OVMA Connect through the PeopleGrove platform offers a new way to match students and alumni with mentors based on their interests, career objectives and career exploration. OVMA believes that the best college experience is more than just getting a degree. Students and alumni alike should look beyond the classroom for areas of personal and professional development. OVMA Connect empowers student veterans to unlock social capital and learn from others who have been in their shoes through mentorship connections.

No matter the phase of their career, a mentoring program will help both students and alumni get through it. Users can get exposure to different industries and jobs, resume advice and hone their interview skills. Employers are looking for specific skills and experience on OVMA Connect that may open doors for students. There are also highly qualified alumni to provide informational interviews, job shadows, mock interviews, resume reviews and more to support users.

OVMA Connect’s unique access provided to alumni differentiates the platform. Whether a user is a recent graduate or lifetime member, the ability to connect and receive help is the same. The service will connect mentors and their mentees in an organized and managed way, allowing a virtual space for relationships to live and grow. Landing jobs can be hard, but a strong mentoring relationship on OVMA Connect can help.

During the onboarding or signup on OVMA Connect, the platform’s artificial intelligence suggests matches between students, alumni and mentors. This process allows students and alumni to highlight their interests and areas of strength. Through the platform, users can schedule mock interviews, network, have their resumes reviewed or they can find internships and full-time jobs. As users interact, they can receive and provide feedback. For example, on a post-mentoring engagement, one student stated, “[My mentor] posted excellent questions and listened politely to my responses. I would be happy to work with him in the future.” Mentees can also send emails directly to mentors requesting connections. The mentor of interest could be someone who shared similar educational experiences, holds a position of interest to the student or simply be someone who is kind enough to talk with you. In addition, the platform can be used as a great tool to track career trajectories as students, alumni and mentors engage with one another to create meaningful and impactful connections.

OVMA Connect continues to grow every week. It gives students access to opportunities and people that help them discover the right career and provides alumni with a chance to share advice and discover budding students. Membership is free for life and takes just two minutes by registering on the .

Graduates of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship Program recently celebrated earning their master’s degrees in instructional design, development and evaluation from the School of Education.

The students took part in the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship Program and in partnership with Syracuse University, the fellows completed master’s degrees in instructional design, development and evaluation (IDDE) through the School of Education. Their graduation officially makes them part of our Orange family and marks the completion of the third annual cohort since the University became a partner.

The online master’s degree in IDDE consists of 30 graduate credits with the goal of developing expertise to design, create, implement and evaluate non-technology and technology-supported instructional solutions for a variety of educational and professional settings. Students participate in coursework areas such as principles of instruction and learning, techniques in educational evaluation, technologies for instructional settings and strategies in educational project management.

Most of the fellows will go on to design and instruct the academy’s Sergeants Major Course, which educates the military’s enlisted personnel to operate on all levels of leadership.

Graduate Spotlight: Sergeant Major (SGM) Justin Hood G’22

Growing up in a small town outside of Illinois leaves much to the imagination of a young boy. Influenced by his hardworking father, SGM Justin Hood wanted to pursue something that reflected the demanding work he watched growing up. At 16 years old he joined the Army National Guard’s split entry program and succeeded early on. After completing basic training, Hood decided to become active-duty and join the UH-60 Blackhawk unit. He quickly worked his way to flying commanding generals around in Germany in just four months, a brief amount of time compared to what it takes most to get to that position.

Justin Hood G’22 and Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie at Commencement back in May 2022.

While serving in Germany the unimaginable happened at home with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Hood went from thinking he would never see combat to being on the front lines. After serving for over a year in the Middle East, he returned home and went to Fort Eustis, Virginia, to go back to school. While in Virginia he met his, wife who encouraged and inspired Hood to pursue a higher education degree. Hood was selected to become part of the Sergeants Major Academy, where he found a passion for education. “The fire was lit and I quickly understood and appreciated adult education and lifelong learning,” says Hood.

When first assigned, he was helping support the fellowship programs at the Academy and became intimately aware of the relationship being built with Syracuse University. Hood says, “I was there when the partnership was first started and was excited to see what that IDDE program was going to bring for my SGM fellows.” After seeing the program’s success, Hood enrolled himself. Within a week he knew he had made the right decision as he was exploring concepts he had never learned before and embracing the challenges that came with new learning.

Alongside his 14 other classmates, Hood was put into a small group tasked with developing a product to meet their learning objectives. “We pretty quickly learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which made the entire process easier,” says Hood. When meeting to work on their product, meetings would often run three to four hours because they would get so deep into discussion and finding the best way to move their product forward. Those meetings reinforced Hood’s feelings about being a lifelong learner as an adult, because of the experiences he shared with his peers.

Hood poses with loved ones during the graduation ceremony at Fort Bliss.

All students enrolled in the IDDE program at Fort Bliss are invited to attend Commencement at Syracuse University. Many are unable to attend due to conflicts, but Justin had the opportunity to come to campus and not only see his college for the first time but enjoy graduation alongside the rest of his Syracuse family. On Aug. 22,  Justin joined the rest of his cohort in Fort Bliss for a special graduation ceremony.

After graduation, Hood has his eyes set on continuing his education and starting his own business. Through what he has learned from his IDDE courses, Hood believes there are business areas open where he can capitalize on his new skill set and that there is room to still learn.

