership places an emphasis on addressing the social determinants of health. By assisting veterans with housing, employment, aging and other issues, the Legal-Social Work Partnership can help reduce veteran homelessness and suicide rates and improve the lives of veterans and military families.

Elizabeth Kubala, teaching professor in the College of Law, is the executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic. “The veterans we assist often have needs and challenges outside the scope of our legal representation,” she says. “Bringing a social work perspective into our legal clinic will not only result in better overall outcomes for our veteran clients, but also a better understanding by the students of how to best serve veterans.”

As ���ϲ����� law students and social work students learn how their respective disciplines interact in real-world practice settings, this program is building a stronger legal system that can address the holistic needs of clients.

While there are law firms that employ social workers in their practices, it is still quite uncommon. ���ϲ����� alumna Wendy Goidel ’84, Esq., the founding and managing member of Goidel Law Group PLLC and its Estate Planning & Elder Law Center, is one of the few who is leading the way. Goidel is the founder and co-developer of Concierge Care Coordination, a holistic practice model, which merges geriatric social work with legal planning.

“While the interdisciplinary model in an elder law context is natural and essential, it should be replicated and embraced in other practice areas—such as matrimonial, family, medical malpractice, personal injury and criminal—where legal problems are intertwined with social, medical and emotional issues. There is no doubt that clients and their family members receive far superior services, strategies and solutions when attorneys and social workers advocate and collaborate,” says Goidel.

Wendy Goidel

Goidel established the Goidel Law Group Internship Fund to support social work graduate students interested in working at the intersection of law and social work, particularly with older adults, through the Legal-Social Work Partnership program at ���ϲ�����. Students will receive $5,000 stipends for their internship year while working within the Legal-Social Work Partnership.

“Collaborations between law students and social work students are essential in addressing the legal problems impacting the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans,” says Ken Marfilius, Falk College assistant dean for online and distance education and associate teaching professor in the Falk College School of Social Work. “Social work students will play a key role in connecting veterans to community resources beyond those typically addressed through legal representation, having a direct and immediate impact on veterans and their families.”

“In addition to addressing the critical needs of veterans, this project illuminates the needs of one of the fastest growing populations on our planet, and that is of aging individuals,” says Carrie Smith, chair of the Falk College School of Social Work. “Collaborative work among an increasing number of experts at the intersection of law and social work will be essential in addressing the myriad needs and concerns of this population.

“We are very appreciative of the pioneering work being led by Wendy Goidel in addressing these aims,” she adds.

Through the Goidel Law Group Internship Fund, two social work graduate students at ���ϲ����� will be selected annually for the Goidel Law Group Internship Fund. Students do not need to be enrolled in ���ϲ�����’s J.D./master of social work dual degree program to be selected. Interested students must by June 30, 2023, for the 2023-24 academic year.

For more information about the Legal-Social Work Partnership program or the Goidel Law Group Internship Fund, please contact Elizabeth Kubala, 315. 443.8420 or egkubala@syr.edu, or Kenneth Marfilius, 315.443.5586 or kjmarfil@syr.edu.

The provides legal representation to veterans and their families seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or upgrading a military discharge through the various military branches. The VLC is staffed by student attorneys in their 2L or 3L year at the College of Law, many of who are veterans themselves or who have a connection to the military and a passion for serving veterans. “Our law school students leverage their critical thinking skills and analytical abilities to help veterans navigate a complex administrative process. We shoulder the legal process so that the veterans can focus on treatment and healing,” says Kubala.

“PTSD is an especially difficult diagnosis because it is often not recognized in veterans for many years after their service. They usually do not see it coming on while in the service because they are focused on their mission. All too often, these early symptoms of PTSD can lead to out-of-character behaviors that, in some cases, result in a veteran’s administrative discharge from service for that misconduct,” says 2L Seth Owens, a student in the VLC.

This summer, many student attorneys are assisting veterans with disability claims for PTSD. “The government has taken steps over the past decade to expand access to VA benefits for veterans experiencing PTSD. But it’s not easy to navigate and secure these benefits, especially for veterans facing the adverse consequences of PTSD in their daily lives. Another student and I are working with a veteran who was not diagnosed with PTSD, nor had he ever heard of PTSD, until after he was discharged. We are helping him connect his undiagnosed PTSD to the circumstances surrounding his discharge, with the goal of getting him full care. I can’t imagine taking that on alone,” says VLC student 2L Natalie Bravo.

“Currently, we are working with a decorated 15-year veteran, separated under unfavorable circumstances, who is struggling to get full care for his PTSD almost 16 years after his discharge. This process has been extremely eye-opening and makes one realize how challenging the process of getting the right care can be. The benefit of hindsight is allowing us to trace the onset of his PTSD symptoms to the trauma he experienced on his last deployment before being administratively discharged,” says Owens

He continues, “As we have learned more about the effects of PTSD, it is especially important to advocate on behalf of veterans who were separated under these circumstances because it impacts their ongoing ability to receive treatment and be compensated for their service to this country. At the Veterans Legal Clinic, we have a tremendous opportunity to use the skills we are learning at the ���ϲ����� College of Law to directly improve the lives of our veteran clients. Providing a direct application of our legal knowledge, outside resources, or simply a compassionate ear to listen to their circumstances can all be beneficial to help that veteran navigate a challenging administrative process to get the right care for their PTSD.”

The VLC serves two critical functions on the ���ϲ����� campus. The VLC provides legal advice to veterans and their families and provides a training opportunity to empower law school students as veteran advocates.  Student attorneys at the VLC learn about veteran’s law, military law and federal administrative law. Student attorneys manage actual veteran clients and their cases, engage in fact investigation, draft persuasive letters and briefs to the various governmental agencies, and even have the opportunity to orally advocate for clients.

“The clinic is administrative law in action. We are navigating statutes, regulations and department policy to be the best advocates for our veterans. It’s great legal experience, but even more so it’s a fulfilling experience,” says Bravo.

Two “last dollar” scholarships will cover tuition expenses after a member uses all available tuition assistance (TA) funding each fiscal year, meaning there are no out-of-pocket tuition expenses between TA funding cycles. The scholarships apply to any ���ϲ����� online bachelor of professional studies degree in the and are open only to EANGUS members of the New York Army and Air National Guard (one scholarship for each service).

Two “full-tuition” scholarships cover all tuition expenses for any ���ϲ����� online undergraduate credit certificate (15 credits) in the College of Professional Studies. The scholarships are open to EANGUS members and their spouses of the New York Army and Air National Guard (one scholarship for each service).

“Our support of EANGUS and its New York state members is an extension of ���ϲ�����’s position as a national leader in supporting current and prior members and family members of the United States military,” says , dean of the College of Professional Studies. “These four scholarships dramatically expand access to ���ϲ����� for New York State Army and Air National Guard members who otherwise could not study with us full time on campus.”

The University’s enduring commitment to veteran and military-connected students dates back more than 100 years. Dedicated to being the and rated one of the best private schools for military-connected students, ���ϲ����� is the only private university in the Northeast that offers online and residential part-time undergraduate study to active-duty military, guard and reservists at their respective tuition assistance rates beyond the member’s annual benefit.

“We are excited to partner with ���ϲ����� and proud to offer our NY Enlisted Association members these wonderful scholarships,” says James M. Hokkanen, vice president (air) of the New York Enlisted Association of the National Guard. “The Enlisted Association knows how impactful these scholarships will be to our members and their families.”

New York State Army and Air National Guard members and family members interested in the scholarships will complete a competitive application with EANGUS. Finalists will be forwarded to the University to determine admissibility into an online undergraduate degree or undergraduate certificate. The scholarships will be awarded each academic year, with the first four scholarships for the Fall 2023 semester.

“���ϲ����� is excited to further its collaboration with the New York Air and Army National Guard,” says Liz Green, executive director of online student success and ���ϲ�����’s coordinator for New York Guard partnerships. “We’re committed to providing an unsurpassed academic experience for military-connected students, and these scholarships are a small but impactful way for us to extend that experience to Guard members in the state.”

Bernard Rostker G’66, G’70 (right) speaks in the K.G. Tan Auditorium during “The All Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit at the National Veterans Resource Center.

Applications for the 2023 Bernard D. and Louis C. Rostker IVMF Dissertation Research Fund are open through May 26. Doctoral candidates at ���ϲ����� who are doing dissertation research pertaining to veterans, or military family-related topics, are encouraged to apply. The fund is open to Ph.D. candidates from all schools and colleges and can be used for travel expenses, software, equipment and conferences, as well as fieldwork and data gathering.

Last year, five students received a total of $50,000 in funding through the Rostker Fund. Their doctoral research ranged in topic from women veteran’s health and employment to understanding how prior military experience impacts law enforcement officers who are veterans.

One of the 2022 Rostker Scholars, Mariah Brennan, works at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) in the research and evaluation division. Her research contributed to the most recent Military Families Lifetime Survey (MFLS), a bi-annual research publication that focuses on the current hardships and situations military families face.

Brennan

“As a student, I have received incredible support from the IVMF including mentorship, valuable research experience and generous funding from the Rostker Dissertation Fellowship. Working with colleagues on the annual MFLS has been such a positive experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to hone my research skills by working on impactful military and veteran research,” says Brennan, who worked extensively with Blue Star Families, one of the IVMF’s partners in delivering insightful research and data analysis on topics pertaining to veterans and their families.

