Syracuse University’s military-connected community came together for an evening of celebration during the annual (SVO) Ball and Awards Banquet. The formal event, held each year during the spring semester, acknowledges the accomplishments of the veteran community at the University and serves as an evening of camaraderie before the academic calendar is overtaken by final exams.

This year’s event featured a 1950s-themed evening held at the at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, welcoming military-connected students, faculty, staff and supporters for a night of dinner, awards, music and dancing, as well as an opportunity to win prizes in a raffle drawing to benefit next year’s SVO functions.

The evening opened with a solemn remembrance of POW and MIA service members, before SVO President and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Leonel “Leo” Aviles ’26, an information management and technology major in the , welcomed guests and introduced the keynote speaker for the evening.

This year’s guest speaker was Killian Hartough ’19, PT, DPT, a Coast Guard veteran and Syracuse native whose path reflects a story of perseverance the SVO community knows well. Hartough spoke of his early setback in higher education that eventually led him to enlisting in the Coast Guard. After serving for four years, Hartough developed a deeper sense of drive and commitment to accomplishing his goals that allowed him to persevere through higher education and helped him find his way to working at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Syracuse as a physical therapist.

Acknowledging Commitment to Service

Each year, both the SVO and the (OVMA) use the event to present their annual awards. While some awards presented are intended for laughs with light-hearted jokes about military service, other awards are considered prestigious among the military-connected community on campus. ��Among the awards presented this year:

The SVO Best for Vets Award was presented to Varun “G” Gollapudi ’27, a junior on a pre-med track and decorated Army medic who served four years on active duty as a 68W combat medic, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and continues to serve today as a staff sergeant and detachment sergeant for a forward surgical team. The award recognized Gollapudi’s consistent presence and genuine investment in the SVO community.

The SVO Outstanding Staff Member of the Year Award was presented to Charlie Poag ’22, communications manager for the OVMA, recognized for his availability, mentorship and tireless support of the SVO, including his work capturing events through photography and media coverage that has helped tell the story of the veteran community at the University.

The SVO Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award was presented to Andrew Patterson L’24, a recently licensed attorney affiliated with the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, recognized for his empathetic, non-judgmental approach to helping student veterans navigate complex VA benefit issues and his meaningful impact on the lives of veterans across campus.

The Impact Veteran Award was presented for the first time this year to Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and founder of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and Chancellor-elect. Haynie’s foundational role in building a culture of veteran support at Syracuse, from the launch of the IVMF in 2011 to his direct engagement with student veterans, was cited as the basis for his selection of the inaugural award.

The Danny Facto Student Veteran Work Study Award, presented by the Office of Veteran Success, was awarded to Raul “Rudy” Rosique ’24, G’26. The award honors the memory of Danny Facto, a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient who was the first VA work-study student at the University. Facto attended the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics before his death in a motorcycle accident in July 2009.

The OVMA Student Veteran of the Year Award was presented by OVMA Executive Director Ron Novack, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, to Raul “Rudy” Rosique ’24, G’26. Rosique was recognized for his standout commitment to the military-connected community at the University and is the first student veteran to receive the prestigious award twice, having also earned it the previous academic school year.

“It is a tremendous honor to receive this award for a second time,” Rosique said. “When I got here in 2021, I did not really have many family members or friends and the SVO really brought me in. I’ve just really wanted to give everything I possibly can to this organization and this school. It has truly paid me back ten-fold. I truly can not think of my life being any better without the support of the staff and faculty and staff at Syracuse University.”

Aviles closed the formal portion of the evening by celebrating the graduating class of 2026, reading the names of student veterans crossing the finish line this year before handing off the gavel to the incoming SVO executive board for the 2026–2027 academic year:

• President: Varun Gollapudi ’27
• Vice President: Edgar De Mesa ’28
• Treasurer: Hunter Pyke ’27
• Secretary: Donovan Rosas-Banuelos ’30
• Public Affairs Officer: Manuel Villavicenciosolano ’27
• Community Outreach Coordinator: James Piedrasanta G’27
• Online Student Ambassador: Ty Tran ’26

“Honestly, I’m ecstatic, I’m truly honored,” says incoming SVO President Gollapudi. “I came to this university with just the notion of going out and getting a degree, I never thought I’d be part of a community of like-minded people or being a part of something bigger than myself here. We already know that Syracuse University is the best place for veterans. What that means to me is that Syracuse University, as a whole, gives us veterans who have walked a different path in life than the everyday person, the support to go out and be the best of themselves. I want to be able to build up the rest of my fellow veterans to go out and make an impact in their respective communities, and our community as a whole.”

Reflecting on his tenure before passing the torch, Aviles expressed gratitude for a community that gave him a sense of purpose.

“As a first-generation college student and a veteran, this role has meant a lot to me,” Aviles said. “The friendships, the trust, and the way we show up for each other, that’s what makes the SVO what it is.”

G’01, L’01, the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence 2024-2027 at the College of Law, has spent her career teaching at the intersection of constitutional law, disability law, human rights and international security. The Meredith Professorship has given her sustained support to pursue her focus on universal design in higher education, not as an abstract principle, she says, but as a lived challenge institutions are navigating in real time.

