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.”

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 time-honored celebration of academic achievement, leadership and military history was on full display at the JMA Wireless Dome during the 109th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony on March 27.

The annual tradition brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni and University stakeholders to recognize the accomplishments and success of cadets from the University’s Army and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs.

The event is one of Syracuse University’s oldest traditions, originating in 1917 under the direction of then-Chancellor James R. Day. Among the cadets reviewed in that inaugural ceremony was future Chancellor William Pearson Tolley, who would later play a critical role in expanding access to higher education for veterans through his contributions to the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the G.I. Bill.

This year’s ceremony featured a formal inspection of the troops by Chancellor Kent Syverud,  and the presentation of awards recognizing academic, leadership and civic excellence. Both University leadership and representatives from local veteran service organizations were on hand to present awards to the deserving cadets.

“Over the course of time our success is attributed to our military-connected students, and how they achieve their post-graduation goals,” says retired U.S. Army Colonel Ron Novack, executive director of the (OVMA). “Those ROTC cadets who are graduating in five weeks are going to take a very big step in their personal and professional lives. They’re going to go out and lead, they’re going to take the values that they learn from their families, their parents, the values they learn here at Syracuse University, and the values of the Army and the Air Force, and they’re going to go out and lead with distinction.  We couldn’t be prouder of them as they go out and embark on their careers.”

Top Cadets Recognized for Leadership and Academic Excellence

Among the highest honors presented were the General Edward C. Meyer Leadership Award and the Professor John A. and Dean Marion Meyer Scholar Award, given to top-performing cadets in the Army and Air Force ROTC respectively.

This year, the General Edward C. Meyer Leadership Award was presented to Sophia Terlecky ’26, a U.S. Army ROTC cadet, for demonstrating exceptional officer potential and leadership. Terlecky, a Buffalo, New York,  native, is enrolled  in the . She also serves as the cadet battalion commander for the Stalwart Battalion, and will receive a commission in the U.S. Army alongside 24 other Syracuse University Army ROTC cadets in May.

For the Air Force, The Professor John A. and Dean Marion Meyer Scholar Award was presented to Matthew Gratch, a cross-town ROTC cadet from Le Moyne College, for exemplary performance and inspirational leadership. Gratch, who is studying political science at Le Moyne, also serves as the mission support flight commander for Detachment 535 and will commission into the Air Force as an acquisitions manager.

“Being my fourth and final one, it hits a little different than it did in other years,” says U.S. Air Force ROTC Cadet James Hrdy ’26, a senior in the . “This program really challenges you, it’s taught me to appreciate certain things and I’m looking forward to working in the U.S. Air Force.”

The ceremony closed with a formal pass in review, a military tradition symbolizing honor and respect, as the cadets marched in formation across the field in front of their families and University leaders to showcase the military precision of basic unit drill and individual standards of each cadet.

To view a photo gallery of this year’s event, visit the .

and the hosted students, researchers, industry leaders and government officials this week for the , putting Central New York’s rapidly expanding semiconductor and quantum technology ecosystem on display.

Held under the theme, “New York State Talent and Technology—Shaping the Future,” the daylong event at Goldstein Auditorium drew participants from NNN partner institutions across the state and from sponsors including , , , , and .

The University has made significant investments to anchor the region’s semiconductor and nanotechnology future. It also leads the for the , a federally designated consortium accelerating semiconductor innovation across Central New York. Together with , the University invested $20 million to build the (CASM) to train the next generation of semiconductor technicians and engineers.

Through the University’s , nearly 500 veterans have enrolled in semiconductor workforce training programs. The University also holds a $1 million NSF ExLENT grant providing adult learners, including mid-career professionals and veterans, with hands-on exposure to semiconductor, quantum and optical technologies. And the University’s now includes 18 faculty across three departments, with the 8,000-square-foot Quantum Technology Center expected to open this summer.