“Each year is different, keeping things fresh and exciting. The MFLS is an opportunity to inform policy and practice, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I look forward to continuing my worked with the IVMF and making progress on my dissertation,” she says.

The funding for the program is provided entirely through the generosity of Bernard Rostker G’66, G’70 and his wife, Louise Rostker G’68, both of whom pursued their advanced degrees at ���ϲ����� amidst myriad setbacks as military-connected students. Bernard earned a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in economics, while Louise earned a master’s degree in social work.

Bernard, a U.S. Army Veteran, was recently honored by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at the second annual Maxwell Awards of Excellence in Washington, D.C., where he was presented the Spirit of Public Service Award. Earlier in the month, he was a guest speaker during “The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit.

Linsner

During the summit, the 2022 Rostker Scholars had the opportunity to present their work to the Rostkers and show the impact of their research so far. Rachel Linsner, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, spoke about her dissertation examining the relationships between military spouse employment status, attitudes toward the military, individual well-being and family functioning.

“I am very grateful to the Rostkers and I am making progress on my dissertation because of their generosity and this program,” says Linsner. “The scholars had the opportunity to meet with the Rostkers and present our work to them. It was a delight to hear their feedback and learn from their expertise.”

���ϲ����� Ph.D. candidates interested in applying must , including one reference letter, by midnight (EST) on May 26, 2023. Applicants can anticipate receiving notification later in the year at the end of August. Potential applicants who have questions may contact ivmresearch@syr.edu.

, is an assistant teaching professor at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. He teaches courses in human sexuality, cultural diversity, and relationship therapy with LGBTQ clients. . He writes:
“Mental health is a conversation that we all should be having; this month gives us a moment to reflect on those around us who may need additional support. For example, the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of mental health needs. This is driven from the compounded impact of minority stress, or external discrimination which leads to psychological distress. This year a record number of anti-lgbt bills (417) have been introduced across the nation. This disheartening statistic highlights the overt discrimination and resulting fear for many. As the need for support increases, therapists should increase their accessibility to this community through LGBTQ-affirming therapy, offering support and validation of their lived experiences.”

, is an associate teaching professor of social work at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a mental health therapist, family advocacy officer in charge, and as manager of the alcohol and drug prevention and treatment program. . He writes:
“As we enter May, we are reminded that this month is not only Mental Health Awareness Month but also National Military Appreciation Month. These two themes are connected, as the military community faces unique challenges that can have an impact on their mental health. In addition, the month of May provides us with the opportunity to observe Military Spouse Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. Throughout the month of May and every day, our military service members, veterans, and their families deserve our support. Prioritizing the mental health of our military communities strengthens the overall public health and well-being of our nation.

Military members and their families face a range of unique challenges that differ from civilian society, such as deployments, exposure to certain traumatic events, extended periods of separation from loved ones, and more. It’s important to recognize that these challenges are not just at the individual level but rooted in the culture of military life. To support the mental health and well-being of our military populations, we must advocate for specific resources and funding initiatives. This includes increased funding for mental health services, improved mental health screening and assessment, training for qualified mental health professionals, and continued support for military families.

According to the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, “In 2020, there were 6,146 Veteran suicides. This was on average 16.8 per day. In 2020, there were 343 fewer Veteran suicides than in 2019, and the number of Veteran suicides was lower than each prior year since 2006.” The military and veteran communities have certainly made strides in recent years, but there is always more work to be done. Civilians play a critical role as well. By educating themselves on military culture and mental health, advocating for resources, and actively listening, civilians can make a difference in the lives of those who serve our country. Significant change can and does occur at the community level. Veterans and military families are highly active in our local communities across the nation and strengthen our social fabric. Having the right services in place at the community level, such as job trainings, access to quality education, parent support programs, and mental health services, allows our military communities to thrive and not just survive.

Veterans looking for help can find information on their local facility’s website or call the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to connect.”

, an assistant teaching professor at ���ϲ�����’s Falk College, studies veterinary social work and currently teaches classes in the online master of social work degree program. . She recently wrote about the burnout and mental health challenges veterinarians experience, sadly with many leading to suicide. She writes:
“A common assumption about the day-to-day experience of veterinary professionals is that they play with animals all day. While this assumption has elements of truth, it’s not the full picture of what happens on a daily basis behind closed doors. Veterinary teams are challenged with routine care of small and large animals to challenging cases, terminal diagnoses, and euthanasias. From working with pets to production animals, veterinary professionals often experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Unsurprisingly, there are many challenges facing the veterinary community causing a workforce shortage from individuals leaving the field due to burnout or financial reasons, retirement, and sadly death by suicide.” Read her full commentary here.

Sebastian Junger poses with military-connected students from the Military Visual Journalism program at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Among some of the most prolific writers of the last century, a handful experienced the hardship of telling the stories of war. John Steinbeck, Martha Gellhorn, Jack London and Ernest Hemingway; all covered the harrowing and dangerous world that exists on the front lines of combat. Award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist and author Sebastian Junger covered the dangerous frontier environment of Afghanistan’s civil war before the arrival of U.S. forces in late 2001 and embedded with U.S. forces in some of the most remote locations in the war-torn nation afterward.

Junger was recently on campus to serve as the guest speaker for the opening reception of “The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit at the National Veterans Resource Center. Prior to the speaking engagement that evening, Junger spent time with the military-connected community on campus during a private event at the .

Junger speaks to a full room inside Newhouse 3 during a presentation for the Military Visual Journalism students at Newhouse.

One of the key groups within the audience was students from . The 10-month course is restricted to Department of Defense (DoD) mid-career communications professionals who, typically, are among the top performers among their peers. The program’s application is considered highly competitive due to the program’s prestigious history of producing award-winning storytellers within the Department of Defense, and it is not uncommon for the MVJ class to have a few students who, like Junger, have experienced telling the stories from the frontlines of conflict zones.

“The MVJ program takes some of the Department of Defense’s best and brightest communicators and puts them through two intense semesters that build upon their storytelling abilities and hones them into highly effective communicators. When they leave here, they are turning around and using those skills and lessons in a real-world environment that most of us will never experience,” said Nancy Austin, the deputy director of the Military Visual Journalism Program at Newhouse. “They typically receive instruction from professors who have amassed extraordinary experience in the civilian world, so it’s not often they get to learn from those who have done the job from a war zone while they are here.”

Junger reflected on how he hadn’t initially set out to become a war correspondent, his intent had been to simply write about dangerous jobs and the people who did them. His first book, “The Perfect Storm,” was about the tragic loss of a fishing crew from New England, which was later turned into a Hollywood movie with the same name. He would later make his way to Afghanistan to report on the Civil War that ravaged the nation after the 1989 Soviet Union withdrawal. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Junger began to shift his focus to the arrival of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Junger speaks with a military-connected student after his presentation with Military Visual Journalism students at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

“A lot of militaries in the world, they don’t want journalists near anything they’re doing, they’re completely suppressive with their information. The fact that the U.S. military is mandated to have journalists with them, both military and civilian, is one of the things that makes this democratic country extraordinary,” says Junger.

With some members of the audience having previously experienced combat, Junger touched on some of the hardships that come with reporting on traumatic events in war-torn environments. While the memories of explosions and shootouts fade over the years, according to Junger, the memories of those negatively impacted by the atrocities never lose their grasp.

“What I’ve found is this: I’ve been in danger many times, and those experiences were temporarily upsetting. My reaction to them dissipated over time, but what never dissipated was the trauma of seeing the harm done to others,” Junger says. “There’s something about the human capacity for compassion and empathy, it’s devastating. That stuff has to be covered, but the people who are doing that important work will be traumatized for the rest of their lives.”

Being a war correspondent has obvious risks, the DoD has lost more than 130 communications professionals since World War I. In fact, the first woman Marine Corps officer to be killed in action in Iraq was a public affairs officer, Major Megan McClung, in 2006. The military’s combat correspondents, public affairs officers, photojournalists and combat photographers embed with front-line units to inform combat commanders, as well as the American public, with first-hand accounts of the military’s operations.

Gregory Heisler, a Distinguished Professor of Photography at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, take a portrait of Junger after a presentation for Newhouse’s Military Visual Journalism students.

Civilian correspondents and journalists on the front lines are not immune from the harm and danger, either. Aside from Junger’s own personal experiences, he spoke briefly about losing fellow photojournalist, and friend, Tim Hetherington. Hetherington co-directed the award-winning documentary “Restrepo,” with Junger, and was later killed in 2011 while covering the Libyan civil war. In 2013, Junger directed the memorial documentary “Which Way is the Front Line From Here? The Life and Death of Tim Hetherington,” to tell the story of a man who lost his life telling stories of, and for, other people.

Newhouse has trained the military’s top communications professionals for almost six decades now. The U.S. Navy, recognizing the need for additional training for their storytellers, established the program in 1963 and the other branches of the military were quick to take advantage of the educational opportunity. Over the years the program has evolved to include specializations in different communications disciplines. A motion media track was added in 1993. Adapting to the changing technology and capabilities with communication today, the school offers a track in graphic design as well as the photojournalism and broadcast journalism track.