As part of her teaching award, she has organized a daylong symposium on April 10 at the College of Law, sponsored by multiple University partners, including the Burton Blatt Institute, Center for Disability Resources, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and the College of Law’s Disability Law and Policy Program. The event will examine the transformative global impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the evolution of universal design principles in higher education.

That global lens is grounded in True-Frost’s own research. Studying accessibility law at the European Court of Human Rights, she has found that the ADA’s most significant international influence has been conceptual rather than doctrinal: the foundational idea that disability is a rights issue, not a welfare issue and that the burden of accommodation belongs to institutions rather than individuals.

True-Frost hopes the event will prompt a harder look at how higher education institutions approach accessibility.

“Inclusion is not a disability resources office problem,” she says. “It is a campuswide design challenge—and getting it right is how we honor the promise that higher education makes to everyone who comes here seeking to grow.”

Below, True-Frost shares what she hopes students, faculty and administrators take away from the symposium.

The (CHB) in the (A&S) has awarded its first round of competitive grants for interdisciplinary and cross-institutional health and behavioral science research projects.

A total of $33,000 in seed funding has been awarded to six separate projects through the and the . The grants are intended to catalyze cross-university collaboration and position investigators for larger external grant submissions.

“The selected proposals span researchers from six Syracuse University colleges and institutes and eight departments, schools and centers, truly reflecting broad institutional engagement and collaboration,” says , director of the CHB and professor in the Department of Psychology in A&S. “The grants also illustrate CHB’s strategic role in seeding interdisciplinary research, strengthening university-Veterans Affairs partnerships, accelerating development of competitive external grant submissions and advancing impactful work across health and behavioral science domains.”

Projects include research on intimate partner violence among veterans, alcohol reduction messaging in Veterans Affairs primary care, heart rate training for entrepreneurs, healthy eating tools for young children, AI support readiness for family caregivers and virtual reality-based voice therapy for pre-service (student) teachers.

Several external partners are also included. Those projects involve researchers at , , and , as well as and industry partner .

Pilot funds were provided to CHB by the College of Arts and Sciences with direct support from Dean , Ditre says. The funds can be used for participant compensation, core facility access, data acquisition, study materials, software and other costs of launching new collaborative research. Projects begin this month and cover a 12-month period.

Researchers receiving grants and their projects are:

Understanding and Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Among Veterans: A Mixed Methods Study of Risk Factors, Experiences and Treatment Preferences

• , assistant professor of psychology, A&S
• , clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow, VA Center for Integrated Healthcare,

Nudge Messaging to Promote Alcohol-Related Behavior Change Among Veterans in Primary Care

• , research assistant professor, CHB/IVMF and clinical research program director, VA Center for Integrated Healthcare
• , research professor and professor emeritus of psychology, A&S

Family Caregiver Well-Being and Readiness for AI-Based Support

• , associate professor of senior research associate, ,
• assistant professor of faculty associate, , Maxwell School

Virtual Reality-Based Voice Therapy for Pre-Service Teachers: Initial Design of a VR Voice Intervention

• , assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, A&S
• , associate professor of industrial and interaction design, ,

A Sweet Texts Add-On to Identify Tailoring Variables and Decision Points for Reducing Energy-Dense Food Intake in Preschool Children

• , assistant professor of nutrition and food studies,
• , assistant professor of psychology, A&S

Physiological Self-Regulation as a Foundation of Entrepreneurial Functioning

• , assistant professor of entrepreneurship,
• , associate professor of entrepreneurship and academic director of the , Whitman School

A new documentary exploring the history of and the role of faith across the Syracuse University community premiered this week on Fox Nation.

“” tells the story of Hendricks as the spiritual heart of campus, home to five world religions and 16 chaplains serving a diverse student body. The 25-minute film is hosted by Hall, a foreign affairs correspondent for Fox.

In the film, Chancellor Kent Syverud reflects on how faith at Syracuse extends well beyond the building itself. “It’s not the building,” he said. “This is a community, and it’s been a booming, vibrant community for all faiths, and that’s one of the reasons why we’ve had a solid community experience in recent years when many universities have been torn apart.”

Former Hendricks Dean Brian Konkol spoke with Hall about the chapel’s unique role as both a sacred space and a hub for campus life, from major performances and events to People’s Place coffee shop and the Coach Mac Food Pantry.

Faith, Leadership and Athletics

The documentary also captures the intersection of faith and athletics. Hall interviewed football coach Fran Brown and women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack about their personal faith journeys and how those experiences shape their leadership on and off the field. Athletics Chaplain William Payne discussed his work supporting student-athletes as they navigate the demands of academics and competition.

The film also turns to one of the most solemn chapters in the University’s history. The University’s connection to the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, is woven into the film. The 1988 tragedy claimed the lives of 35 Syracuse University students, one of the most devastating losses in the University’s history. The Fox team visited the Remembrance Wall on campus to honor their memory.

Visually, the documentary draws on a range of campus scenes: students studying outside on sunny days, the football team walking across the Quad on game days, candlelight vigils outside Hendricks, chaplains leading services and Otto’s Army rallying inside the JMA Wireless Dome.

In addition to the feature documentary, Fox Nation produced a on the renovated and expanded St. Thomas More Chapel and Syracuse University Catholic Center, which reopened in 2025. The crew also visited the .