“I’d like to set up a consulting firm that aids military training and sales because I still have a lot of connections that call me for that advice,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to study a lot, but there are still areas that require further exploration.”

Hood looks forward to learning more about the augmented reality space, finding ways to apply it to more aspects of life and potentially ways to improve its transferability through his IDDE skills.

The Ed Delay program is designed as a pathway for ROTC cadets into the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, the military justice and military law branch of the U.S. Army. During their third year of law school, cadets compete for selection into the JAG Corps. Selection for Ed Delay does not guarantee selection for the JAG Corps, but does greatly increase a student’s chances.

“Many ROTC cadets learn about the JAG Corps and seek out the opportunity to attend law school right after their undergraduate studies instead of commissioning directly onto active duty in another branch. Then the students next explore what law school would best prepare them for the JAG Corps. We are so proud that the Syracuse University College of Law has become a school of choice for Army Ed Delay students,” says Beth Kubala, executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic in the College of Law. “Here at the College of Law we have several faculty members with JAG experience and coursework that allows students to focus on national security law. Couple that legal education and mentoring with the university’s support network for military-connected students and our ability to prepare these students to serve as military lawyers is unmatched.”

Ray Scarlatta

Scarlatta came to Syracuse University after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in global supply chain management and a minor in law studies from Clarkson University, where he was a ROTC cadet. At the College of Law, he was designated as president of the National Security Student Association for the 2021-22 academic year, and in 2021 participated in an externship with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. This year, Scarlatta was selected as the next editor-in-chief of the Syracuse Law Review.

“I applied to the Ed Delay program because I decided when I was a freshman in college that I wanted to be an officer in the JAG Corps,”Scarlatta says.. “I want to be an attorney in the JAG Corps because of the sheer breadth of legal opportunities and experiences that the Army offers young attorneys that private law firms cannot. On top of this breadth of legal experience, I get to represent and assist the best clients in the world–U.S. Army soldiers.”

Anthony “Ben” Emmi

Emmi was a ROTC cadet at Mercyhurst University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and Spanish language before enrolling in the College of Law. He has helped with informational sessions for ROTC cadets, and spent last summer interning for a criminal law firm. Emmi also served as a research assistant for William C. Banks, professor of law emeritus and founding director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law.

“I applied to the Ed Delay program because I knew that I wanted to serve as a JAG, and I also knew that the JAG Corps is small and competitive,” says Emmi. “While every path to the JAG Corps offers benefits and drawbacks, I saw the Ed Delay program as the first available opportunity to be selected for the JAG Corps.”

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science/international relations and criminology from Stonehill College, Trombly enrolled in the Ed Delay program. He is an active member of the Corporate Law Society and National Security Student Association.

David Trombly

“Syracuse University was touted as a place military-connected students have not only great opportunities to succeed, but are also surrounded by student, staff and faculty veterans,” says Trombly. “Being accepted into the Ed Delay program is a major step in being able to serve as a JAG. At Syracuse, there are former JAGs on campus who will help all of us in the program succeed at a level that optimizes our chances of one day becoming JAGs ourselves.”

“Ray, Ben and David epitomize why Syracuse University is the best place for veterans and military-connected students alike,” says Kubala. “Our hope of course is that through our programs and opportunities at the College of Law that all three of these amazing young attorneys will have rewarding careers as Army JAG officers.”

“Syracuse University College of Law’s ability to attract and produce high performing JAG candidates showcases their unwavering commitment to our military community,” says LTC Aaron Lykling, head of the Army Judge Advocate Recruiting Office. “The Ed Delay program is often seen as the prominent path to becoming a JAG officer. Scarlatta, Emmi and Trombly are an example of the type of phenomenal talent that the program attracts each year.”

Brigadier General Ronald D. Sullivan, an Army Judge Advocate currently serving as the chief judge (IMA) of the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals, is a 1993 Army ROTC graduate of the Howard University Bison Battalion.  Sullivan entered the Army ROTC Educational Delay Program and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1996.  “As an Army ROTC distinguished military graduate, I was really excited to be selected for assignment to the Field Artillery Branch, but more than anything I wanted to be an Army JAG attorney,” Sullivan says. “For or me, the Army Ed Delay program was the best path to achieve this personal goal.   The trust that the Army placed in me, by affording me the chance to pursue my dream to practice law as a member of the Army JAG Corps Regiment, was a daily motivator throughout law school.”

about the Army Educational Delay Program.

First Lt. Myles Esmay ’40

More than 77 years after his death, a Syracuse University alumnus was finally laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. First Lt. Myles Esmay ’40 fought bravely for the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II. While defending an airfield against Japanese forces in Burma (now Myanmar), he and many other soldiers lost their lives.  Though most of the remains were first buried at U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda, India, and then transferred in 1947 to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Esmay’s remains went unidentified for decades. Last year, Esmay was formally identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

On Aug. 1, 2022, loved ones, family and friends gathered at Esmay’s gravesite to celebrate and honor his life and service. Retired U.S. Army Col. Ron Novack, executive director of Syracuse University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, and Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, were on hand to pay respect to Esmay’s family on behalf of the Syracuse University community.

The flag from Esmay’s casket is presented to his family during the Arlington service.

