A Syracuse University student and staff member are among 50 scholars and professionals participating in the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program from the George W. Bush Institute. Student John Nipper, completing his master in public administration (MPA) degree at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and Kathryn Warren, program manager for the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families Onward to Opportunity (O2O) program in Southern California, are honored to represent Syracuse University as the best place for veterans.
The application process for the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program is competitive and rigorous. The program attracts industry leaders from across the country invested in improving military transitions and outcomes for veterans and families. As veterans, both Nipper and Warren personally understand the challenges that arise during the transition out of military service. Nipper, a Navy veteran, was looking to leverage his military experience into something meaningful in the field of international relations. That pursuit is what brought him to Syracuse in the first place. From here, he connected with other Veteran Leadership Program alumni in many places who all encouraged him to apply.
“Being part of the Student Veterans Association at Syracuse, you have to pick where your time and attention goes, because there are so many clubs and opportunities on campus. I’ve had a few years of trying to figure out the best ways to network, and the student veteran portion is pretty significant,” says Nipper. “The Bush Institute’s whole program is about veterans, and Syracuse is very intertwined with all of that. This opportunity feels like running downhill with being plugged in with so many veteran service organizations.”