United States Army veteran, Syracuse University Army ROTC and College of Arts and Sciences alum, and former university employee Lauren Pyland was born in Watertown, New York, and was raised in the north country town of Calcium, New York. Growing up near Fort Drum, New York, the daughter of two Army veterans, Lauren was well attuned to the unique needs of military service members and their families.
The military is what first lead Lauren to Syracuse University. Lauren is a 2012 alum of the College of Arts and Science majoring in history as well as the Syracuse University Army ROTC Stalwart Battalion. In 2012, Lauren was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Finance Corps. Four weeks after graduating from Syracuse University, Second Lieutenant Pyland married the love of her life – Ryan.
After being commissioned, Lauren spent the following eight and a half years as a Finance Officer. Most recently, Lauren was stationed with the 3rd Battalion, 309th Combat Support/Combat Service Support Battalion as an Observer, Controller, Trainer, and Adjutant General Team Lead. During this time, she also served as the Battalion Family Readiness Leader. Lauren left the Army Reserve as a Captain in November 2020.
Lauren returned to Syracuse University in 2015 where she served as the Operation Manager in the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) for over six years. She helped establish the OVMA that supports the academic success of all student veterans and military-connected students on campus. Lauren was instrumental in helping make Syracuse University “the best place for veterans” nationally.
Lauren’s proudest military moment was being given the opportunity to carry on a legacy of service in her family alongside her parents, grandparents, sisters, and brothers-in-law.
Today, Lauren, her husband Ryan, son RJ, and daughter Caroline live in Syracuse, New York, and Lauren works as the Director of Operations for Onondaga County’s Center for Forensic Sciences.