Esmay had deep ties to Central New York. A Utica-area native, he received a scholarship to the New York State College of Forestry—originally founded within Syracuse University. As a student, he joined ROTC, worked for the school newspaper and served as the director of what was then known as the Forestry Club. After graduation with honors in June 1940, Esmay served as an infantry engineer in Company B of the 236th Engineer Combat Battalion.

EBV participants attended classes, networking events and presentations, learning the fundamentals of running a business from accomplished entrepreneurs, professors and subject-matter experts. Since its founding in 2007, EBV has expanded to a consortium of 10 schools across the country and has graduated more than 2,300 veterans–83 percent of whom have launched ventures that are still in business. EBV graduates generated over $480 million revenue through their ventures in 2020.

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans participants tour the Syracuse University campus.

Participants were provided access to a variety of professionals with expertise in marketing, business growth, supply chain and logistics and financial management. The class heard from speakers from the Small Business Administration, DLA Pipier Global Law Firm, Ensemble Video and faculty from Syracuse University and partner universities. When class was out of session, participants got a chance to enjoy meals from local food trucks and iconic Syracuse restaurants.

“What started out as a summer project for a recently retired Air Force officer and newly hired University entrepreneurship professor has grown into something I never imagined—our 15th Barnes Family EBV bootcamp, 10 consortium partners and more than 2,300 graduates who have established and grown successful small businesses across the country,” says Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie. “It is often said that small business ownership is the engine of our economy and I believe that.”

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans alumni gather outside the National Veterans Resource Center.

Throughout the week, participants collaborated with instructors to build pitches for their businesses that they will use as they move forward.  On their last day, the group presented their venture pitches and then attended the Barnes Family EBV closing ceremony and graduation, which provided opportunities to connect with program alumni attending the first-ever EBV reunion at the NVRC. This reunion was sparked by alumni whose donations made the two days of reunion programming possible for other alumni and participants. Reunion alumni engaged in networking, attended classes tailored to enhance their successes and enjoyed dinner with their peers.

WSP-Syracuse Academic Boot Camp participants had the opportunity to gain experience from University faculty, receive mentoring from fellow student veterans and begin to adjust to a formal learning environment. A by the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families found that WSP is the only national program of its kind dedicated to veterans that not only provides targeted support for academic success, but improves social connection and relationships with both faculty and nonveteran students.

“The transition from military service to higher education post-service can be intimidating,” says Lauren Pyland, operations manager for the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. “We have seen firsthand the positive impact Warrior-Scholar Project can have on a transitioning service member’s acclimation into the campus community. We are proud to be hosting our eighth WSP program at Syracuse University and excited to have participants on campus for not only a humanities week, but a business/entrepreneurship week as well this year,”

Warrior-Scholar Project participants enjoy dinner and networking at a local Syracuse restaurant.

The WSP group was also exposed to programming meant to inspire future entrepreneurs. Participants had opportunities to interact with IVMF staff and University professors, and heard from Thomas Karam, a senior instructor with the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University. WSP students had a chance to network with EBV students as well during a shared dinner at a local Syracuse restaurant.

“Had I not gone to WSP, I probably would be more anxious to go back to school full-time,” says Tristan Whipps, WSP participant and incoming student. “WSP gave me the skills to succeed in the classroom after being in the military where you lose some of those educational skills.”

For more information about the Warrior-Scholar Project, visit the .

Mayra Quintana (left) and Kamryn Olkowski interned for one month at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

Kamryn Olkowski hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado, where prior to attending the USAFA she served as a signal intelligence analyst for the U.S. Air Force. She always knew she wanted to go to the academy growing up because she attended local sports camps and programs there. When she applied the first time, however, she was denied. With a no-quit attitude, Olkowski applied twice while serving active duty and was finally accepted to attend the USAFA. As a rising senior, Olkowski is a management major, which covers topics such as accounting, finances and marketing.

Mayra Quintana was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where a tough family life molded her into the person she is today. “My dad was arrested when I was 8 years old, and he’s been in prison for most of my childhood,” says Quintana. Her community is heavily impoverished and deals with constant violence and drugs. Quintana had her eyes set on college, and during junior ROTC in high school, she decided to apply to the USAFA and become a beacon of hope for others. Similarly, to Olkowski, Quintana is a rising senior also majoring in management and uses her experiences to speak with members of her community about the ways she has avoided becoming a statistic in her community.

Both cadets, as part of CSRP, gained insight on opportunities available to them in the workforce. Olkowski says, “When looking at what the IVMF was and the focus on entrepreneurship, as an aspiring entrepreneur I knew that it could provide me with some insight and maybe something that I could use in the future.” While cadet Quintana says she initially found out about VET-SIM (a project focused on helping student veterans navigate collegiate study), she thought this would give her the experience and opportunity to help others, specifically veterans, through research.

Quintana is looking forward to taking what she has learned under Linda R. Euto, associate director for research and evaluation at the IVMF, and Professor Benjamin Dotger, from the School of Education, and the project and implementing it at the academy. Quintana says, “Within each squadron [100 cadets] at the academy, there is an officer and enlisted member in charge of those cadets. Applying what VET-SIM is trying to accomplish can potentially close the gap between officers, who have much more training through the academy, and their enlisted peers who are working with students.”