For more information on the Military Visual Journalism program, and ���ϲ�����’s historic commitment to service members, veterans, and their families, please visit the .

The OVMA has awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships since 2017 and will continue making scholarships available each semester with more than $1.2 million available for scholarship opportunities. The growing availability of scholarship programs wouldn’t be possible without the support of the university’s military-connected alumni and supporters. Their contributions allow the OVMA to offer more opportunities and support to military-connected students ranging from professional networking events specifically hosted for military-connected students, on and off-campus activities, and cost-free career immersion trips where military-connected students are able to meet face to-face with leaders from some of the largest companies in the country.

Military-connected students using their G.I. Bill benefits may have their tuition covered and receive a housing stipend, but the G.I. Bill benefits have certain limitations that can leave student veterans scrambling to fill the gaps in finances. This is particularly true during the summer and winter months when most military-connected students are not enrolled in classes, which means they do not receive monthly payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover their living expenses.

The recipients of the OVMA Spring Scholarships are:

OVMA Family Member & Dependent Undergraduate Scholarship, awarded to Allison Crossman ’23

Allison Crossman ’23

Crossman, a military spouse, is a senior in the College of Visual and Performing Arts pursuing an undergraduate degree in communications and rhetorical studies.

“As a non-traditional student, my decision to return to school with three young children was not made lightly. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I look forward to attending ���ϲ����� College of Law this fall,” Crossman says.

Gerald B. Faigle Jr. and Robert M. Faigle Student Veteran Endowed Scholarship, awarded to Karl Cutler

Karl Cutler

Cutler is an active-duty U.S. Army captain currently enrolled in the Whitman School of Management’s online MBA program. Originally from Mattituck, New York, he is currently stationed in Hawaii where he serves as a Field Artillery Captain with the 25^th Infantry Division.

“I would like to serve another ten years in the Army, completing my twenty-year commitment to serving our nation. After that, I hope to move back to New York and become a financial advisor, putting all that I have learned at ���ϲ����� to work for the betterment of my community,” Cutler says.

Louis A. and Patricia H. Mautino Veteran Endowed Scholarship, awarded to Joshua Kompf ’23 and Justin Sauve ’25

Joshua Kompf ’23

Kompf is a U.S. Army veteran currently studying creative leadership with the College of Professional Studies. Originally from Jordan, New York, Kompf became a Green Beret and served for eight years with four deployments to Afghanistan.

“Growing up just outside ���ϲ����� in the town of Jordan, choosing ���ϲ����� was easy. I always wanted to attend ���ϲ�����, and once my time serving in the United States Army was complete, I finally made it a reality,” Kompf says. “My experience thus far at ���ϲ����� has been phenomenal. Every class I take is an opportunity to share and experience views and opinions different than my own, opening my mind to endless possibilities.”

Justin Sauve ’25

Sauve is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who is a sophomore at the College of Engineering and Computer Science where he studies mechanical engineering. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in the aerospace industry

“Due to being a student veteran, I have the added financial responsibilities of supporting a family, the financial stresses of pursuing an education instead of employment have, at times, been significantly greater than the academic stresses and curriculum. The support awarded through this scholarship will significantly help me pursue my educational goal of obtaining my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering,” Sauve says.

Wilder J. Leavitt and Mary P. Morningstar Scholarship for Military-Connected Students, awarded to Samirah Crawford ’26 and Kamileh Rivera ’23

Samirah Crawford ’26

Crawford is a military dependent and first-year biomedical engineering student at the College of Engineering and Computer Science. After graduating she plans on joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve and continuing to pursue a graduate degree.

“This scholarship will significantly impact me, allowing my education to be more affordable, reducing the stress involved with the cost of an excellent education, and helping me to complete my engineering degree successfully. I plan to graduate with my biomedical engineering degree and promote STEM for young girls, especially in underprivileged or underserved communities, to provide a spotlight on all of the career fields and opportunities in this field,” Crawford says.

Kamileh Rivera ’23

Rivera is a senior studying neuroscience and biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the daughter of a U.S. Army veteran and is originally from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. After graduating, she plans to pursue a career in medicine with the intent of returning to Puerto Rico to help those in need.

“This donor-funded scholarship has impacted me in many ways. Not only does this award relieve financial hardships for my family and me, but it’s rewarding to know that someone believes in my education. I feel honored to be chosen and will not take this opportunity for granted,” Rivera says.

Lucy and Joseph Napoli Veterans Scholarship, awarded to John Nipper ’23

John Nipper ’23

Nipper is a U.S. Navy veteran who is currently studying international relations in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He plans to continue his education and earn a master’s in public administration after graduation. Nipper, originally from Fort Myers, Florida, was also recently elected as the President of the Student Veterans Organization at ���ϲ�����.

“After my tour of duty, I felt a pressing call to public service, which led me to pursue a bachelor’s in international relations and public policy. I aspire to advance cyber policies that improve the safety of the American people, understand policy barriers to cybersecurity and digital diplomacy, identify successful solutions, and help implement them,” Nipper says.

Richardson Family Scholarship for Military Family Members and Dependents, awarded to Karyne Brown ’26

Karyne Brown ’26

Brown is a military dependent with a parent who served in the U.S. Army. Originally from New Jersey, Brown is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences who was selected for the Renee Crown University Honors Program.

“This scholarship will allow me to devote more time to academic endeavors and extracurriculars by relieving much of my financial stress. In my first semester, I struggled to find that balance, and, now, not only has the stress been relieved but helps to mitigate the problem itself. After ���ϲ�����, I hope to live in New York City and work at a financial firm,” Brown says.

Flanik Family Scholarships for Student Veterans, awarded to Ryan Simmons ’24

Ryan Simmons ’24

Simmons, is a U.S. Air Force veteran who is currently enrolled in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, studying cybersecurity administration as a remote student. Originally from Chenango Forks, New York, Simmons aims to earn a commission with the U.S. Space Force where he hopes to work in cyber security.

“Over the past year I’ve been here, the professors, the student body, and even the administration staff have only reaffirmed that coming to ���ϲ����� was the right decision for me.  I’ve made many professional connections and even friends along the way.  Some of the professors I’ve had have really been a blessing when it comes to not just imparting class knowledge but also firsthand experience of their professions,” says Simmons.

Interested in supporting ���ϲ�����’s growing commitment to educating servicemembers, veterans, and their families? Want to learn how to contribute to their future academic success? Consider donating to the .

With both sectors preparing for significant recruitment and enrollment challenges, ���ϲ����� and the University of Tennessee co-hosted a first-of-its-kind, two-day summit to explore how higher education and the federal government could partner up to better support our nation’s service members.

Chancellor Kent Syverud

Held during the 50th anniversary of the end of the military draft and the birth of America’s all-volunteer force, “The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Higher Education and America’s Volunteer Military” summit saw more than two dozen university chancellors and presidents from across the country meet with senior government officials in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address some of the most pressing challenges facing veterans and the long-term sustainability of an all-volunteer armed services.

“We can work together for the common good, and that’s special. We need to create clear pathways to opportunities for enlisted persons, and we need to tell their stories if we expect our enlisted service system to continue working. The pathways need to include much less siloed cooperation, moving back and forth between jobs, academia and the military to create those pathways,” told the summit attendees during his closing remarks.

More than two dozen university chancellors and presidents from across the country met with senior government officials in the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to address some of the most pressing challenges facing veterans and the long-term sustainability of an all-volunteer armed services.

Seven Key Takeaways

Kori Schake, senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy with the American Enterprise Institute, moderated the panel discussion “Where Do We Go From Here?” and summarized the key takeaways as the following:

• Understanding the difference between being veteran friendly (think social media posts touting the benefits of attending a university) and veteran ready (providing the resources, support and access to education that sets members of the military-connected community up for success).
• Improving higher education’s access to the DoD, including nearby military bases.
• Understanding how to navigate DoD bureaucracy, including communicating with military-connected individuals to ensure they understand the process and costs of earning a degree.
• Establishing VA pilot programs to see what’s working for veterans, and what support they need to succeed.
• Creating community for all veterans on campus.
• Reimagining education, military service and work as an ecosystem of exchange, including what the lifecycle in that ecosystem looks like for service members.
• Conveying student veteran best practices to the DoD and VA.

J. Michael Haynie

“How can we think differently about our relationship, and maybe explore opportunities to collaborate and partner moving forward? One of the drivers of volunteerism for military service today is service as a pathway to education. How can we make access to higher education easier, more accessible, more affordable, and by doing so, create more of a push to national service?” said , founder and executive director of the (IVMF).

An Obligation to Make Sure Veterans Reach Their Full Potential

Summit participants agreed that changes need to come, and soon, including altering the narrative around veterans who serve. Matt Amidon, senior advisor with the George W. Bush Institute, said young people view veterans as either heroes who deserve to be lauded or victims to feel sorry for, thanks to their depiction in films and television shows, instead of valued community members who just want to focus on their goals as civilians once they transition out of active duty.

Also, instead of viewing veterans as outsiders in society, University of Montana President Seth Bodnar, a U.S. Army veteran, pointed to the use of compelling storytelling to help spotlight how military-connected students can enhance a college campus.