Names on the Wall

Another stop on campus carried personal significance for Hall. At the , Hall visited a memorial wall honoring more than 2,500 journalists killed in the line of duty. While covering the war in Ukraine, he was severely injured in a missile attack that killed two of his colleagues. He lost a leg, part of his other foot, an eye and the use of one hand, and later documented his recovery in his books “” and “.” During his visit to the wall, he saw the names of his colleagues, photojournalist and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova, etched into the memorial.

The Newhouse connection runs deeper still for the production. Fox team members included alumni Tania Joseph ’18, a Newhouse graduate in broadcast and digital journalism, and Jayson Jones ’19, who earned a master’s degree in communications from Newhouse.

“” marks the series’ inaugural season. Alongside the Hendricks episode, the series features St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans and the Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The documentary is available to stream with a paid Fox Nation subscription.

came to Syracuse University as a with an urgent purpose: to learn all she could about helping veterans return to civilian life and bring that knowledge home to war-torn Ukraine.

Pohorielova is an��associate professor and head of the Department of Pedagogy, Foreign Philology and Translation at in , near the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine War. Her journey to Syracuse began after she heard a high-level Ukrainian official observe that is about to become a city of veterans.

The comment was a turning point. Pohorielova realized that, when the war ends, hundreds of thousands of veterans will need support transitioning to civilian life: finding jobs, housing and educational pathways and, hopefully, a society aware of and responsive to their unique psychological needs. Yet Pohorielova also knew her country was far from ready to provide that help. “I felt like I didn’t know anything about veterans. I had no clue. And I felt like other establishments weren’t ready for the influx of veterans, either,” she says.

The next day, she learned about the Fulbright Visiting Scholar program and applied. To her surprise, she became just the second person from her university to receive a Fulbright in 30 years.

Right Place, Right Time

The Fulbright program matches host institutions with a scholar’s research goals, making Syracuse University, with its emphasis on veterans, a natural fit. Pohorielova’s visit is being hosted through the (CHB), drawing on the expertise and engagement of the (IVMF), the (OVMA), the (SOE), and colleagues at the . Among those who facilitated Pohorielova’s residency was IVMF founder and University Chancellor-elect .

“[This] is one of the best places in the U.S. to observe veteran re-entry services. Practices here have been validated. We need to learn, borrow, start them and adjust American practices to existing Ukrainian realities,” Pohorielova says.

Since her arrival, Pohorielova has attended monthly CHB seminars, worked closely with faculty sponsors , professor of psychology and CHB director; and , SOE faculty director of online programs and strategic initiatives, associate teaching professor in the School of Social Work and CHB associate director. She also engaged with faculty, staff, doctoral students and researchers across campus.

“Their contribution to my research is incredible,” she says of her sponsors. The broader campus culture has been welcoming, too. “Every person I meet here is trying to support me and give me the information I need.”

Facilitating the Transition

Ukrainian soldiers face the same reintegration challenges as American veterans: psychological health risks, substance use, financial instability and difficulty transitioning back to civilian life.��But for Ukrainian veterans who are returning to communities still under threat, with shattered economies and disrupted families, those risks may be even more acute, Pohorielova says.

Reintegrating also involves other obstacles, including funding, cultural resistance and a general distrust of mental health services, which is a legacy of Soviet-era political repression. Ukraine’s military culture, which prizes toughness and stigmatizes psychological struggles as weakness, presents another hurdle, Pohorielova says.

Pohorielova believes Ukrainian educational institutions can help facilitate veterans’ transition from military service to civilian life. At the same time, they can leverage veterans’ leadership, experience and a strong sense of purpose, qualities that can make them active contributors to postwar recovery efforts in Ukraine.

“Investing in veterans’ wellbeing, education and vocational pathways supports not only individual reintegration but also broader social and economic stability,” she says.

Insights from Pohorielova’s research at Syracuse form the basis of her recovery action plan, “Veteran Reintegration Ecosystem for Ukrainian Universities.” The scalable, locally grounded program can be implemented within existing institutions, she believes. The plan’s three pillars are institutional capacity and coordination; behavioral health and wellbeing; and workforce and economic integration.

Components include:

• Clear coordination and referral pathways to help veterans navigate academic and support services
• Faculty and staff training to strengthen the university’s ability to support veteran students
• Behavioral health awareness and referral pathways
• Flexible online and hybrid learning options
• Short-course retraining, microcredentials and entrepreneurship pathways aligned with workforce needs
• Structured employer and community partnerships to support job placement, entrepreneurship and business development

Pohorielova and her 13-year-old daughter, who came with her to the U.S. and attends school locally, have been here since February and will return to Ukraine this summer. By then, Pohorielova will be ready to present her fully developed framework to her university’s leadership as a ready-to-go strategy, and she hopes to see its immediate adoption.

Success would fulfill her dream of helping her country, her university and her community, and ensure that veterans will have proven systems in place to support their return.

“Following a dream is a good thing,” she says. “Once you succeed, you will get to a new level. That’s what happened to me. I didn’t expect it, but I’m very happy to be here.”

Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19, a devoted alumnus, University trustee and generous supporter of Syracuse University, will deliver the keynote address at the ‘s 2026 Convocation Ceremony. Barnes, who majored in accounting in the Whitman School, has maintained close ties to the University throughout a career spanning nearly four decades in private equity.

Bain Capital LP is one of the world’s leading global private investment firms, managing more than $215 billion in assets under management across private equity, venture capital, public equity and leveraged debt. Barnes has been affiliated with Bain since 1988 and previously served as chairman of global private equity, head of North American private equity, co-head of European private equity, and founded and led the global portfolio group.

He also served in various leadership positions within Bain’s portfolio companies, including as CEO of Dade Behring, a global diagnostic company, president of Executone Business Solutions, a telecommunications company, and president of The Holson Burnes Group, a publicly traded consumer products company.

Barnes served as chairman of the University’s from 2015-19 and as chairman emeritus from 2019-23. He currently serves as vice chair of the board. Outside of Syracuse, Barnes serves on the board of directors of the Boston Celtics as a member of ownership, and is a board member of MV Youth, The Park of West Palm Beach and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. He previously served on the boards of Boston Children’s Hospital, New Profit, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Boston City Year and was the former chairman of the board of The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve Barnes back to campus to speak to our graduates this year,” says Whitman Interim Dean . “Steve’s extraordinary career in private equity, combined with his lifelong commitment to this University and its students, make him an ideal voice for our Class of 2026. His story, from his time as a student at Whitman to the heights he has reached in business and in his service to Syracuse University, is one that will truly inspire our graduates as they take their next steps.”

Barnes’ connection to the Whitman School is long-standing and wide-ranging. He is a longtime member of the , a founding investor in the Orange Value Fund and served as the founding co-chair of the Advisory Board. He received the Whitman School’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award in 2011.

The generosity of Barnes and his wife, Deborah, has had a transformative impact across campus, including:

• providing the lead gift for the , the University’s integrated health, wellness and recreation complex;
• endowing the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and the Barnes Professorship in Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School and establishing the Barnes Award for Academic Excellence, a merit-based scholarship recognizing outstanding first-year Whitman students; and
• supporting Remembrance Scholars, Syracuse Athletics, the Office of Disability Services and other initiatives across the University.

Barnes was recognized with an honorary doctorate degree from Syracuse University in 2019 and he received the Dritz Trustee of the Year Award in 2014.

The Whitman School’s Convocation Ceremony will be held Saturday, May 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Syracuse University—home to one of the longest continuously running ROTC programs in the nation—has staff members available to comment on the shooting at Old Dominion University March 12 that killed Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, professor of military science and Army ROTC commander at ODU. Reporters covering the ROTC response, including the cadets who intervened and the leadership culture that shapes how they train, can reach out to schedule interviews.

Media contact: Vanessa Marquette, Media Relations Specialist, vrmarque@syr.edu

Available Experts

Ray Toenniessen, Deputy Executive Director, D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)

is a U.S. Army veteran and former Syracuse University ROTC cadet. He can speak to how ROTC programs build leadership instincts before moments of crisis—specifically the culture of responsibility and action that instructors like Lt. Col. Shah instill in their cadets.

Toenniessen states:

“In moments of crisis, you often learn what kind of leaders someone built. Today, we lost a great American and a soldier, LTC Brandon Shah, professor of military science at Old Dominion University, killed in this morning’s terrorist attack on campus. At least two ROTC cadets were also gravely wounded.

“It is a devastating loss for his family, for the Old Dominion community, and for the ROTC program he led. But amid that tragedy, something extraordinary happened.

“When the shooter entered that classroom and opened fire, the cadets LTC Shah had trained didn’t freeze. According to law enforcement, they moved immediately, rushing the gunman and stopping the attack. The FBI’s special agent in charge credited them directly, saying their actions likely prevented further casualties. They moved toward the threat.

“If you’ve spent any time around our nation’s ROTC programs, that isn’t surprising. Because that is exactly what leaders like LTC Shah spend their days teaching and living. Responsibility for the people to your left and right, and a willingness to act when it matters most. Those instincts don’t appear suddenly in a crisis. They are built over time, by leaders who show young men and women what service actually means.

“LTC Shah served more than two decades in uniform, deploying in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He gave everything, including his life, in service to this country.

“Tonight we mourn a soldier, a mentor and a hero. We honor the young leaders he helped shape, who when the moment came stepped forward without hesitation.

“That is a true measure of a leader’s legacy.

“I’m praying for the family of LTC Brandon Shah, the cadets of the Old Dominion Army ROTC program, and the entire ODU community.”

Retired Col. Ron Novack, Executive Director, Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA)

oversees the University’s military-connected student programs, including both the Army and Air Force ROTC programs. He can discuss ROTC leadership development at the institutional level—the culture of service, the structure of the program and how it prepares cadets to act decisively in emergencies.