Within entrepreneurship, Olkowski has been working on the community navigator pilot program (CNPP), which was awarded to the IVMF through a Small Business Administration grant. The CNPP program includes seven hub organizations, in this case one of them being the IVMF, at the center of a network of spoke organizations that engage trusted community advocates to support veteran small businesses. Olkowski says, “I have been analyzing what our hub at the IVMF does to coordinate with our 16 spokes. I am then comparing that to the other seven hubs and taking the best parts of what they are doing and coordinating with IVMF staff to implement them [the best parts] into our hub.” Through her analysis Olkowski has also been part of restructuring the community navigator website design, as well as creating a document explaining the project.

While the cadets spent most of their time working in their respective groups, they did have the opportunity to attend the Veteran Entrepreneur Success Summit in Washington, D.C., featuring members of the . They were able to make new connections with successful veteran business owners and learn about other segments of IVMF programming. Reflecting on the experience Quintana says, “Everyone was super genuine and supportive and giving us so much wisdom and knowledge. It was cool to be there and see successful people encouraging us to start our businesses and careers earlier than later.” Olkowski says, “We were nervous about it, we did not want to annoy all the people from their actual networking opportunities. But everyone was genuine about wanting to connect with us and talk with us.”

As both cadets enter their final years at the academy, they thought about what life might be like for them after they fulfill their military service. Olkowski says her hope is to one day open a consulting business for people who are dealing with death and navigating that process. She hopes that she can bridge the gap for folks struggling to balance the administrative nature of the task of dealing with death and the personal emotion that accompanies the process. Quintana is looking back on her community, and what it means to be a female minority in the military. She hopes that others will see what she has done and be inspired to follow in her footsteps making positive change in her community and others across the country.

Quintana and Olkowski shared their appreciation of the IVMF and what they learned in a short amount of time. Olkowski says, “After seeing the number of resources offered at the IVMF I am going share what I have learned with others facing the transition process. It is nice to have this resource in my back pocket for when I transition out as well.” Both women are excited to get back to the academy and share their experiences from the IVMF with other cadets.

Fifty years after they last stepped foot on campus, Bernie and Louise are making a return with a gift to support Ph.D. candidates through the D’Aniello Institute for Veteran and Military Families (IVMF). Through this generous gift, they hope students who are in positions like the ones they were in during their time on campus will benefit from the additional support.

Sometimes Second Is Better Than First

When it came time to write his master’s thesis, Bernie couldn’t get his first topic choice as it was already taken by another student.

“The topic I wanted was public infrastructure, but somebody else got it. So, I ended up with [my second choice] the topic of manpower planning,” Bernie says. “I wrote a master’s thesis on cost-benefit analysis of manpower training. And that’s how I got into the manpower business.”

Meanwhile, Louise was experiencing the full force of winter in Syracuse as she looked to enroll in the master of social work program. “I interviewed during the snowstorm of ’66 and remember walking through snow to the interviewee’s house,” Louise says. While initially unsure of her ability to afford to attend Syracuse University, the National Institute of Mental Health stepped up and awarded Louise a grant that would go on to shape her experience in the field of social work. Louise would ultimately graduate in 1968 while Bernie finished his Ph.D. while posted to the Pentagon.

As if it were destiny, Bernie was drawn into the manpower business through his Ph.D. He says he happened upon a flyer that offered a dissertation fellowship sponsored by the Manpower Administration of the Department of Labor. “They [the Department of Labor] were buying a whole generation of labor economists at the point where just a few dollars made a difference,” says Bernie. The fellowship paid tuition as well as support for attending conferences and travel to do necessary research.

After fulfilling his military commitment, Bernie joined the RAND Corporation as a research economist. He ended up supporting the efforts of the U.S. Air Force while at RAND and then, propelled yet again by his earlier Ph.D. work on manpower planning, was selected by the Carter administration to serve in the Navy secretariat. Eventually, this led to his appointment as the director of the Selective Service System. Later, after a return tour at RAND, Bernie was asked by the Clinton administration to serve as the assistant secretary of the Navy, then undersecretary of the Army, and finally as the undersecretary of defense for personnel. During their careers in and out of government Bernie and Louise worked to improve schooling for military children, provide affordable childcare for Navy and Marine Corps families, expand employment opportunities for military spouses, secure needed medical care for veterans of the Persian Gulf War and champion equal opportunities for all to serve their country in the armed forces.

Establishing the New Fund

After an illustrious career, Bernie began to explore options with Louise on how and where to give back. The pair ultimately reminisced on their time at Syracuse and Bernie recalled his experience in the Ph.D. program. After reaching out to the University they decided to set up a fund through the IVMF with the hope of supporting a Ph.D. candidate, similar to how Bernie received external funding during his Ph.D. program.

“If you look at what I have proposed here, in terms of dissertation support, it’s kind of like the support I got from the Department of Labor,” says Bernie. “So, setting up this fund was with the intent and hope to do something helpful along the lines of what the Department of Labor did for me.”

As part of the , the Bernard D. and Louise C. Rostker IVMF Dissertation Research Fund supports interdisciplinary dissertation research on veteran- and military family-related topics to be conducted by Syracuse University Ph.D. candidates through the IVMF. The fund can be used to accommodate travel costs, software and equipment purchases, research or academic conferences, and fieldwork and data gathering.

“While I’m trained as an economist, the RAND Corporation is famous for having an interdisciplinary approach, more so than any other institution. I didn’t want this [research fund] to be just for economists, I wanted it to be interdisciplinary,” Bernie says. “I would like to see people who produce doctoral quality work receive their degree in whatever discipline supports veterans and military families.”