A Major Partner 

“The investments Syracuse has made in facilities and faculty have positioned us to be a major partner to industry,” says University Vice President for Research . “Our faculty and labs allow our students to gain the skills that employers need. Events like the NNN Symposium are where students meet the people who will hire them, where faculty learn what industry needs and where the connections are made that turn research training into careers.”

Keynote addresses came from , chief business officer of GlobalFoundries and a Syracuse University engineering alumnus; , senior vice president and executive director of and , senior director of U.S. expansion programs for Micron. A workforce development panel brought together representatives from , , , and . Student researchers from NNN partner universities across the state presented their work in oral and poster formats, followed by a career fair connecting students directly with hiring companies.

Forefront Future

“The innovation and collaboration on display shows that Central New York is at the forefront of America’s nanotechnology and semiconductor future,” says  innovation concierge, NY SMART I-Corridor, workforce development pillar lead for the Upstate NY Energy Storage Engine and director of strategic partnerships for Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. He and Yoanna Ferrara, director of technology innovation in the Office of Research, organized the symposium. “We will carry this momentum forward by continuing to deepen partnerships between upstate New York universities, industry leaders and government to strengthen New York’s semiconductor ecosystem.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

When Chris Teodoro G’22 embarked on his Syracuse University journey after 24 years in the U.S. Army, he discovered what many transitioning veterans already know: asking for help doesn’t come naturally.

Thankfully, that provides customized support and explains the essential resources available to guide veterans and military-connected students on their journey to a college degree.

Now in its second year, the (OVMA) Resiliency Program (ORP)—a collaboration with and the (housed in the )—represents a new model of integrative support for veterans and military-connected students transitioning from active duty to pursuing a degree.

“There’s this belief among veterans that they don’t need to ask for help and can figure out the issues they’re dealing with. But student veterans need to know they don’t have to go through this transition alone, that there are lots of us who have transitioned and are more than willing to give back,” says Teodoro, who is currently pursuing a doctorate of professional studies in information management from the .

ORP staff employ a holistic perspective, combining academic, social, emotional and spiritual skills to provide a model approach for supporting veterans and military-connected students.

“Our mission is addressing the unique stressors that veterans and military-connected students face in higher education while promoting their resiliency, their academic and personal successes and the connectedness of our campus,” says , program director and faculty director of online programs and strategic initiatives in the School of Education. “We’re serving veterans in a comprehensive way.”

Targeting educational rather than clinical offerings, Marfilius says the ORP has helped connect veterans to housing and academic advising resources, developed impactful programs, built campus partnerships and engaged with faculty and staff to raise awareness about the unique needs of student veterans.

VITAL Program Bridges Gap Between Military and Academic Life

One of the program’s early successes is the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program, a partnership with the Syracuse Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center’s .

Working with the , veterans and military-connected students can receive direct access to mental health and wellness professionals while learning more about applicable VA programs and benefits, receiving advice and guidance as they transition from active duty into academic life.

“Transitioning from military service to civilian life can be overwhelming, and entering an academic environment adds another layer of complexity,” says Sonya Mangovski, Syracuse VA M2VA program manager. “VITAL bridges that gap, providing student veterans the support they need to thrive both academically and personally.”

During each semester, drop-in office hours for the VITAL program are held on the first floor of the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. Military-connected students can email the ORP for more information about upcoming office hours.

“This is valuable outreach and education, and we’re hoping to develop workshops and trainings around this effort,” Marfilius says. “This connection really strengthens the bridge between our campus and the VA, ensuring that no students fall through the cracks.”

Normalizing Help-Seeking Behaviors

The ORP gave Teodoro access to an academic advisor who knows first-hand what he’s going through: Marfilius, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served as a mental health provider as an active-duty officer.

As Teodoro works toward his second degree—he also earned a master of business administration degree from the —he is focusing on how special operations veterans like himself can successfully navigate their transition from active duty to civilian life.