As conflict between U.S. and Israeli forces and Iran intensifies across the Middle East, Syracuse University faculty and staff are available for media interviews. Their names, titles and areas of expertise are listed below. To arrange an interview, contact Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

• , professor in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and the modern Middle East. Khalil is the author of “America’s Dream Palace: Middle East Expertise and the Rise of the National Security State”��(Harvard University Press, 2016). He is frequently featured in the media regarding issues in the Middle East, with the latest being and .
• Retired Vice Admiral is��professor of practice in the Maxwell School and deputy director of the . Previously, Murrett was a career intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy, serving in assignments throughout the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East during his 34 years of service. Murrett also speaks with the media often on international relations, national security and military and defense strategy. In relation to the latest with the war on Iran, Murrett was interviewed by (), ��and .
• is deputy executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and a U.S. Army veteran. He can speak to the lived experience of ongoing military conflict—particularly the gap between public perception and the reality faced by service members and their families. Toenniessen’s expertise spans long-term support for veterans and Gold Star families, military family resilience during undeclared or low-visibility conflicts and why national commitment to those who serve must be sustained, not situational. He has about the U.S. service members killed in action following news of their deaths.

, a program instructor at the and associate professor of entrepreneurship in the , has been named one of eight , providing national recognition for his role helping U.S. service members chart their own path from uniform to business ownership.

From the Korean Marine Corps to the Whitman School Classroom

Park’s path to the classroom began in uniform. He served as an officer in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, where one of his most formative roles was as a liaison officer to the U.S. Marine Corps. “I loved working side-by-side with U.S. Marines, and that experience gave me a lasting respect and affection for the U.S. military community,” Park says. “I feel fortunate that I can continue contributing in a way that supports service members and their families.”

After his military service, Park co-founded a high-tech startup before entering academia, giving him direct experience with both the challenges of transition and the realities of launching a business. “After leaving the military, I went through my own transition into entrepreneurship. It was exciting, but also uncertain, especially because at the time in Korea there wasn’t a robust transition assistance program like the one that exists here,” Park says. “I learned the hard way through trial and error, and I still remember how steep that learning curve can be.”

That experience now shapes how he teaches. Park joined the Whitman School faculty in 2017 and teaches Opportunity Recognition and Ideation, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management. His teaching has earned multiple honors, including recognition by in 2022.

Helping Veterans and Military Spouses Shorten the Learning Curve

“I am passionate about helping service members, veterans and military spouses shorten the trial-and-error cycle, build confidence and move forward with practical tools and a clear roadmap to launch and grow successful ventures,” he says. “Being named SBA’s Boots to Business Instructor of the Year means a great deal to me because it reflects the privilege of supporting participants at a pivotal moment in their lives.”

“What makes David’s contribution to the IVMF, the Whitman School and Boots to Business so impactful is that he has lived the very journey he’s teaching,” says Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, executive dean of the Whitman School and founder and executive director of the IVMF.

“He served in uniform, navigated his own transition, co-founded a business and then chose to dedicate his career to preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. For the service members and military spouses sitting in his classroom, that credibility matters,” Haynie says. “David’s recognition by the SBA is well-deserved, and it speaks to the kind of impact that’s possible when world-class teaching and a genuine commitment to the military community come together.”

The recognition comes during a period of momentum for entrepreneurship education at Syracuse. In November 2025, the Princeton Review ranked Whitman’s graduate entrepreneurship programs No. 17 nationally, up seven spots from the previous year. Whitman’s undergraduate business program held at No. 11 in the country.

“Professor David Park’s exceptional work with Syracuse University’s IVMF embodies the spirit of the Boots to Business program by transforming military experience into entrepreneurial success,” says Matt Coleman, SBA Atlantic Region administrator. “His dedication provides our veterans and military families with the vital tools and confidence needed to launch their next chapters after service in uniform.”

Park also credited his program manager, Brigid Purtell, for making everything seamless for instructors, which allows Park to focus on delivering the best possible workshop experience.

Park earned a Ph.D. from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, a master’s degree from Seoul National University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Seoul. He was honored alongside other recipients during a ceremony on Feb. 19.

About Boots to Business

The program, part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program, provides foundational entrepreneurship courses to service members, veterans and military spouses exploring business ownership. The IVMF serves as a key partner in delivering Boots to Business instruction, including to service members and military spouses stationed outside the continental United States.

When Sgt. First Class Andrew Zellar began basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on June 6, 2006, he thought he knew what his career in military service would look like.

Twenty years later, as he moves on from years as a military science instructor at Syracuse University and prepares to retire later this year from the New York Army National Guard, he reflects on a career that took unexpected turns and allowed him to impact hundreds of lives in ways he never imagined.

“The most unexpected part was the chance to have the assignment at ROTC. I had a vague understanding of what I would be doing, but my experience was a lot more rewarding than I expected,” Zellar says. “The thing I am most proud of is seeing past soldiers and cadets performing in the Army and in life.”

Zellar’s journey began like many of his generation, shaped by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Fresh out of high school in 2004, the Cazenovia native wanted to serve, but his parents encouraged him to pursue college first.

After two years, the pull toward service won out. He enlisted in the Army National Guard as a military police officer, initially planning to combine service with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

When plans to deploy overseas did not materialize, Zellar found himself in limbo—until an opportunity emerged that would define his career.

Finding His Calling in Recruiting

In 2007, during one of the most challenging periods for military recruiting, Zellar stepped into a role that would test every interpersonal skill he possessed. The economy was collapsing, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were intensifying, and the National Guard needed people who could connect with potential recruits and their families.