The fund application is open to doctoral candidates from all Syracuse University schools and colleges and it will support one or more Ph.D. candidate(s) doing dissertation research on veteran- and/or military family-related topics. Interested and qualified candidates can .

The newly named class of 60 U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses across the nation will receive more than funding for scholarships from the foundation to pursue higher education degrees.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Anthony, Natasha, Amanda and William as four of the 60 veterans and military spouses as part of our global Tillman Scholar community,” says Dan Futrell, the foundation’s CEO and 2011 Tillman Scholar. “We believe that veterans and military spouses are uniquely positioned to fill the leadership gap that our society faces. It’s our honor to support these students making an impact at Syracuse University as they grow as leaders and enter their next chapter.”

“Each year, it’s so exciting to get to know a new class of Tillman Scholars and help them realize their potential for service and impact,” says Marie Tillman, board chair and co-founder of PTF. “It means so much to see them continue to carry Pat’s legacy and values forward, in fields as diverse as medicine, music, architecture and geoscience. Anthony, Natasha, Amanda and William exemplify the values and leadership that Pat lived by, and we can’t wait to see what they do at Syracuse University.”

Natasha DeLeon, USMC Veteran

Natasha DeLeon

DeLeon joined the U.S. Marine Corps to pursue her goal of serving others on a grand scale. As a Marine, DeLeon worked to deploy service members to combat locations in support of various operations. In 2014, she deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where she aided in the return of over 120,000 service members to their families back home.

While serving in the Marine Corps, DeLeon began volunteering in San Diego’s foster care system as a court-appointed special advocate. This led her to pursue a bachelor of arts in psychology and work part-time at a group home for teen foster boys. Upon completion of her service, her passion for social work grew.  DeLeon earned a master of social work in 2019, while she also interned as a therapist. During this time, DeLeon lived in Togo while supporting her husband during his active-duty Marine Corps career. While in West Africa, DeLeon led physical self-defense courses for women in vulnerable positions and volunteered with nonprofit organizations centered around eliminating gender-based violence.

Following their tour in Togo, DeLeon and her family moved to Colombia where she began working remotely as a paralegal for a private law firm. This is where she began to connect the injustices in the legal and social work systems. From here, DeLeon developed a passion for criminal defense and family law. She is pursuing a juris doctor degree so she can provide legal assistance and advocacy as an attorney.

Amanda Higginson, Navy Veteran

Amanda Higginson

Higginson’s upbringing in South Florida was anything but typical. She was adopted as an infant, and her father, who was shot and paralyzed in the Vietnam War, taught her about extreme resilience and persistence in the face of adversity. Wanting to give back to military medicine, Higginson received a Navy Health Professions Scholarship and earned a medical degree at the Alpert Medical School at Brown University. She completed her residency in pediatrics at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda and served on active duty for seven years alongside her husband, deploying twice.

Currently the interim associate dean for student affairs at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Higginson supports students on their journey to achieve their personal, academic, and career goals. She continues to practice general outpatient pediatric medicine, caring for children in a largely rural, underserved area. Choosing to enter law school as a mid-career physician, Higginson saw law school as an opportunity to enhance her advocacy for children particularly related to social determinants of health, as well as expand her knowledge of issues that impact the daily functioning of an academic medical center to more effectively advocate for her students. At the intersection of law and medicine, Higginson hopes to create structural change both at work and in her community to empower others to live, work, and achieve their goals at their full potential.

William Rielly, Army Veteran

William Rielly

Rielly is an Army veteran and West Point graduate. His career has ranged from leading artillery units in Germany to executive roles at Microsoft and Apple. While working at Apple, Rielly started volunteering in California state prisons and found the incarcerated men he worked with wanted to be accountable for their actions and create a positive future. He discovered immense untapped potential among the incarcerated men and was inspired to leave his job at Apple and focus full-time on reform efforts in the criminal legal and parole system.

Rielly is enrolled in the College of Law (J.D. candidate, Class of 2024) and intends to change the parole and probation laws across the country to create pathways of redemption for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people so they can leverage their talents, achieve their full potential and positively impact their communities.

He intends to lead this innovation and create a better system through legal advocacy, changing the public’s perception of the issues, and enlisting advocates inside and outside the current system. The outcomes Rielly foresees are better, safer communities; more highly qualified employees; and a criminal legal system of accountability and redemption.

Anthony Ornelaz, Air Force Veteran

Anthony Ornelaz

Ornelaz was from a small agricultural town in Southern California named Wasco. He always dreamed of joining the military and following the examples set by his grandfather and father and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a security forces member in 2006. His service gave him the opportunity to live and work in Turkey, Italy, Kuwait and Germany, where he immersed himself in those respective cultures. His eight years of service saw him hold such positions as nuclear security controller, installation patrolman and physical security manager. Ornelaz’ military service would eventually push him toward academia upon his discharge.

He would attend Sierra College and earn three associate degrees in history, social and behavioral sciences, and LGBT studies. From there, Ornelaz would transfer to Amherst College, where he earned a bachelor’s in history and sexuality, women and gender studies. Currently, he is completing a master of fine arts in creative writing in the College of Arts and Sciences. His work—a collection of poetry—centers on military service, America’s nuclear apparatus, and his involvement in and proximity to both. Ornelaz is pursuing this endeavor in the hopes of reflecting and inspiring those who do not normally occupy artistic spaces. He is also striving to carve out new spaces in the field of poetry that allows new perspectives and experiences to exist and flourish.