“Let’s not ‘otherize’ our veterans by acting like they’re not part of our society. I get that military service is so concentrated, but our veterans are not a separate part of our society; they are an integral part, and we have an obligation to make sure every member of our veteran community can reach their unique, full potential,” Bodnar said during the panel, “Competition vs. Collaboration: Common Challenges Make Us Better Together.”

A different mentality is needed too, when it comes to recruiting the next class of veterans to higher education.

“Instead of competing, maybe we can think about innovative ways to collaborate and to partner to the betterment of both institutions,” said Haynie.

Eliminating Barriers to Higher Education

Each year, more than 200,000 military members make the transition from active duty to civilian life, with 74% of that population pursuing a higher education degree once their service has ended.

But only 60% of veterans take advantage of their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, while 19% of veterans won’t use their benefits because they think it’s too difficult to navigate through higher education or they don’t have enough knowledge about their benefits.

“How can everyone who has served and earned that right, which they’re entitled to, take advantage of their benefits? This is part of paying and rewarding those who made the sacrifice with their hard-earned benefits,” said Joseph Garcia, executive director of education service in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ashish S. Vazirani, the Department of Defense’s deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, delivered the keynote address at the summit.

There are currently 2.3 million active and reserve service members in the U.S., and 75% of enlistees come from military legacy families, meaning their decision to serve was inspired by someone they know who had a history of service, said Ashish S. Vazirani, the DoD’s deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness who delivered the keynote address.

“Younger Americans are not exposed to the unique and compelling stories of service and the pathways to education offered by service. The military embraces most of the values these young people seek in life and in a career,” Vazirani said.

“We’re Going to Work Forward, Together”

As the summit drew to a close, there was a sense of optimism that the core principles addressed during the two-day gathering would lead to momentum and sustained change moving forward.

“I’ve been to ���ϲ����� three times before [to discuss this topic] and up until this visit, the conversation was always linear and one-way,” said Brent Orrell, senior fellow with the American Enterprise Institute. “But today we had productive conversations that were not linear but an ecosphere of exchanges between the institutions. Each of these institutions are working to progress toward the same ends of creating a stronger America.”

“This summit was never intended to be a one and done. It was intended to be a call to action on a critical problem facing our military and our country. We’re going to work forward, together,” added Chancellor Syverud.

U.S. Army Lt.Col. Matthew Coyne, Chancellor Kent Syverud, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Lippert prepare to present individual awards at the 106th Chancellor’s Review.

When ���ϲ�����’s fourth Chancellor, James R. Day, reviewed the University’s Cadet Corps on May 4, 1917, he started what would become an annual tradition for the University’s future military leaders.

On March 31, 2023, both Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force assembled inside the JMA Wireless Dome for the 106^th Chancellor’s Review to carry on that tradition.

Chancellor Kent Syverud, the University’s 12^th Chancellor who called upon the campus community to make ���ϲ����� the best place for veterans, conducted the pass and review of cadets, escorted by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Matthew Coyne and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Lippert, the ranking members of the respective ROTC units.

Chancellor Syverud highlighted the accomplishments of the University’s ROTC units over the last year. Both the Army and Air Force ROTC will commission 32 officers later this spring. Additionally, the U.S. Army Stalwart Battalion has four distinguished military graduates who will commission in the top 10% of the U.S. Army’s 2023 year group, including Cadet Sarah Sharpe ’23, who came in first out of 802 cadets commissioning into the U.S. Army Reserve.

���ϲ����� Army & Air Force ROTC Cadets prepare to be individually awarded for their performance during the 2023 Academic Year at the 106th Chancellor’s Review.

The U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment 535 will commission nine active-duty officers in the spring, including three who are from the detachment’s crosstown universities at SUNY Oswego, SUNY Polytechnic Institute and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

“I’m so proud of the 140 cadets here today who continue our proud tradition of support to those who volunteer to serve,” said Chancellor Syverud during his remarks to the assembled cadets. “Congratulations on your service, leadership and academic excellence. And I’m grateful to our nine partner schools joining us today.”

The annual Chancellor’s Review is also a time to celebrate the accomplishments of the University’s ROTC cadets through a presentation of awards issued by the University and off-campus organizations.

Lt. Col. Lippert presented the Professor of Aerospace Studies Scholastic Achievement Award to cadets Adam Landry, Emily Weaver, Charles Tang and Emma Corby. The award is presented to the Air Force cadet with the highest overall academic average for each class.

OVMA Executive Director Col. Ron Novack (U.S. Army, Ret.), presents U.S. Air Force ROTC Cadet Aizhan Moore ’25 with the OVMA Commitment to Service Award.

The U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment awarded the McClune Scholar Award, presented by Kelly Rodoski ’92,  senior communications manager and Lockerbie Scholars liaison. The award is presented to an Air Force cadet who is in the top half of their class academically, displays outstanding spirit and a positive attitude, and a commitment to international understanding and cooperation. This year’s recipient was Cadet Hunter Burns.

For the U.S. Army Stalwart Battalion, Lt. Col. Coyne presented the Distinguished Military Graduate Awards to members of the graduating class who have maintained a distinguished military student status throughout their time in ROTC and are in the top 20 percent of the national accessions order of merit list. The award was presented to Cadets Jason DiNapoli, Nolan McNeill, Benjamin Rabin and Sarah Sharpe.

Chancellor Kent Syverud congratulates U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Alex Musau ’24 for receiving the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award.

Lt. Col. Coyne also presented the Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award, which recognizes a cadet in the top 25 percent of their class academically, who demonstrates outstanding leadership and has strong officer potential. This year’s recipients are Army Cadets Jason DiNapoli, Richard Bruschi, John Harbaugh and Nicholas Robinson.

A complete list of the awards presented during this year’s Chancellor’s Review, along with additional photos, can be found on the . Those interested in learning more about the university’s ROTC detachments are encouraged to visit .

Marquez, director of the National Security Division for The American Legion and an Iraq War veteran, gave remarks at the U.S. Capitol on March 16, along with its hosts, senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Marquez is pursuing an , offered by the in partnership with the

Maxwell graduate student Mario A. Marquez, director of the National Security Division for The American Legion, spoke at a press conference earlier this month urging lawmakers to repeal the legislation that authorized military force in the decades-old war in Iraq.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beginning of combat operations in Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein,” Marquez told the crowd and cameras before a backdrop of the Capitol building. “The conflict was declared over in 2011, but the law that authorized it is still on the books today.”

If signed into law, a bill supported by Kaine and Young would repeal the 1991 Gulf War authorization and the 2002 Iraq War authorization. The senators are part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers who argue that the repeal is needed to prevent abuse by presidential administrations that could use the old authorizations to launch unrelated combat operations without approval from Congress.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Senate voted 66-30 to repeal the authorizations. The legislation now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has conveyed support for it.  The White House has also expressed support, issuing a statement endorsing the repeal and noting that it would not affect the 2,500 U.S. troops now stationed in Iraq.

Marquez, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a sergeant major with more than 31 years of service, talked at the press conference about his four combat tours in Iraq. He said he has “vivid memories” of “intense fighting and unimaginable heroism.” During his second and third tours, he said he was subjected to “intense heavy fire, improvised explosive devices and frequent attacks.” During his fourth tour, he said he saw “a major reduction in combat operations” and signs of progress.

“The American Legion is an organization composed of members who have fought in this nation’s wars,” Marquez said at the press conference. “We applaud the effort and note that it affirms what we’ve known for years: There is a strong bipartisan consensus that it is long past time to repeal these two authorizations.”

As director of The American Legion’s National Security Division, Marquez is responsible for support and analysis of defense and foreign policy issues. Previously, he served as director of the organization’s Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division. He spent 20 years of his military service deployed or stationed overseas.

U.S. Army Col. Kecia Troy G’12 poses for her official portrait in the Army portrait studio at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo courtesy of Leonard Fitzgerald)

A key component of the U.S. military’s success is the vast equipment procurement and logistics system operating behind the scenes supporting the Department of Defense’s (DOD) global operations. U.S. Army Col. Kecia Troy G’12, with 25 years of service, knows just how difficult it is to maintain that support successfully.

Outfitting a modern military with state-of-the-art equipment requires experienced individuals like Troy, who manages the complex process of developing, procuring, and distributing critical capabilities and systems. Troy, who serves as a defense acquisition program manager, says one of the reasons the Army can meet the challenges of delivering these vital capabilities is through its solid partnership with the defense industrial base.

“The systems acquisition community works closely with the defense industry, ensuring they understand our emerging mission requirements and the capabilities that we will need to maintain the technological edge over our peer and near-peer adversaries,” says Troy, who earned a master’s degree in from the . “This partnership lets us leverage businesses who foster innovative ideas and develop cutting-edge technological solutions.”

Kecia Troy G’12 with her husband, Milton

While Troy has managed a variety of military system programs, including tactical radio equipment and armored vehicle components, her primary focus has been supporting the needs of the intelligence community. During the early days of her career, she served as an intelligence officer, a position she says introduced her to the realities of military service.

“I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army at 22 years old. At that time, I didn’t truly appreciate or understand the commitment I had made to selfless service or to this nation,” Troy says. “After my initial officer training, I was stationed in Hawaii and thought it would be ‘life on the beach.’ However, the Army and world events had a different plan.”