“Most people that join the military always have a desire to do it,” Zellar says. “It’s just that the opportunity to do it has to intersect with the motivation.”

He saw this firsthand at career fairs, where he met not teenagers but 25- and 30-year-old adults with impressive resumes who simply had no jobs. The 2008 economic crisis had created both challenges and opportunities for recruiting.

His approach was simple but demanding: show up.

“I probably failed more than I succeeded in a lot of things, but I would just show up,” he says. That first year, he worked every single day, meeting potential recruits whenever and wherever they needed—late nights, weekends, holidays.

His work in St. Lawrence County, located along New York’s northern border, juxtaposed recruiting Clarkson University, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence University with the county’s rural residents.

One memory stands out in particular. Zellar visited a young man living in dire poverty—a home heated with wood pallets, with essentially nothing. “You need this. You got to get out of here,” he remembers thinking. The National Guard gave the young man a path forward.

The rural assignment taught Zellar invaluable lessons, sharpening his skills and deepening his understanding of how people struggle.

Preparing the Next Generation

In 2018, Zellar was chosen for a new role with the New York Army National Guard. He joined Syracuse University as a military science instructor with the Army ROTC program, a position that joined his recruiting expertise with a deeper mission of developing young leaders.

Over the next eight years, he worked with more than 325 cadets and contributed to the commissioning of 215 Army second lieutenants.

“The thing I’ll look back on and enjoy the most is watching them achieve what they’re capable of achieving,” Zellar says. He remembers helping a cadet, an Iraqi refugee, obtain her citizenship, presenting her with a pocket Constitution at the ceremony.

His teaching philosophy challenges students to expand their perspectives.

“Whatever news source you get, whatever stuff you like to read, read the opposite,” he tells first-year students. “Just for no other reason than to see something a little bit different.”

His advice extends beyond tactics and strategy. “Swing at the pitch. If you get an opportunity, you can strike out. I’ll deal with it. We will figure it out. But nothing’s worse than watching the pitch go by,” he says.

A Legacy Beyond the Uniform

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zellar and his ROTC colleagues proved indispensable, running testing sites and helping keep the University operational. It exemplified what he values most about service: being there when it matters.

As Zellar retires from military service later this year, he leaves behind more than statistics. He leaves young officers commissioned and ready to lead, recruits who found purpose and opportunity, and countless individuals whose lives changed because one person was willing to show up every time, without fail.

As he moves forward, Zellar will continue to pursue his real estate career. And he is looking forward to spending more time on what matters most: his wife Gloriann, daughters Audrey and Gabriella, and son Andrew Jr.

The announced the hiring of Marine Corps veteran Justin Machain as the director of the (OVS), bringing to campus more than a decade of experience supporting student veterans and military-connected students in higher education.

The former director, retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Keith Doss, entered retirement in early December after 35 years at Syracuse University. Doss began his career on campus in 1990, serving in various capacities around the university before joining the OVS in 2011, known as the Veterans Resource Center at the time. Doss steered the OVS through some of the most transformative years in the University’s recent history in supporting student veterans and military-connected students. He has been referred to by many student veterans over the years as a critical component to their success in higher education.

Machain, a native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, comes to Syracuse from the University of Colorado where he served as the assistant registrar, which included the responsibility of being the lead school certifying official (SCO). SCOs are a vital component for military-connected students using their education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Not only do they ensure all administrative requirements are met, they serve as a vital conduit of information between the VA and students.

“Playing a proactive role really helps offset any kind of financial or academic issues that may come up,” Machain says. “If student veterans inform the staff here of any issues or questions, we can get ahead of any potential problems and tackle any roadblocks before the veteran experiences any difficulties or disruptions with their benefits.”

Machain brings with him a wide variety of experience from institutions in higher education across the country. From Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, to his home state of Pennsylvania with Montgomery County Community College and Villanova University.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Kutztown University, and later, a master’s degree in political science from East Stroudsburg University.

“I started in higher education after I completed graduate school in 2012, and I’ve been in higher education ever since,” says Machain. “The majority of my job descriptions and duties have been working with student veterans, whether it be certifying benefits or running student veteran centers on campus.”

Machain�� joined the Marine Corps in 1999 after graduating from high school. After four years of service, which included a deployment to Iraq in early 2003 with the 1^st Marine Division, he left the Corps and leveraged the education benefits of his G.I. Bill.

Aside from being closer to home, Machain says a big appeal for coming to Syracuse was the university’s reputation with veterans in higher education.

“It was just a great opportunity to finally transition to a school where veterans kind of took front seat,” says Machain. “The university treats veterans with the same priority most educational institutions treat student athletes, and it’s just great to be at a place that puts military-connected students at the forefront.”

The University has seen a 300% increase in veteran and military-connected enrollment since 2015, and in that time, the OVS has handled more than $156 million in VA education payments to the University. With more than 700 students typically requiring certification for VA benefits each semester, Machain enters an office that is critical to making the University the “Best Place for Veterans.”

“The expansion of professional staff that work with student veterans has definitely grown in spaces across higher education,” Machain says. “Since I started in higher ed, offices and personnel have expanded on college campuses for student veterans because the VA and state regulations can change so much. It takes much more time for the staff to be able to figure out the new guidelines and everything.”