“Today is a historic day for Syracuse University with the announcement of four Tillman Scholars,” says retired Col. Ron Novack, executive director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. “Being the Best Place for Veterans is embodied by these individuals whose strength, spirit, academic distinction and tremendous potential are pillars for what Tillman scholars are known. We applaud them as they receive this prestigious honor.”

Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, says, “The Tillman Foundation’s mission is very much aligned with Syracuse University’s longstanding commitment to making a world-class educational experience accessible to those who have served and their families. Since the University became a Tillman partner in 2017, the foundation has supported five remarkable scholars at Syracuse University. The addition of four Tillman scholars in this year’s class, is affirming of our work and steadfast commitment to advancing educational opportunity for the nation’s veterans and their families.”

“Tillman Scholarships are extremely competitive and are only awarded to those who have made an impact through their service. I am both pleased and grateful that not one, but three College of Law students have been awarded Tillman scholarships for this year. Natasha, Amanda and William are living extraordinary lives through their military commitments and now they are on the path to becoming extraordinary Orange lawyers,” says College of Law Dean Craig Boise.

“I congratulate Anthony on being named a Tillman Scholar,” says Lois Agnew, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “By examining his military experiences through the lens of poetry, he is rendering an incredible service to others around the globe who may be seeking hope and healing through the written word. Poetry, and all the humanities, is instrumental in helping us think about the past, present and future.”

In 2002, Pat Tillman was a starting safety for the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals. He put his football career on hold to serve his country and died in April 2004 while serving with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Following his death, family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation, which invests in military veterans and their spouses through scholarship and programmatic support and is dedicated to building a diverse community of leaders committed to service to others.

Founded in 2008, the program supports active-duty service members, veterans and their spouses with academic scholarships, a national network and professional development opportunities, so they are empowered to make an impact at home and around the world. The scholarship program covers direct study-related expenses, including tuition and fees, books, and living expenses, for scholars who are pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate degrees as a full-time student at a public or private, U.S.-based accredited institution. The selection process for the Tillman Scholars program is highly competitive.

Each year, the foundation collaborates with 16 University Partners to identify and select qualified applicants on their campuses for the Tillman Scholar screening process. Now in its fifth year as a university partner, Syracuse University was selected for its innovative veteran services, a strong culture of support for military veterans and spouses and its rigorous academic programs.

To date, the foundation has invested more than $24 million in scholar support and named more than 800 Tillman Scholars at nearly 150 academic institutions nationwide.

Nicholas Armstrong

Nicholas J. Armstrong, Ph.D., managing director, research and data for the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on June 15. Armstrong testified in a hearing titled “Reducing Veteran Suicide by Addressing Economic Risk Factors.” Armstrong said his testimony was framed around three broad recommendations for how the federal government can better address the economic risk factors for veteran suicide.

Armstrong first discussed expanding career training and credentialing offerings through public-private partnerships, pointing out that “Finding meaningful careers after service is among the greatest stressors for transitioning service members and their spouses.” Armstrong directed the attention of the committee to the programs being run by the IVMF. “Onward to Opportunity provides career exploration and employability skills training, and access to industry-recognized certifications to 11,000 transitioning service members, veterans, and spouses every year—again, at no cost.”

“Lack of access to these training programs can impact the employment outcomes of transitioning service members,” said Armstrong. “Service members who utilized credentialing and job training programs during transition were nearly twice as likely to find a job as those who did not.”

“We applaud the VA’s expansion of its job training offerings in the past two years of the pandemic,” said Armstrong. However, he highlighted that this work is just the beginning of a long process and that a better solution is the creation and expansion of public-private partnerships with successful nonprofits offering veteran employment and career training.

Armstrong pointed to a 2019 study by VA researchers that found the presence of adverse social stressors led to a 64% increase in the likelihood of suicidal ideation. He was proud to highlight efforts by the IVMF to help reduce some of those stressors, stating “Through our AmericaServes initiative, the IVMF works closely with nonprofit providers, local government agencies and in several locations, even VA facilities and DoD [Department of Defense] installations.” He further elaborated, “Since 2015, these networks have served the health, economic and social needs of more than 43,000 veterans and family members who requested more than 103,000 services—well over two services at a time, on average.”

Armstrong provided his final recommendations by stating, “Congress should also incentivize more cross-sector data sharing between government, private and social sector organizations to address complex issues such as suicide prevention and addressing social determinants of health.”

“Solutions, therefore, must include non-governmental partners—especially when it comes to addressing social and economic risk factors,” said Armstrong. “Expanding access to in-demand skills training with the private sector, investment in cross-sector efforts that streamline resource navigation and empowering greater data sharing are just three ways government can further mitigate these risks.”

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Barbara (Barb) Carson

Prior to joining the IVMF, Carson was a member of the Senior Executive Service and spent nearly a decade in leadership roles at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Most recently Carson served as the deputy associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance, responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the SBA’s disaster loan program throughout the nation. Previously, Carson served as the SBA’s deputy associate administrator for government contracting and business development where she advocated to increase small business contracting opportunities in federal agencies, and led SBA federal procurement programs, including 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned Small Business and All Small Mentor Protégé programs.