In 1999, less than six months after arriving in Hawaii, Troy deployed to the Balkans amidst one of the most complex periods of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) peacekeeping operations in modern history. Although the four-year Bosnian War had already ended, U.S. forces were supporting NATO’s mission to enforce the war’s peace treaty and establish stability in the former Yugoslav region.

“This was the first time I had been face-to-face with the aftermath of war. Our team would sometimes visit orphanages or refugee resettlement camps, it was heartbreaking to see how much they all had lost,” recalls Troy. “We visited the site of the Srebrenica massacre and saw the building’s walls covered with bullet holes from when Bosnian Serbs murdered thousands of the town’s Muslim men and boys as a part of their ethnic cleansing efforts. Again—I experienced all of this before 9/11, so this deployment really opened my eyes to the realities of war and my service to this nation.”

Throughout her career, Troy shifted her specialty from the intelligence community to managing system acquisition programs. That shift ultimately led her to ���ϲ�����’s campus for the DOD’s logistics and technology master of science degree program.

U.S. Army Col. Kecia Troy G’12 (third from the left), who has 25 years of military service, earned a master’s degree in supply chain management from the Whitman School of Management.

“I enjoyed the program and definitely got a lot out of it. The program was primarily virtual and offered me the opportunity to earn a master’s degree from ���ϲ�����, while I remained at work full-time in Washington, DC. Back then, not many top-tier schools had this type of fully-funded program available to service members. The ���ϲ����� professors and staff were top-notch and were always accessible to our cohort. We did have some in-person instruction, and I really liked the times we were on campus and at the Whitman School. The campus and the facilities were beautiful. My favorite part of campus would have to be the Ernie Davis statue, near Hendricks Chapel. It’s great to see the university honor him and his legacy in such a way. His life had such an impact, not only on college and professional sports but race relations and integration within our nation,” Troy says.

After completing her master’s degree, Troy’s military career advanced well beyond her initial plan to serve only four years. Her career assignments included tours in the Republic of Korea, Arizona, Alabama and in the National Capital Region, where she worked at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and served two tours in the Pentagon on the Department of the Army staff.

Kecia Troy G’12 with her son, Micah

More than two decades later, as Troy reflects on her commitment to service, she can see success across the force in the opportunities that are now afforded to women. Many of these opportunities were not available when Troy was first commissioned.

“We are seeing female soldiers excel in combat-specific military occupations and successfully leading units that were once off-limits to them. As of a year ago, 100 women had graduated from Ranger School.  That’s remarkable progress,” Troy says.  “I think there has been more awareness of the unique issues that women face, that parents face, and that minority groups in the military face. These issues differ from what many senior leaders deal with or even realize exist.”

Troy says one of her biggest concerns today is that women in the military must get a fair opportunity to excel, regardless of the specialty they choose, as well as when or if they decide to have a family.

According to the 2021 Demographics Profile of the Military Community, approximately 5,000 women serve in the U.S. Army as field grade officers on active duty. That is roughly 17.3 percent of all majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels serving full-time in the nation’s largest military branch.

Each year, more women join the military compared to when Troy first earned her commission in the late 1990’s. Despite their increasing percentage of the military population, however, women in the service today are 28 percent more likely than men to leave the military early. According to a Government Accountability Office study, women left the military primarily for family-related and cultural issues.

Kecia Troy G’12 (far left) poses with her son, Micah, and husband, Milton.

“Balancing a career in the military with motherhood is extremely tough, much tougher than even I had given it credit for,” says Troy, who with her husband, Milton, a U.S. Navy captain, are raising a son, Micah. “The Department of Defense is moving in the right direction with the recent policies. It will take a commitment by leaders at all levels to ensure those policies are properly implemented and effective in easing some of the stress for these Soldiers and their families.”

Troy will retire from the U.S. Army later this year, and she’s currently working through the transition process, weighing the different opportunities she has available. For now, she’s looking forward to spending some time with her family.

“The key component of my military career has been the undeniable support system I have had from my family, extended family, and a slew of lifelong friends. They’ve sacrificed and served, as well, to ensure that I was able to focus and complete the Army’s mission,” Troy says. “My success is grounded in my strong foundation from my parents and the support network of relatives and friends. As a community, they have all been my rocks, my cheering squad, and sometimes, my much-needed critics, no matter the situation.  Too often, family members do not get acknowledged or recognized, but I know that had it not been for their support, I would not be here today.”

���ϲ����� student veterans pose for a group photo on the first day of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs’ career immersion trip to Atlanta, Georgia.

Among the mass exodus of students leaving campus for spring break, eight student veterans from ���ϲ����� spent three days in Atlanta, Georgia. While their fellow classmates were in pursuit of leisure and relaxation during the time off from classes, these student veterans attended a career immersion trip hosted by the .

Over the course of the trip, the students visited with representatives from some of the largest and most well-known businesses across a variety of industries throughout the Atlanta metro area. The OVMA Director of Veteran Career Services, Jennifer Pluta, organizes the trips twice a year, and military-connected students enrolled at ���ϲ����� can take advantage of the opportunity free of charge.

While on tour of the corporate headquarters for Delta Airlines, the students stop to take a group photo in a hot air balloon basket.

“These trips not only afford the student veterans an opportunity to speak with those who already made the career change transition from their military career to the corporate world, but it gives them an invaluable advantage with a chance to get their foot in the door after graduation,” says Pluta, who is also a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve, where she serves as a senior command career counselor. “They’re meeting with leaders at these companies, and most of the time they’re receiving pitches about why they, as veterans, should consider working at these companies. As these students graduate and move into the labor market, they’re going to have a strong advantage over their competition.”

This trip marks the first time OVMA has organized a career immersion trip to Atlanta. Past trips have included places like New York City, Los Angeles and the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. Atlanta, being a southern economic hub, is home to a variety of leading organizations like the Coca-Cola Company, United Parcel Services, Delta Airlines and Fiserv. While the city and the companies may change, the purpose of the trips are all the same–supporting Veteran Career Services’ goal of 100% job placement for ���ϲ�����’s student veterans.

“This trip was about growing confidence in the transferability of my knowledge, skills and abilities to the civilian workforce,” said Colleen Tripp, a part-time graduate student in instructional design, development and evaluation with the School of Education. “As a 17-year member of the New York Air National Guard, this trip allowed me to visualize myself working in a variety of post-military positions and how I could potentially contribute in a meaningful way after my military career,” says Tripp.

The group visits the Amazon Web Service office.

Tripp, who currently serves with the 174^th Medical Group in ���ϲ�����, N.Y., said one of the key takeaways from the week was discovering that she wants to continue working with veterans and service members in her post-military career. One of the highlights of the trip for Tripp was visiting the Warrior Alliance, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing support services to transitioning servicemembers.

“Each organization I met with had a different culture and battle rhythm, yet each company valued their employees and made huge efforts to take care of the whole person, not just the mission at hand,” says Tripp.

While each immersion trip is different, based on the availability of companies in the geographic area, the student veterans were able to visit and speak with the following companies while in Atlanta:

• Amazon Web Services
• Chic-Fil-A
• Delta Airlines
• Ernst & Young, LLP
• Fiserv
• Tyler Perry Studios
• Warrior Alliance

During the trip, the student veterans visited State Farm Arena, and later were able to enjoy watching the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks play against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I think my favorite part was the trip to Delta. Since I’m majoring in mechanical engineering, I was intrigued by their engineering department and how everyone there felt like a family. It was a fantastic company and hopefully, in the future, I’ll be able to intern for them,” said Jurgen Baeza, a U.S. Navy veteran who is currently enrolled as a first-year student with the College of Arts and Sciences.

“My goal for this trip was to see what sort of job opportunities are out there for veterans, and also to learn what the process was like for companies recruiting veterans after their time in service,” says Baeza.

Each year there’s also an opportunity for the student veterans to visit tourist and cultural sites, which is part of the immersive experience of the career immersion trips. In Atlanta, the students were treated to a game with the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta’s professional NBA team, along with a tour of their home stadium, the State Farm Arena.

The OVMA’s next immersion trip will take place in the Fall semester of 2023. Those military-connected students who are interested in attending should visit to stay up to date on the latest opportunities available to them at ���ϲ�����.

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation donated $1 million in additional grant funding to the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

This is the second time Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has supported the IVMF. An initial $500,000 grant in 2020 was fundamental in establishing a partnership between the City of ���ϲ����� and the IVMF to create ���ϲ�����Serves, and it also supported a landscape assessment on the status of veteran care across New York State. The assessment, conducted by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and IVMF, was later used in developing an action plan for what this additional funding will achieve.

“Coordinated care has increasingly gained attention as an effective way to improve the health and well-being of veterans and the military-connected community. Accessing care can be difficult though, especially for veterans and their families,” says Vincent DelSignore, IVMF’s director of community services. “The investment from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to expand the ���ϲ�����Serves network will further the reach of our coordinated care efforts and will help remove barriers so veterans and their families can easily, and more directly, access resources in their communities.”

Over the last two years veterans from neighboring counties have increasingly sought out support from ���ϲ�����Serves, indicating the need for expansion. The first $500,000 grant in 2020 mostly supported military families in the City of ���ϲ�����. A portion of the new grant funding will contribute to expanding coordination services to the neighboring counties of Cayuga, Cortland, Madison and Oswego. The expansion will see ���ϲ�����Serves continuing to support the important work of local partners and organizations serving the approximately 45,000 veterans and their families residing in the five-county region.