“The support from the military-connected community at Syracuse has been outstanding,” says Teodoro, who lives in Tampa Bay, Florida. “I am involved in our military community here in Tampa and want to use the framework of my degree to make an impact for our transitioning veterans.”

By connecting the University’s academic departments with veterans’ services resources on campus and in the community, the ORP is providing a coordinated and informed approach while helping remove barriers to success for military-connected students.

“Making this program more visible and accessible helps us normalize help-seeking behaviors while building a stronger sense of community,” Marfilius says.

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.

Syracuse University Press announces that “Grace: A Cautionary Tale of Family and Mayhem” by William F. Polsgrove is the 2025 Veterans Writing Award winner.

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

Polsgrove grew up on his family farm in West Tennessee, where he learned the craft of storytelling from a whole host of characters, including a hard-drinking preacher-uncle, musician farmhands and his Baptist mother, who had a taste for the macabre. Polsgrove joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps, serving tours in Germany, Alaska and Southwest Asia.

Retiring from the Army after 22 years, Polsgrove transitioned to the federal government, where he worked as a project manager for the intelligence community and retired as division chief for the Management and Engineering Division. He holds an master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University.

Polsgrove received the 42nd Annual New Millennium Award for Flash Fiction in 2016 and has published stories in the literary journal Embark. During his time in the military, he never ceased painting and writing. His stories and paintings tell the tales of the hardscrabble characters and forlorn landscapes of West Tennessee, the complex fabric of racial interactions, heartbreaking history and dirty-dealing political intrigue by petty demagogues.

Veterans Writing Award judge Maurice Decaul praised Polsgrove’s work, noting, “’Grace’  stands out because it feels scarily relevant, a reflection of our moment and a blueprint for what is possible. ‘Grace’ reminds us that great stories don’t just entertain; they illuminate the paths we might take.”

The College of Professional Studies (CPS) plays in the University’s support for veterans and military-connected students, offering flexible degree pathways and innovative military credit evaluation.

As of the Fall 2025 semester, 19% of all currently serving military students attending Syracuse University are enrolled in CPS degree programs. Currently serving military students are service members on active duty, National Guard or reserve status.

This leadership is driven by the College of Professional Studies’ innovative and progressive work to standardize the University’s military credit evaluation, which evaluates military technical training and professional military education for academic credit.

“Bachelor of professional studies [BPS] degrees are designed specifically for individuals like currently serving members of the armed forces juggling service obligations and life responsibilities with their educational goals,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “We offer an accessible combination of flexibility, applied and focused career preparation, progressive credit transfer [up to 90 credits], and recognition of military experience and training.”

Currently serving military students admitted to the College of Professional Studies’ BPS programs are being recommended and awarded an average of 30 equivalency credits for their military technical training and professional military education.

Diverse Support for Military-Connected Students

The College of Professional Studies supports 33% of all military-connected students at Syracuse University, including active duty, veterans and military dependents. Through its nationally recognized military advising model, CPS has achieved skyrocketing persistence and graduation rates.

Persistence Rate

• College of Professional Studies: 93%
• National average: 45%

Graduation Rate

• College of Professional Studies: 70%
• National average: 20%

“Our ability to successfully support one-third of the University’s military-connected students is only possible because of our advisors who are specifically trained to understand the unique challenges military-connected students face,” says Liz Green, executive director of the student experience for Online Student Success. “This success starts with a recognition that military-connected students are non-traditional, adult learners with distinct needs.”

The college provides holistic support that proactively addresses academic, administrative and military service-related challenges, such as deployment interruptions, VA benefits navigation, credit transfer from military training and work-life-study balance, in an integrated way.

Coupled with its national ranking as the among private universities, CPS is at the forefront of Syracuse University’s commitment to being the

To learn more about military-connected support, visit .

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.

When the federal government began measuring food insecurity in the 1990s, most researchers focused on low-income families. But Colleen Heflin noticed a different group standing out in the data: military veterans.