Carson also previously served as the SBA’s associate administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development, responsible for programs, policy and advocacy on behalf of the nation’s veteran-owned business community.

Carson’s connection to the military-connected community is personal and longstanding. She is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, most recently assigned to the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of Public Affairs.

Her service spans 25 years as an active-duty and reserve officer, and her experience includes nuclear command and control and public affairs assignments across the United States, Japan and Europe. In addition, Carson is also a military spouse. Her husband is a retired U.S. Air Force pilot also with over 25 years of service, and together they are the parents of newly enlisted Airman Basic Carson, Utah Air National Guard.

“Barb is widely respected across the veteran’s community, and she has been a longtime friend and contributor to the work and mission of the IVMF. We’re fortunate for the opportunity to bring her leadership and experience to our team, as we work to expand the scope, scale and impact of our programs,” says Michael Haynie, Ph.D., vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive director of the IVMF. “Importantly, Barb joins our team at a time when the IVMF is preparing and planning for a significantly expanded presence in Washington, D.C., that will include, later this summer, opening a full-time office and operating location in the nation’s capital. Barb is uniquely positioned to lead this effort, and her experiences as an active-duty service member, veteran, military spouse, reservist and military parent will enhance all we do to empower those who have served and their families.”

Carson says, “it is my honor to join the IVMF team and continue my service to the military-connected community, leading an effort to deliver programs and services worthy of their accomplishments and potential. The men and women who volunteer to serve, as well as their families, have earned every opportunity to continue to lead and thrive in their lives after military service, and deserve our continued support.”

J. Michael Haynie

“The Veterans Advisory Committee on Education is a significant cornerstone in ensuring that the lives of our veterans and military families have access to meaningful and affordable post-service educational opportunities,” Haynie said. “I am truly grateful and humbled by this appointment to this exceptional committee.”

Haynie founded the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) in 2011, creating the nation’s first interdisciplinary institute created to inform and advance the policy, economic, and wellness concerns of America’s veterans and military-connected families. Today, the institute is widely recognized as the nation’s leading academic voice related to issues impacting veterans and military-connected families.

As a member of the committee, Haynie will collaborate with committee members to provide advice to the Secretary on training and education programs for all current and former members of the United States Military. Haynie will be attending his first public meeting with the committee on May 24-26, 2022.

More information on the committee and details on the public meeting can be found .

Student Veteran of the Year

Ryan Marquette L’22 (left) and OVMA Executive Director Col. (Ret.) Ron Novack.

OVMA takes pride in student-veteran involvement on campus, in the community, and at various events on and off campus. Each year, OVMA Student Veteran of the Year is presented to a student who has gone above and beyond, with contributions on and off campus, to make Syracuse University “the best place for veterans.” This year’s recipient, Ryan Marquette L’22, a U.S. Army veteran and active member of the Army National Guard, set a new precedent of success for a student veteran.

Marquette was a student veteran in the College of Law while simultaneously pursuing a master of public administration in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. While both those efforts were time-consuming, Marquette took time to encourage each of his fellow veteran classmates to involve themselves with veteran functions on campus and in the community. Through those efforts, Marquette volunteered for the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, which incorporated him as a guest speaker at a Fort Drum Onward the Opportunity graduation.

During the height of COVID-19 in 2020, Marquette had to juggle school and his active role as a member of the National Guard as he responded to the pandemic in New York State. His efforts led to the distribution of 147,809 COVID tests, 36,661 meals, and 507 medical supply deliveries across the state. Off campus, he leads the Leader-Scholar Scholarship in Rome, New York, where one student is awarded a scholarship for their leadership efforts throughout their high school career and volunteer work in their community. The scholarship was named after Marquette’s friend, Capt. John Levulis, who lost his life in a military training accident.

Marquette served as the president of the Operation Veteran Advocacy group at the College of Law, and was an executive board member of the Syracuse Law Review. His list of accomplishments while at the University includes receiving the 2021 Student Veterans Organization’s Best for Vets award and was the first-ever law school appointee of the 2021-22 Syracuse University Board of Trustees, amongst other contributions to the community. OVMA congratulates Ryan on adding one more accomplishment to his extensive list as this year’s Student Veteran of the Year.

Danny Facto Student Veteran Work-Study Award

David Ladd ’23 (left) and Assistant Director for Office of Veteran Success Keith Doss.

The Danny Facto Student Veteran Work-Study Award, named after Danny Facto, the University’s first Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study participant, recognizes a student veteran VA work-study who reflects the values that Danny did during his time on the hill. Danny was an excellent ambassador of his fellow student veterans and through an unwavering commitment made tremendous impacts on those who surrounded him during his life. This year’s recipient, David Ladd ‘23, exemplifies the values set forth by Danny. As described by his nominator, David has the passion, commitment and ability to get things done. Those qualities are the very same used to describe Danny.

During his work-study with Veteran Career Services (VCS), Ladd has made a noticeable contribution to OVMA Connect, a mentoring application connecting student veterans with student veterans, alumni, faculty and staff, and partners of Syracuse University. His efforts have increased engagement on the platform and increased the number of users by nearly 250%. Ladd has also made remarkable contributions to VMock, a resume evaluation platform recently launched at the University for student veterans. As the VCS VA Work-Study, Ladd’s contributions paved a way towards improving experiences for student veterans and military-connected students at the University. In addition to Ladd’s efforts to improve technologies for student veterans seeking career services, he has also provided OVMA leadership with reports that help measure the impact of VCS’s efforts. David has fully embodied this award and, through carving his path, has made an everlasting impact.