Additionally, the funding will support IVMF’s continued efforts across New York state to help veterans and their families. IVMF will establish a statewide Community of Practice with support from the grant and will also share the data gained to further help communities and organizations understand how to best serve the military-connected community.

The investment from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation will expand the ���ϲ�����Serves network.

Like many regions across the country, Central New York is home to a variety of federal and nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and their families. Finding these organizations, however, and knowing which one to go to for a particular service can be challenging.

“As we begin to recover from a pandemic that has hit vulnerable populations the hardest, we must continue to address the challenges communities across New York State are facing: food and housing insecurity; lack of access to basic health care, including vaccines; workforce issues; and educational, racial, economic and health disparities made worse during COVID-19. We must continue to support the full range of services that make for healthy people and communities,” says Monsignor Gregory Mustaciuolo, chief executive officer of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

To learn more about IVMF’s efforts in empowering communities to best care for veterans, servicemembers and their families, or to connect to a AmericaServes community, visit .

About Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

The is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York state that either provide direct health care services or address the social determinants of health.

Portrait of Sidney L. Johnson

A ���ϲ����� alum and historic figure for the ���ϲ����� City School District, was recently added to the list of the University’s Notable Veteran Alumni. Sidney L. Johnson ’59, G’65, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is now among 18 other influential members who have graduated from ���ϲ����� and have made a substantial impact during or after their military service.

Johnson, originally from Summerville, Georgia, served in the military for more than two decades, during which he served with the historic Tuskegee Airmen. He also earned the rank of Major before retirement, an almost insurmountable challenge during the days of segregation, as well as a testament to his performance in service to the country.

He dedicated himself to the City of ���ϲ����� after he retired from the military, then moved to the area with his wife Vivienne, along with their two daughters, Melinda and Cydney.

Cydney Johnson ’77, G’96, ���ϲ�����’s vice president of community engagement and government relations, was invited to unveil her father’s plaque during a surprise ceremony held in the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC). On hand to share in the touching moment were Cydney’s husband, Jeffry Comanici ‘88, as well as staff, faculty and students from the military-connected community.

Cydney Johnson (Left), poses with her husband, Jeffry Comanici (right) who was instrumental in advocating for Sidney’s inclusion on the Notable Veteran Alumni list.

“Like most military families, we were not originally from the area. ���ϲ����� adopted us, and both my parents loved serving this community,” says Cydney Johnson. “My father would have loved the NVRC, he would have been in this building all the time and would have loved the work that is done here. Both of my parents loved serving this community.”

The people of ���ϲ����� elected Sidney Johnson to serve on both the ���ϲ����� Common Council and the Board of Education. Throughout his life, Johnson was an advocate for education, particularly when it came to servicemembers and veterans. His legacy was cemented into history when the city named a prominent educational center after him. The Sidney Johnson Vocational Center continues to serve the people of ���ϲ����� to this day by offering important non-traditional educational opportunities like adult education and GED programs.

“Sidney Johnson is a great example of how veterans can leave the service and make a community better, even if it’s not their childhood home. He gave himself selflessly to the city of ���ϲ����� and his devotion to the city’s education system can continue to be felt to this day,” says J. Michael Haynie, founder and executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, and ���ϲ�����’s vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “It is an honor to have him featured among our most notable ���ϲ����� veteran alumni where he can continue to serve as an inspiration. To have his daughter, Cydney, unveil his plaque makes the occasion truly special. As a leader and valued member of our military-connected community, she has carried her father’s legacy of service to this community and has been instrumental in making the University’s veterans initiative a success.”

Cydney Johnson (Left) unveils her father’s Notable Veteran Alumni plaque with Dr. Michael Haynie (Right).

Sidney Johnson consistently made breakthroughs during times of racial tension, particularly growing up in the south during the era of Jim Crow laws. His skin color created more closed doors than open ones, but when he did establish himself in positions of influence, he worked to create opportunities for others.

The Tuskegee Airmen served with distinction throughout World War II, and many of its members went on to accomplish notable firsts for Black and African American servicemembers. Having been a part of the Tuskegee Airmen, Sidney holds a spot in military history for the perseverance displayed by him and the more than 14,000 racially segregated servicemembers who served with distinction throughout the war.

Over a five-year period between 1941 and 1946, 992 pilots were trained near Tuskegee, Alabama, from where the unit obtained its name. More than 300 men from the unit were deployed overseas, and 68 are listed as having been Killed in Action during the conflict. On March 29, 2007, the unit was collectively awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, and the airfield where the airmen trained is now a national historic site.

In honor of Black History Month, members of the community are encouraged to read about the lives of other Black and African American servicemembers who join Sidney Johnson on the wall of Notable Veteran Alumni.

Cydney Johnson places her father’s plaque on the wall of Notable Veteran Alumni inside the National Veterans Resource Center.

“I am deeply humbled and so very pleased that the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at ���ϲ����� has honored my Dad. His deep love of ���ϲ����� and ���ϲ����� makes this honor so special to me and my family,” says Cydney Johnson. “My Dad believed that the military was the gateway for career achievement, public service and equality. I know he would share those same words today. Thank you to all who made this honor happen.”

In 2014, Sidney Johnson was interred at his final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery, a fitting tribute to someone who devoted his life in service to others.

Quite the opposite. Pollard prefers an evening relaxing on the couch with his wife, Enesa, to a night on the town.

But when U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer’s office invited Pollard to be an honored guest during the annual State of the Union inside the U.S. Capitol, Pollard, an admitted introvert, knew the opportunity to tell his story was too good to pass up.

Pollard is a U.S. Navy veteran who is currently majoring in electrical engineering in the  . He is also the first person hired by the semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology for the company’s proposed $100 billion campus in the town of Clay, New York.

And while the attention that came from being in attendance for the State of the Union made Pollard a little uncomfortable, it was also a chance to inspire current and future military-connected students to step out of their comfort zones and learn to ask for help if they need it.

Savion Pollard ’25, the first person hired by the semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology for the company’s proposed $100 billion campus in the town of Clay, New York, was an honored guest during last week’s State of the Union.

Pollard, who previously worked as a nuclear engineering electronics technician on a Navy submarine, struggled in his transition from active duty to civilian life. He wasn’t sure how he would acclimate to life as a full-time student, especially at ���ϲ�����, which had denied his original application back in 2010.

Pollard knows he’s not alone when it comes to these issues.

“It’s important for other veterans to see that success can be found in higher education, and if not higher education, in different industries. I’ve worked really hard to be in the position that I’m in, and I want to inspire people, to show how far hard work can get you. I wanted people to see my light shine and I’m glad I get to be an inspiration for them and allow them to see what’s possible if we just work hard,” Pollard said after his trip to Washington.

A Whirlwind 36 Hours

This trip to the nation’s capital was certainly more memorable than the only other time Pollard visited Washington, when he watched the New York Mets take on the Washington Nationals a few years back. Unlike that visit, this time, Savion and Enesa made sure to do some sightseeing.

Savion Pollard ’25

After arriving Tuesday morning, the two went to the Washington Monument, the White House, and the Capitol building, soaking in the sights before an action-packed afternoon of meetings.

Pollard first met with Rep. Brandon Williams, a congressman representing New York’s 22nd district, which includes Central New York (CNY). Like Pollard, Williams is a submarine veteran, which made this the day’s most impactful meeting.

“Just the connection we had was immediate and special. We went to the same training schools. He knew all about my background. It was like we were part of this brotherhood without ever having met each other,” Pollard says. “I almost cried in his office, it was pretty crazy. I was ecstatic about meeting him and I’m going to cherish that interaction forever.”

Following was a meeting with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s assistant, in which Pollard expressed his gratitude for the senator’s support of the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill aimed at increasing semiconductor manufacturing in the country. Thanks to the bill’s passage, Pollard landed this life-changing internship with Micron, which hopes to bring 9,000 high-paying jobs to the area over the next 20 years.

Pollard (fifth from right) stands alongside some of the other honored State of the Union guests inside the office of Sen. Schumer.

Then it was time for Pollard to sit down with Sen. Schumer, who invited Pollard as his honored guest because he represents Micron’s commitment to transform the CNY community into the nation’s leading producer of these high-tech memory chips.

Back in October, Pollard met President Joseph R. Biden L’68 during the president’s visit to Onondaga Community College to promote Micron’s investment in the community and celebrate the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act.

During that meeting, Sen. Schumer proudly wore a pair of orange socks as a nod to ���ϲ�����, which will play a key role in building and training the workforce of the future that will power Micron’s leading-edge memory megafab. Pollard will , maintaining and troubleshooting any problems that arise with Micron’s equipment used to produce these semiconductors.

This time, in Schumer’s office, Pollard upped his fashion game, wearing orange ���ϲ����� socks, an orange and blue tie, and a pin with both the American flag and the Block S flag on his suit coat. Pollard says it was important for his school spirit to be on display for his visit to the Capitol.

