Tojyea “TJ” Matally (U.S. Marine Corps)

Tojyea “TJ” Matally serves as the Public Affairs Officer for Syracuse University’s Student Veterans Organization while pursuing a B.F.A. in Communications Design with a minor in Innovation, Design, and Startups. The son of two immigrants who fled the Liberian Civil War, TJ’s path to service began in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2016. Over seven years of active duty, he served as a combat photographer, journalist, multimedia specialist, and Force Fitness Instructor. His service included humanitarian operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricane Maria and a deployment to the Israeli-Jordanian region in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He later served as a Regional Photographer at 1st Marine Corps District in New York and was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal along with multiple Letters of Appreciation.

At Syracuse, TJ blends creativity with continued service. He is involved with AIGA, Mentor Collective, and campus radio station Z89 (89.1), where he DJs and co-hosts the hip-hop show The Juice. He is also a freelance photographer and a former Warrior-Scholar Project Fellow. TJ is driven to become an impactful leader in the design, music, and creative industries, with long-term plans to establish a mentorship and scholarship foundation supporting young creatives who lack access to guidance and community.