As Machain settles into his new position, he says he wants veteran and military-connected students to be reminded of how crucial communication with the OVS is.

“You can only give out so much information,” he says. “Every student situation is different, so without them asking about their particular life circumstances, situations or things they are experiencing, we may not know how to best answer or help them through that. This office and these certifying officials do a great job of getting information out to students like I’ve never seen anywhere else, so they’re doing their part. It also falls on the student a little bit when they have an issue or situation to reach out, and I highly encourage them to do so.”

Students using their VA benefits at the University are highly encouraged to reach out to the OVS if they have any questions or concerns about their benefits. The OVS is located in Suite 012 on the bottom floor of the National Veterans Resource Center in the Dan and Gayle D’Aniello Building. Students are encouraged to contact the OVS via e-mail or by calling 315.443.0358.

On a day when Micron Technology broke ground on its $100 billion memory chip facility in Clay, New York, the largest private investment in New York state history, Syracuse University was celebrated for its partnership with Micron in helping to prepare its future workforce, including a focus on training veterans for those roles.

told a crowd Friday afternoon inside the at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building (NVRC) that nearly 500 veterans and transitioning service members are currently enrolled in essential training through the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ Semiconductor Hub, creating a veteran workforce pipeline that prepares them “for promising new careers in the chips industry.”

“Here at the NVRC, the focus is exclusively on our nation’s veterans, and veterans have been among the first to contribute to Micron executing its vision,” Chancellor Syverud said.

Additionally, in 2024, Syracuse University and Onondaga County announced a combined $20 million investment to launch the Syracuse University Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (CASM), which will train workers across all education levels for careers in the semiconductor industry.

More than three years after the initial announcement that Micron would construct four factories or fabs in the Town of Clay, the semiconductor company celebrated this historic first step on its biggest expansion ever in the U.S. with a groundbreaking, followed by an event at the NVRC.

Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra thanked Chancellor Syverud for the University’s support of this investment “from the very beginning,” for the Chancellor’s “leadership at this great University,” and for Syracuse’s willingness to create “pathways to jobs for veterans.”

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon credited Chancellor Syverud’s “steadfast leadership” in collaborating on “a partnership [with Micron and Syracuse University] that will go down in the history books” thanks to “Syracuse’s commitment to the workforce infrastructure for a critical segment of the population that is going to help drive this industry: our veterans.”

“This once-in-a-generation investment in this community was met with excitement and optimism, and people from every corner of this region have come together to move this project forward,” Chancellor Syverud said. “Syracuse University is proud to be part of this work. This is a great day to be Orange.”

“Syracuse University is recognizing our veterans and what they can contribute to the workforce. Thank you for your devotion to our veterans,” said U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney, whose son currently is a major in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Micron says it will start producing chips at its new manufacturing site in four years, and that it plans to build up to four chipmaking factories in Clay to manufacture billions of tiny computer chips that are needed for everything from cell phones and cars to artificial intelligence and household appliances.

“Today is Syracuse’s day, and I am orange from my head to my toes,” said U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, who proudly showcased his orange tie and bright orange socks. “Micron is here and it is here to stay. When I wrote the Chips and Science Act, I had a vision to transform Upstate New York into the semiconductor manufacturing center of the country. We are achieving that dream.”

For Gov. Kathy Hochul ’80, who first became involved with government and activism as a political science undergraduate student in the , commemorating Micron’s groundbreaking was a full-circle moment.

“We’re here talking about a lot of memory on these chips, and I have so many memories just bursting from my heart from my time at Syracuse,” Hochul said. “This University was a place of new beginning for me, and this is now a place for new beginnings for Micron.”

Mehrotra said Micron could have 9,000 employees on site once it is in full production 20 years from now, and that this investment could create an additional 40,000 jobs in categories ranging from semiconductor suppliers and other supporting roles.

Attending the groundbreaking with Chancellor Syverud, Mehrotra, Schumer, Hochul, McMahon and Tenney were U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and U.S. Representatives John Mannion and Paul Tonko.

A significant expansion in structure, programming and community outreach�� is paving the way for the (CHB) to help position Syracuse University as a national leader in research, education and practice.

An initiative of the (A&S), the and the (IVMF), CHB has a particular focus on the study and promotion of health, well-being and resilience among veterans and military-connected individuals.

Since launching its website and affiliate portal this past summer, have joined CHB—researchers, educators and clinical practitioners from across the University and from area health institutions. have been launched and the student research cohort has been formed.

CHB has hired a dedicated to support affiliate projects. It has also established a for staff who coordinate research initiatives and plans to implement student awards. Additional workshops and research showcases are scheduled for spring.

Building an Ecosystem

CHB is designed to advance translational health behavior research, education and training and provide a collaborative ecosystem for professionals working in the health behavior field, says , A&S professor of psychology, licensed clinical psychologist and CHB director.

Health behavior is a broad, interdisciplinary area that examines the many factors, choices and conditions that influence physical and mental health across the lifespan. The center’s purposeful cross-campus, cross-institutional structure makes it a hub for affiliates to share interests, findings and treatments and engage in academic and professional collaborations. Affiliates conduct basic laboratory studies, field research, clinical trials, digital health intervention work, qualitative studies and implement projects.