“���ϲ����� has been huge for me over the last year since I started here. The eight years I served in the Navy did a lot for me in terms of my character and my discipline. I’m grateful to be able to translate all those skills back to school. Being at ���ϲ�����, where we’re so supported, the resources are so robust and everyone wants us to succeed is really amazing,” Pollard says.

A Full-Circle Moment

Following some group photos with Schumer and other honored guests, the Pollards headed to the gallery and took their seats for the State of the Union, President Biden’s 90-minute address to a joint session of Congress and the American people.

Then, just like that, the speech ended, and Wednesday morning, Pollard flew back to ���ϲ�����. Only as he was relaxing at home on his couch, reflecting on the tremendous honor he had enjoyed, did the magnitude of the moment sink in for Pollard.

“I just took it all in. I had been nervous about this experience, but afterward, I finally had a moment to just be amazed and understand everything I did over the past couple of hours. It was a cool moment to represent ���ϲ����� and the Navy at the State of the Union. It’s still so crazy that this happened to me. It was such an honor to be there,” Pollard says.

The Pat Tillman Foundation is named after the professional National Football League (NFL) football player Patrick Tillman, who played defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals prior to Sept. 11, 2001. Tillman later turned down a multimillion-dollar football contract to enlist in the U.S. Army, ultimately becoming a U.S. Army Ranger who deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tillman was killed in action while on a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004, but months after his death it was discovered that the incident was the result of friendly fire. Tillman’s friends and family picked up his mantle to continue honoring those committed to service beyond self and launched the Patrick Tillman Foundation.

���ϲ����� is one of 16 colleges and universities recognized as a University Partner by the Tillman Foundation, and the University typically has at least one Tillman Scholar each year. In 2022, ���ϲ����� had its largest cohort of Tillman Scholars to date, with four military-connected students honored.

“���ϲ����� takes a lot of pride in its Tillman Scholars, as they often go on to be some of our most accomplished military-connected alumni. We want to see everyone who is interested in becoming a Tillman Scholar submit an application. It really does come down to showing passion for service beyond self,” says Ron Novack, executive director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA).

From the University’s first Tillman Scholar in 2017, to the four most recent additions to the University’s cohort, a common suggestion for those interested in applying is to start early and take advantage of the available resources at ���ϲ�����, like the .

“The first step for any scholarship application is to understand the scholarship’s selection criteria and be prepared to demonstrate how you meet those criteria. The Tillman Scholars Program selects scholars based on service, scholarship, humble leadership and potential for impact,” says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA. “In the application, you have two short essays—one focused on your past experiences and the other on your future goals—to demonstrate your fit with their criteria. Make sure you craft a coherent narrative that connects those two essays, and make sure you articulate clear and compelling future goals.”

When asked what challenges they faced, and what recommendations they have for this year’s potential applicants, the 2022 Tillman Scholars from ���ϲ����� provided the following advice.

Higginson

Amanda Higginson
U.S. Navy Veteran
College of Law, JDinteractive (JDi) program (2L)

“You have to do the legwork and you have to be organized about it. Use the checklists that are built into the application system to keep you on track. Definitely do not wait until the last minute because it will be overwhelming and not something you can just throw together.”

Ornelaz

Anthony Ornelaz
U.S. Air Force Veteran
College of Arts and Sciences, Creative Writing Fellow

“One of the biggest challenges when applying for the Tillman scholarship was, I had to get into a conversation with myself about how much information I wanted to put out there. I questioned if my story was worth telling. I had to overcome those feelings of insecurity.”

Rielly

Bill Rielly
U.S. Army Veteran
College of Law, JDi program (3L)

“For anyone who is considering applying, it takes a lot of time to prepare a competitive application. It takes a lot of iterations and really refining your application package. I found it to be an opportunity to learn more about myself, I knew what I wanted to do, but the Tillman process helped me refine that and really sharpen it.”

DeLeon

Natasha DeLeon
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
College of Law, JDi program (1L)

“I think the biggest challenge for me was the imposter syndrome of having to write a letter about things that I have accomplished. I know that I’ve accomplished a lot, but it’s hard for me to write about those things. I was obviously able to do it, but that was a mental challenge for me.”

The Tillman Scholarship program is open to veterans and active-duty service members, including the National Guard, who have served in both pre-and post-9/11 eras. Spouses of veteran or active-duty service members are also eligible. Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree at a private or public, U.S.-based, accredited institution for the upcoming academic year. To see other criteria and apply to be a 2023 Tillman Scholar, .

The application window opened in October 2022 and will close the evening of Feb. 28. Those military-connected students who are interested in applying are highly encouraged to contact the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship. For more information on resources available, and other scholarship opportunities for military-connected students, visit the .

Savion Pollard ’25, the first person hired by the semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology for the company’s proposed $100 billion campus in the town of Clay, New York, will attend the State of the Union inside the U.S. Capitol as an honored guest of U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer.

Savion Pollard ’25, the first person hired by the semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology for the company’s proposed $100 billion campus in the town of Clay, New York, will attend the State of the Union inside the U.S. Capitol as an honored guest of U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer. The primetime address begins at 9 p.m. ET.

Schumer invited Pollard, a student in the and a U.S. Navy veteran, because he represents the commitment Micron has made to transform the Central New York community into the nation’s leading producer of these high-tech memory chips. Micron hopes to bring 9,000 high-paying jobs to the area over the next 20 years.

“I am hopeful for the future of Micron and the Central New York region. The historic investment will bring about a lot of opportunity in the area. I feel blessed that my military and engineering backgrounds have led me to be able to take advantage of this opportunity,” Savion Pollard said in a statement.

���ϲ����� will play a key role in building and training the workforce of the future that will power Micron’s leading-edge memory megafab in Clay, the largest facility of its kind in the United States.

“The future will be made in ���ϲ�����, in Upstate New York, and I am proud to have Savion as my guest as one of the first people who will be helping lay the foundation to have the future be built here in America,” Schumer said in a statement.

President Biden speaks at a podium at Onondaga Community College on Oct. 27, with Gov. Kathy Hochul ’80 and Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra seated over his left shoulder

Pollard met President Biden on Oct. 27 during the president’s visit to Onondaga Community College to promote Micron’s investment in the community and celebrate the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill aimed at increasing semiconductor manufacturing in the country.

Pollard, who previously worked as a nuclear engineering electronics technician on a Navy submarine, is majoring in electrical engineering. He will , maintaining and troubleshooting through any problems that arise with Micron’s equipment used to produce these semiconductors.

The president and the first lady typically invite around two dozen guests to attend each State of the Union address, watching the events from the House gallery. Additionally, elected leaders like Sen. Schumer were encouraged to invite their own guests this year.

Check back later for a follow-up story recapping Pollard’s experience as an honored State of the Union guest.

These scholarships, along with others offered throughout the academic year, support military-connected students and are made possible entirely through the generosity of donors and stakeholders.

Since 2017, the OVMA has distributed more than a half million dollars in financial scholarships to military-connected students and has $1.2 million available to continue making these scholarships available in future semesters.

For the spring semester, the OVMA is proud to make the following scholarships available.

Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Undergraduate Student Veteran Scholarship

• $5,000 awarded to one eligible applicant
• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student veteran

Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Military Family Member Scholarship

• $5,000 awarded to one eligible applicant
• Must be a currently enrolled student who identifies as a military family member and/or dependent

Gerald B. Faigle Jr. and Roberta M. Faigle Student Veteran Endowed Scholarship 

• $3,000 for one eligible applicant
• Must be a currently enrolled veteran and/or military-connected student
• Preference will be given to graduate students

Lucy and Joseph Napoli Veteran Endowed Scholarship

• $3,100 awarded to one eligible applicant
• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student veteran

Louis A. and Patricia H. Mautino Veteran Endowed Scholarship

• $3,000 awarded to one eligible applicant
• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student veteran

Richardson Family Scholarship for Military Family Members and Dependents

• $2,500 for one eligible applicant
• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student who identifies as a military family member and/or dependent

For application instructions and submission, visit . Those interested in learning how they can support military-connected students at ���ϲ����� are encouraged to .

In Summer College, students can explore potential college majors and academic interests by taking one (or more!) of the over taught by expert ���ϲ����� faculty and instructors. From July through August 2023, high school sophomores, juniors and seniors can experience college life on campus, online or in a hybrid format during 6-week, 3-week, or 2-week sessions.

High school students from more than 55 countries and 50 states have enrolled in a ���ϲ����� pre-college program, and 98% report that their experience prepared them for academic life and beyond. Students leave the program with a greater sense of independence and confidence, better prepared for college, and with a unique differentiator on their college applications.

and will close on May 1, 2023. Students are encouraged to apply early as many courses fill before the deadline. To learn more about Summer College, .

2023 Summer College Discount Information

���ϲ����� Employee 20% Discount

To qualify, the student must be a child or dependent of a current ���ϲ����� employee. This discount has no association with the general dependent tuition options offered by ���ϲ����� and is offered independently by The Office of Pre-College Programs. This discount provides a 20% discount on the total cost of attendance for each course enrolled.

���ϲ����� Legacy Alumni 20% Discount

To qualify, the student must be one of the following: a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a ���ϲ����� Alumni, a sibling of a student currently enrolled at ���ϲ�����, a former pre-college student, or a current or past SUPA (���ϲ����� Project Advance) student. This discount provides a 20% discount on the total cost of attendance for each course enrolled.

