Justin Machain brings more than a decade of experience supporting military-connected students in higher education to his new role as director.
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs announced the hiring of Marine Corps veteran Justin Machain as the director of the Office of Veteran Success (OVS), bringing to campus more than a decade of experience supporting student veterans and military-connected students in higher education.
The former director, retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Keith Doss, entered retirement in early December after 35 years at Syracuse University. Doss began his career on campus in 1990, serving in various capacities around the university before joining the OVS in 2011, known as the Veterans Resource Center at the time. Doss steered the OVS through some of the most transformative years in the University’s recent history in supporting student veterans and military-connected students. He has been referred to by many student veterans over the years as a critical component to their success in higher education.
Machain, a native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, comes to Syracuse from the University of Colorado where he served as the assistant registrar, which included the responsibility of being the lead school certifying official (SCO). SCOs are a vital component for military-connected students using their education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Not only do they ensure all administrative requirements are met, they serve as a vital conduit of information between the VA and students.
“Playing a proactive role really helps offset any kind of financial or academic issues that may come up,” Machain says. “If student veterans inform the staff here of any issues or questions, we can get ahead of any potential problems and tackle any roadblocks before the veteran experiences any difficulties or disruptions with their benefits.”