Veteran Focus

While CHB operates across a wide range of health behavior fields, a specialized focus on veterans and military-connected individuals complements the University’s commitment to that population, according to Ditre.

“Syracuse University has a national reputation as the best university for veterans and military-connected students. The University has worked with the Syracuse VA for about 30 years, beginning with faculty research collaborations and later expanding to co-mentored training and student placements. Building on that reputation and three decades of partnership, we should also strive to be the best place to learn how to serve veterans,” he says.

Veterans experience higher rates of suicide risk, trauma-related concerns, sleep problems, chronic health conditions and substance use compared to civilian peers. Many also face barriers tied to geography, stigma and complex transitions between military and civilian systems.

“These gaps have real consequences for individuals, families and communities. The University and this center, in collaboration with the IVMF, are uniquely positioned to address them,” Ditre says.

Digital Innovation

Digital innovation is a high priority because technologies like mobile devices, biometric monitoring and virtual reality help researchers collect real-time data from participants and capture their moment-to-moment experiences as well as indicators of health and behavior.

Affiliates have built mobile tools, tested them in trials and worked with community partners to implement check-in platforms and digital interventions that deliver guided exercises or personalized feedback.

“These tools let us reach people who may not engage with traditional services and connect with participants as they go about their daily routines or in settings where traditional care is harder to access. These technologies also help us understand behavior, tailor information to individual needs and deliver support in ways that fit people’s circumstances. For many of the populations we serve, this kind of flexibility is essential,” Ditre says.

Assuring health equity is another key focal point. That means designing studies and programs that are flexible, accessible and attentive to actual conditions and making sure that research benefits and outcomes reach the communities that need them most.

Grant and Award Applications

Application portals for the new pilot grant programs open Jan. 20, 2026, and close Feb. 12, 2026.

The supports cross-departmental and cross-campus projects with external institutional partners. The supports new or expanded Syracuse University and Veterans Affairs collaborations.

The grants range from $500 to $10,000 and the total pool of $50,000 is funded by A&S.

The funds give teams a way to test ideas, build a partnership or generate early data for larger external grant submissions. They also lower the barrier for new investigators who want to connect their work with campus priorities, according to Ditre.

Nominations for the , which cites excellence in research coordination work, are ongoing.

Future Activities

Future plans include more workshops with VA partners and collaboration with University Academic Affairs and the IVMF on a “Voices of Service” showcase where faculty, staff, students and community partners share veteran-focused research, courses and applied programs.

A neuroscience and health behavior research day, new working groups regarding sleep, substance use, trauma and digital health issues, awards for student work and additional community engagement activities are also planned.

The Syracuse University (OVMA) invites the campus community to the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building for the annual observance of Syracuse University’s Veterans Day ceremony.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, and will be held in the K.G. Tan Auditorium, followed by a reception in the Bisignano Grand Hall inside the NVRC.

Hosted by the OVMA, the Veterans Day observance reflects Syracuse University’s long-standing commitment to serving military-connected students, veterans and their families. The tradition dates back to World War I, when the University established the Student Army Training Corps, the precursor to today’s Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will deliver remarks recognizing the contributions of veterans across the campus community and beyond. This year’s ceremony coincides with the celebration of the OVMA’s 10th anniversary.

This year’s keynote address will be delivered by retired U.S. Air Force General Lester L. Lyles, former vice chief of staff of the Air Force and commander of Air Force Materiel Command. A 35-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Gen. Lyles oversaw major defense acquisition, logistics and technology programs and later served as chair of the National Science Board and the NASA Advisory Council.

“By any measure, veterans are part of the ‘secret sauce’ of our national security community,” says Lyles, a Washington, D.C., native and Howard University alumnus. “We should always strive to value them; to respect and honor their service to our country; and learn from them.”

All students, faculty, staff, alumni and local community members are invited to attend.

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP through the . The NVRC has limited accessible parking spaces available for those who require parking accommodations; email vma@syr.edu to make parking arrangements. General parking is available throughout campus.

Two showcase events held this academic year will provide the campus community with the opportunity to come together and explore areas of distinctive excellence and priorities outlined in the University’s academic strategic plan, “.” Each event will include presentations, breakout sessions and group discussion.

The first showcase, focused on Veterans and Military Families, will be held Monday, Oct. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Schine Student Center, Rooms 228 and 229. Participants should .

, vice provost for faculty affairs, will facilitate and provide introductory remarks, followed by two breakout sessions:

• Incorporating Veterans Into the Curriculum: Panelists include , professor of psychology and director of the Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation at the College of Arts and Sciences; , managing director for research and evaluation at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families; and , professor of writing studies, rhetoric and composition at the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Veterans and Inclusive Pedagogy: Panelists include , executive director of the student experience at the College of Professional Studies; , assistant teaching professor at the School of Education; and , assistant professor of visual communications and co-director of the Advanced Military Visual Journalism program at the Newhouse School.

A closing discussion, featuring School of Education Dean , Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Director and other panelists, will focus on the veteran/student service member experience.

A second showcase on Experiential Inquiry will be held Monday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. at 304 Schine Student Center. More details about the event will be posted on the as they become available.

For more information, contact Pamela Young at 315.443.4364 or pyoung01@syr.edu.