“I have deep roots in the field, and I’ve grown up with it academically,” says Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs. “One of the things I noticed early on is that military veterans have a differential risk of food insecurity.”

With $700,000 in funding from organizations including The Rockefeller Foundation and the New York Health Foundation and support from Instacart, Heflin is spearheading a collaborative effort to address the issue head on. In collaboration with the Maxwell X Lab and the Syracuse VA Medical Center, she is leading a year-long study focused on improving food access and nutrition for veterans in the Syracuse area.

Pilot Program

The funding will support a pilot program that provides roughly 250 eligible veterans with monthly Instacart vouchers, called Fresh Funds, to purchase healthy grocery items such as fruits, vegetables, poultry and seafood, for delivery. In addition to the food subsidy, participants will receive nutritional support through cooking classes as well as individual counseling from a registered dietician to learn ways to incorporate healthier eating habits into their daily lives.

The pilot is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ broader Food is Medicine effort which emphasizes the importance of equipping veterans with knowledge and resources to make healthy choices and improve long-term health outcomes.

Veterans who are invited to participate in the study reside in rural areas of Central New York and have diagnosed conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or obesity that are sensitive to diet and nutrition. Randomly selected participants will receive a $100 monthly Fresh Funds voucher through Instacart for 12 months, along with significantly reduced fees for home delivery of medically tailored groceries.

The goal is to determine whether increased access to healthy food and nutrition education can lead to measurable health improvements over time.

The study will use rigorous, randomized controlled trial design created in partnership with the Maxwell X Lab and will be conducted remotely, allowing veterans to participate from their homes. Participants will be asked to complete surveys on their well-being and food habits.

The findings aim to inform future VA policy and potentially expand access to similar services for veterans nationwide.

“Food is Medicine begins with the essential premise that what we eat is important to our health,” says Heflin. “Everyone working on this project is highly motivated to support veterans and do good science to better understand the effectiveness of these programs.”

A senior research associate with the Center for Policy Research and a research affiliate with the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health, Heflin has spent decades studying food policy and federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Leaders at the VA Medical Center contacted Heflin after she testified before Congress on military food insecurity. Their conversations helped spark the collaboration.

“The veteran health community has been overwhelmingly supportive,” says Heflin. “They’re very interested in seeing how we can address food insecurity among veterans.”

External Support

Heflin and fellow Maxwell researchers are also thankful for the external support provided by The Rockefeller Foundation, the New York Health Foundation and Instacart. The lead funder, The Rockefeller Foundation, has pledged $100 million to support the expansion of Food Is Medicine initiatives. Additional collaborations have involved the University of Utah, 4P Foods, Duke University, AboutFresh and Reinvestment Partners.

“We have a great working relationship with all the partners and are grateful for the collaboration and support we have received from them,” says Hannah Patnaik, managing director of the X Lab and Food is Medicine project lead for the lab. “We are so excited to have officially launched the project and are eager to better understand the impact of medically tailored groceries on a rural veteran population.”

In addition to Heflin and Patnaik, the Maxwell research team includes X Lab Director Leonard Lopoo and public administration and international affairs graduate students Jack Baldwin, Ashraf Haque and Hyeryung Jo.

Late this summer, the Syracuse VA and Maxwell research team was working to enroll roughly 600 participants in the study. They hope to continue tracking participants long term to assess whether dietary and health improvements continue.

For Heflin, the project represents an opportunity to bring together academic research and real-world impact.

“I’m motivated by the chance to improve somebody’s day-to-day life,” says Heflin. “I do a lot of research on data that’s already been collected, and I rarely get the chance to impact somebody’s life in the moment. That’s really exciting.”

The potential for the project extends well beyond Syracuse. The findings could also influence other public health programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid or state-level food and nutrition services.

“We’re hoping that by using the most rigorous scientific methods, that we will be able to move health policy,” says Heflin. “Both within the VA and within the larger community.”

Story by Mikayla Melo