Syracuse University’s renowned reputation for being the best place for veterans has historic roots going all the way back to World War I. Today, a team of dedicated staff members work tirelessly to advance the programs and services available to military-connected students, both on and off campus, are able to meet their academic goals.
While most incoming military-connected students meet these staff members during the new student orientation each semester, it’s understood that not everyone can make it to the welcome session. Below are those who military-connected students can turn to for advice, assistance, help, or general information about what programs and services are available to them through the university.
Ron Novack (Retired U.S. Army Colonel)
Executive Director, Office of Veteran & Military Affairs
Ron Novack has served as the Executive Director for the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) at Syracuse University since 2015. Prior to that, he served more than 30 years in the U.S. Army, first as an enlisted soldier and then as a commissioned officer. He leads a campus portfolio responsible for all programs and initiatives related to supporting all military-connected students, family members, and faculty and staff veteran workforce at the university. As the executive director of the OVMA, Novack has had a direct impact on the university’s mission to be the, “Best Place for Veterans.”
Dwayne Murray ’97 (Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel)
Deputy Director, Office of Veteran & Military Affairs
Dwayne Murray is the Deputy Director for the OVMA and an alum of Syracuse University, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in information studies. He served in the U.S. Army for twenty years and returned to campus to assume his current role over the Summer of 2022. Murray also leads the university’s veterans affinity group for faculty and staff who have served in the military. As a proud Syracuse University alumni, Murray unquestionably bleeds orange and brings valuable insight as a veteran among the university’s alumni.
Keith Doss (Retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer)
Director, Office of Veteran Success
Keith Doss has worked at Syracuse University since 1990, managing multiple bulk distribution and services centers on campus. He currently serves as the Director for the Office of Veterans Success. Leading a team of certifying officials, Doss is a critical component in the services and support offered to military-connected students at Syracuse. Doss retired from the U.S. Navy as a Senior Chief, and can usually be found advising and mentoring student veterans who come through his office.
Jennifer Pluta (U.S. Army Reserve Master Sergeant)
Director, Veteran Career Services
Jenner Pluta is the one stop shop for all things career services when it comes to military-connected students. Pluta, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Master Sergeant, has successfully achieved 100% job placement for graduating student veterans year over year.
Pluta organizes a plethora of events for military-connected students, including exclusive career nights where student veterans at Syracuse University have the opportunity to speak with veteran-recruiting staff from U.S. government agencies to large multi-national corporations. She also plans and manages a career immersion trip each semester where she takes a small group of student veterans to different cities throughout the country to meet and speak with some of the largest businesses in the region.
Scott Taylor (Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel)
Director, Transfer & Veteran Admissions
As the director of transfer and veteran admissions in the Office of Admissions, Taylor recruits, admits and enrolls student veterans into undergraduate programs at Syracuse University. Additionally, his office helps veterans make a plan for them to adjust to life in higher education and find the support they need to succeed at Syracuse University and beyond.
A veteran himself, Taylor served the country for 20 years as part of the United States Army. Over the course of his career Taylor worked in a variety of roles around the world. He served in Korea working on stateside assignments, was deployed to Afghanistan three times including once in October 2001, right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Jolynn Parker
Director, Center for Fellowship & Scholarship Advising
While the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs offers a wide range of generous scholarships exclusively for military-connected students, there are also a plethora of scholarships made available from companies and organizations throughout the country too. Parker runs the university’s Center for Fellowship and Scholarships Advising, and in her role advises military-connected students on best practices to secure scholarships. She has had distinct impact on the university’s growing roster of Tillman Scholars, all of whom credit their time with Parker and her office as a valuable resource which helped in their selection to receive the prestigious scholarship.
Tamara Huyge
VetSuccess on Campus Counselor (Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
With the university having a substantial number of military-connected students using the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, Syracuse University is among the handful of colleges and universities which host a VetSuccess on Campus Counselor. She also supports the local community and region as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and serves as a crucial link for student veterans who are attending with the support of federal programs other than the G.I. Bill.
Leonel “Leo” Aviles (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran)
President, Student Veterans Organization
Leonel Aviles, or Leo as he is more commonly called, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and an undergraduate student enrolled in the School of Information Studies. As the President of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO), Aviles plays a crucial part in the relationship between the military-connected community and the larger Syracuse University campus community. The SVO is open to all students at Syracuse university who are interested in supporting or learning more about service members, military life, and life after military service.
For more information about programs and services for military-connected students at Syracuse University, please visit the Office of Veteran & Military Affairs website. The OVMA offers resources for student veterans, those students who are currently serving in the military, Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, as well as the spouses and children of servicemembers.