Syracuse Sun

The Maxwell School has joined forces with the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans to launch a new initiative aimed at creating career pathways for military veterans in public service. This initiative, known as Service to Service, is part of the Deans Summit, a collaborative network led by Dean David M. Van Slyke.

“The Volcker Alliance’s Deans Summit is committed to removing barriers and creating pathways to ensure that our veterans access higher education, especially if their goal is to continue their public service,” said Van Slyke.

Syracuse University and the Maxwell School have emphasized their commitment to serving veterans and military-connected families, aiming for academic success that translates into professional achievements. “We are grateful for their service and believe their experiences and commitment to public service enhances the classroom environment and strengthens our democratic institutions,” Van Slyke added.

The initiative will see staff from each participating campus recruiting military-connected students into master’s degree programs while providing support for retention and degree completion. Additionally, it will offer cross-campus fellowship experiences for network building and professional development.

Maxwell's master of public administration program, which can be completed in one year, is highly ranked among peer institutions. Syracuse University offers various resources through its D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families that align well with this partnership.

Through Executive Education programming and collaborations with organizations like the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Maxwell aims to facilitate placements in local government internships and high-need jobs, strengthening the transition from military to civilian service roles.

Dan Nelson’04 M.P.A., director of accelerated learning and global engagement at Maxwell, noted that Service to Service aligns with existing efforts to empower veterans in local government careers in collaboration with ICMA. “We are also proactively collaborating with various states to strengthen recruitment initiatives, ensuring that those who have served our country have excellent opportunities to contribute to their communities,” he said.

The Volcker Alliance was founded in 2013 by former Federal Reserve Board chairman Paul A. Volcker, who was associated with the Maxwell School Advisory Board until his passing in 2019. The alliance also collaborates on other initiatives such as SU NextGen at Syracuse University.

We the Veterans is a nonprofit established by veterans and military family members working across sectors like government, tech, and academia on research-backed initiatives involving over 16 million veterans and their families.

Service to Service plans to enroll its first cohort of graduate students by Fall 2025. Interested individuals are encouraged to complete a veterans/military information request form.