Central New York Resident 20% Discount

To qualify, students must be residents of Onondaga County or the immediate surrounding counties (Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, and Oswego) and live on campus for the duration of the course as a residential student. Commuter students are not eligible for this discount. This discount provides a 20% discount on the total cost of (residential) attendance for each course enrolled.

Veteran and Military 50% Discount

���ϲ����� is proud to have a tradition of service to veteran and military families. Summer College will continue this tradition by offering children of veterans or active service members a discount. Documentation is required to qualify for this 50% discount on the total cost of attendance for each course enrolled.

Native American and Indigenous Student 50% Discount

Our campus is just minutes from the heart of Haudenosaunee territory, and we are committed to empowering and supporting Indigenous students of any tribe or nation. Summer College will continue this tradition by offering indigenous students from any tribe or nation a discount. Documentation is required to qualify for this discount. This discount provides a 50% discount on the total cost of attendance for each course enrolled.

Multi-Program and Sibling 20% Discount

To qualify, students must either enroll in more than one Summer College course in 2023 or have a sibling attending a Summer College course in 2023. This discount provides a 20% discount on the total cost of attendance for each course enrolled.

To qualify for any discount above, applicants will be instructed to provide the necessary information as part of the scholarship and discounts section in the . Discounts and scholarships cannot be combined. The Office of Pre-College Programs will offer the award that provides the maximum benefit to the student in situations where more than one discount or scholarship applies.

Key takeaways:

• There are over 350,000 Black and African American active duty and select reserve members
• Over 2.4 million Black and African American veterans in the U.S
  • Of all Post-9/11 veterans, 17% are Black and African American (this is higher compared to the 13% of the nonveteran counterparts)
• 89% of respondents said joining the military was a good decision; however:
  • 56% had considered “racial/ethnic discrimination” in their decision-making process, and 53% had “concerns about safety regarding base/ installation preferences due to my (or my family member’s) racial/ethnic identity
• 93% of respondents felt pride in their accomplishments during service; however:
  • 45% believe their racial/ethnic identity hurt their ability to get ahead at work
• 59% of Black and African American veteran respondents characterized their employment transition as difficult or very difficult
• For more data on the above and numbers regarding employment, entrepreneurship, and education, please

, IVMF’s Director of Applied Research and Analytics, is the author of this data brief and is available for interviews upon request. She has been featured on , , , , and more. Please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, Media Relations Specialist, at if you’d like to schedule a time to speak with her.

The AACSB-accredited business management degree, which represents a partnership between the College of Professional Studies and the Whitman School of Management, is ranked No. 8 in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs (No. 5 in private schools), while ���ϲ����� additionally earned a ranked spot (No. 13) for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans (No. 3 in private schools).

This is the highest ranking ���ϲ����� has achieved in the history of its online undergraduate programs.

“Our rapid movement through the U.S. News rankings is a direct result of ���ϲ�����’s commitment to quality, rigor, high-touch student support and distinctive excellence in online education,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “And while the rankings are a confirmation of our excellence, the more important measures are found in the data – in the dramatically expanded access we are creating to ���ϲ�����; in the dramatically increasing numbers of military-connected students we are serving; in our exceedingly high credit transfer rates, and our rapidly increasing persistence and graduation rates. To be more precise, our success in this year’s rankings are a direct correlation to the increasing numbers of diverse students who are transforming their lives with a ���ϲ����� education through our online programs.”

���ϲ����� currently offers 10 market-sensitive , as well as eight through the College of Professional Studies.

The maintained its top 10 ranking from last year. “The Whitman School of Management is very proud of our partnership with the College of Professional Studies. This most recent accolade helps to underscore the strength and potential of joint programs, where we leverage the areas of expertise of both partners in better support of our students,” offered Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School.

The University’s No. 13 ranking as Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans is a recognition of ���ϲ�����’s commitment to being the best school for veterans, active military and military-connected students, jumping 27 spots from last year’s rankings. ���ϲ����� is the only R1 private university in the Northeast that offers online and residential part-time undergraduate study to active-duty military, guard and reservists at their respective tuition assistance (TA) rates beyond the member’s annual benefit. This means active-duty and reserve students pay no more than $250 per credit (or the current DoD TA rate) after they expend their annual TA allotment.

U.S. News & World Report ranks over 350 public and private U.S. online bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on multiple measures of academic quality alongside factors of program delivery and effectiveness of awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable amount of time. Ranks are based on methodology used by the publication that includes student engagement, services and technologies, faculty credentials and training, in addition to expert opinion provided by high-ranking academic officials which help account for the intangible factors that affect program quality that are not captured by statistics. For more information about the methodology, visit .

U.S. News & World Report college and program rankings are considered to be one of the premier rankings of U.S. higher education institutions. The full rankings, released earlier on Tuesday, are available on the U.S. News & World Report website.

 Kenneth J. Marfilius, DSW, LCSW

Kenneth J. Marfilius, DSW, LCSW, assistant dean of online and distance education and associate teaching professor of social work at Falk College, spoke to why ���ϲ����� is ranked so high on the list. “Here at ���ϲ�����, we are committed to distinguishing ���ϲ����� as the premier university for veterans, military-connected students, and families. We have a National Veterans Resource Center that cultivates and leads innovative academic, government, and community collaborations. This serves as the center of Veteran life on the campus of ���ϲ�����, the local community, and across the Central New York region.”

As an R1 research institute, it should come as no surprise that ���ϲ����� is a source for groundbreaking research across the vast array of disciplines available throughout its 13 schools and colleges. To conduct quality research, it can be a challenge to obtain the required funding. Surveys, focus groups, experiments, interviews and even observations require expenses, and that is before there is an attempt to publish the research and present it at conferences.

“The field of veterans studies crosses many disciplines and modes of inquiry, and this is certainly reflected in our five inaugural recipients,” says Nick Armstrong G’08, G’14, IVMF managing director for research and data. “The generous support provided by the Rostkers exemplifies what makes ���ϲ����� best-in-class and best for veterans—it provides rising scholars the resources and flexibility to pursue distinctive excellence, while at the same time addressing some of the leading challenges facing the veteran community.”

The funding, provided by Bernard G’66, G’70 and Louise Rostker G’68 through the , did not come with the typical restrictions due in part because of the personal experiences the couple went through in pursuing their own advanced degrees. The Rostkers have spent years dedicating time in support of military families. Bernard is a veteran of the U.S. Army and later served as a senior executive in the Department of Defense and Louise devoted herself to her lifetime career in social work, having a history of supporting education for military children and expanding employment opportunities for military spouses.

The combined total of $50,000 in funding will be dispersed between five recipients this year, each of whom have a research topic focused on the military-connected community. The five recipients for the 2022 fellowship are:

Mariah Brennen
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Brennan’s research interests include population health disparities and veterans’ health. She joined the D’Aniello Institute as a doctoral student researcher in 2019 and works in the research and evaluation division. The objective of her dissertation, titled “Post-9/11 Female Veterans: Health and Employment During Reintegration,” aims to describe gender differences in veteran health care and employment needs during the reintegration process. It will examine health and employment outcomes, reintegration stressors and social supports among veterans who recently separated from the military.

Adam Cucchiara
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Cucchiara’s research interests are in the fields of veterans’ affairs, law enforcement and policing and national security. He is a U.S. Army Veteran whose dissertation, “Essays on Military Veterans in Law Enforcement,” examines the influence of military veterans on law enforcement, specifically regarding use of force.

Cucchiara seeks to address the knowledge gap surrounding veteran performance by examining the influence of military service on individual police officers’ propensity to use lethal and non-lethal force. Cucchiara will join the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point upon completion of his studies at ���ϲ�����.

Jacob DeBlois
Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

DeBlois’ research interests focus on the contribution of occupational stressors to the risk of cardiovascular disease. The topic first caught his attention during his undergraduate studies after working on projects funded by the Department of Homeland Security investigating firefighting tactics and the impact of those tactics on physiological outcomes.

His dissertation, “The Occupational, Psychosocial, Biobehavioral and Physiological Determinants of Hypertension Risk Among Military Service Members,” seeks to explore the impact of occupational stressors on hypertension risk among a nationally representative sample of service members to determine if those with military combat exposure, injury or trauma and prolonged overseas deployments have higher blood pressure or physician diagnosed hypertension that hose without similar experiences.

Kyle Leister
Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Leister’s research interests are focused on improving quality of care for amputees. Leister is a certified orthotist/prosthetist and has over seven years of practice and continues to treat patients in the clinical setting on a part-time basis. His dissertation, “Development and Cross Validation of a Prediction Equation for Estimating Step Count in Individuals With Transtibial Amputation,” seeks to develop and cross validate two equations to estimate daily step count based on two common clinical-based functional outcome measures and one patient-reported outcome measure.

Rachel Linsner
Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Linsner’s research interests focus on military families, specifically within child and family policies. She first started with the D’Aniello Institute in 2015 as a student researcher and is now a full-time research associate working in the research and evaluation division. Her dissertation, “Military Spouse Employment Status: Implications for Attitudes Toward the Military, Individual, Well-Being and Family Functioning,” will examine the relationships between military spouse employment status, attitudes towards the military, individual well-being and family functioning.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.