“We recognize these students, and the entire student veteran body at Syracuse University, with great pride and admiration,” says OVMA Executive Director Col. (Ret.) Ron Novack. “These awards prove just how much strength, leadership, honor and character student veterans bring to our university community.

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

Kamileh Rivera

Rivera, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is majoring in neuroscience and biology in the College of Arts and Sciences and is pursuing a minor in public health in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Rivera plans to attend medical school after graduation; her goal is to become a doctor back home in Puerto Rico to “give back to the community that saw me grow up and develop into the woman I am today,” she says. While in Syracuse, she is giving back to the local community  through neighborhood clean-up efforts around campus. “I was able to see how picking up small pieces of trash can create a vibrant shared space and bring a community together,” she says. Rivera’s father served for 33 years in the United States Army.

John Nipper

A U.S. Navy veteran, Nipper is majoring in international relations in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences.  “The community, camaraderie and level of academic excellence that I have been immersed in is unparalleled,” he says of his time on campus. When not attending classes, Nipper is spending time with his daughters, who are 8 and 6 years old. “Being a father has fundamentally altered my perceptions of the world and how I operate within it,” he says. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Nipper plans to pursue a master’s degree in public administration in the Maxwell School.

Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Military Family Member Scholarship, awarded to Hannah Gavin L’23

Hannah Gavin

Gavin’s father, a veteran, attended Syracuse University to pursue a degree in education. The experiences he shared with Hannah inspired her to follow in his footsteps at the University, with the goal of pursuing a law degree. Gavin, a second-year student in the College of Law, has dreamt of being a lawyer since she was a young child, and hopes to one day become a family law attorney to support families across the country and world. “I hope to pursue a career in a public interest firm providing legal support to those unable to afford private counsel,” she says. This scholarship will allow Gavin to participate in internships this summer and next year to pursue that career.

Amanda Lalonde

Lucy and Joseph Napoli Veterans Scholarship, awarded to Amanda Lalonde ’23                     

After moving to Florida from her hometown of Endicott, New York, and spending nine years in the U.S. Navy, Lalonde is now majoring in psychology and forensic science in the College of Arts and Sciences. She was worried how other students would perceive her, a nontraditional student, when she first decided to move back to Syracuse and finish her undergraduate degree. However, through her experience as an  orientation leader, she has become more comfortable with other students and realized many new students were older, nontraditional and/or veterans like herself. Lalonde hopes that she can continue to work with the University after graduation and provide insight to other hesitant nontraditional and veteran students.

Joshua Kompf

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

After four combat tours in Afghanistan as a Green Beret, Kompf knew it was time to return to his hometown and pursue an education that could provide impact beyond his military service. He is majoring in creative leadership in the College of Professional Studies. “Syracuse has opened up my mind to differing points of view, allowing me to have a more complete grasp of the world,” he says. After graduation, Kompf plans to pursue a career as an operational advisor. “In this capacity, I will be able to fully utilize and put into practice the knowledge gained here at Syracuse University and my skillsets as a former Green Beret,” he says.

Richardson Family Scholarship for Military Family Members and Dependents, awarded to Ava Henderson ’23

Ava Henderson

Born in Bethesda, Maryland, Henderson is pursuing her degree in social work in the Falk College of  Sport and Human Dynamics. She is the daughter of disabled Marine Corps veteran. “My father’s service has provided him an unmatched sense of community, and the sacrifices made by his fellow service-members deserve to be repaid by those in the field of social work,” she says. During her time at Syracuse University, Henderson has participated in the College of Law’s Veterans Legal Clinic. “I am very proud of the work and research I have been able to complete during my time at the Veterans Legal Clinic with the help of my advisors,” she says. Henderson looks forward to pursuing her interests in military social work and in the field of law after graduation.

Christian Viola

Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Undergraduate Student Veteran Scholarship, awarded to Christian Viola ’22

A current member of United States Marine Corps Reserves, Viola is majoring in civil engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. His decision to move from active duty to the reserves provided Viola with the flexibility to attend college. Syracuse leaped out to Viola because of the resources and aid available to student veterans, which he says, “was unlike any other university I had toured.”  Viola is delighted with the character and work ethic he has developed here at Syracuse, and he thanks his professors and other students for their influence. Viola has accepted a full-time construction management position and will soon begin his pursuit of a master’s degree in business administration.

Gerald B. Faigle Jr. and Roberta M. Faigle Student Veteran Endowed Scholarship, awarded to Rob Ryan ’23

Rob Ryan

Ryan, a United States Marine Corps veteran, is majoring in social work and child therapy in the Falk College. During his time on campus, Ryan has been involved with various committees and organizations, including the Diversity Committee, Social Workers United and Student Veterans Organization. “My time at Syracuse University has shaped me not just as a student, but as a person,” he says. This scholarship will allow Ryan to pursue additional opportunities, including hands-on internships, that will help solidify his experience in his field of study.  Ryan hopes to earn his doctorate and run for elected office in the future.