Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

National Survey Of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs (Nsmae): Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystems And Opportunities, Mirza Tihic, Rosalinda V. Maury, Adam Pritchard, Alexander Mckelvie

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster presents findings from the National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs (NSMAE), the largest ongoing study of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs in the U.S. It explores how military experience shapes entrepreneurial pathways, and identifies key challenges such as access to capital, resource navigation, and post-service transition. The data informs research, policy, and program development to strengthen support for military-connected small business owners.

Ovma Resiliency Program: A Holistic Approach To Supporting Veteran And Military-Connected Students, Ken Marfilius, Brenic Nam, Natalie Hawes

Voices of Service Symposium

The Syracuse University Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) Resiliency Program (ORP), launched in August 2024, is an innovative initiative designed to support veteran and military-connected students. Developed in partnership with the OVMA, School of Social Work, and Hendricks Chapel, the program provides tailored resources and support networks to help students navigate academic, financial, physical, social, and mental well-ness challenges. Staffed by an Associate Director and graduate-level social work interns, the ORP addresses the critical needs identified in a U.S. Government Accountability Office report on veteran college experiences. Through dynamic support systems, the ORP fosters success and engagement, advancing …

Social Work Advocacy In Veterans Treatment Court, Ken Marfilius, Elizabeth Kubala, Bill Rielly, Margo Lance, Paige Esposito

Voices of Service Symposium

Veterans Treatment Court provides a rehabilitative alternative to incarceration for justice-involved veterans by addressing the underlying causes of legal involvement. Social workers are key to this model, offering trauma-informed assessments, case management, and service coordination. By connecting veterans to mental health care, housing, employment support, and treatment programs, social workers promote stability and successful reintegration. The collaboration with legal professionals and community partners strengthens the Veterans Treatment Court's capacity to reduce recidivism and support long-term well-being for veterans navigating the justice system.

Military And Veterans Law Society At The Syracuse College Of Law, Elizabeth Kubala, Brandon J. Bryant

Voices of Service Symposium

The Military and Veterans Law Society is a student organization at the Syracuse University College of Law. The mission of the MVLS is to better serve the local veteran population in Syracuse and the surrounding areas. The Military and Veterans Law Society provides veteran legal support and services, community outreach, and veteran policy research to support various veteran issues. The Military and Veterans Law Society strives to better connect the College of Law with our veteran population both on campus and in the community. VetFest: The recent 'Cuse Vet Fest was attended by over fifty Central New York veterans who …

Cross-Discipline Collaboration: A Holistic Legal-Social Work Partnership For Veteran Advocacy, Ken Marfilius, Elizabeth Kubala, Margo Lance, Paige Esposito

Voices of Service Symposium

The Veterans Legal Clinic integrates social work into legal advocacy to support homeless veterans facing complex legal and personal challenges. In collaboration with Altamont, social work students provide case management that connects clients to VA benefits, housing, mental health care, and other essential services. The interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model addresses systemic barriers such as service-connected disabilities and social inequalities. By delivering personalized client-centered support, the clinic empowers veterans to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.

National Military Trial Competition: First Competition Of Its Kind Hosted By Syracuse University College Of Law, Elizabeth Kubala, Todd Berger, Anna Lupardo

Voices of Service Symposium

Trial advocacy refers to the skills required of lawyers in order to effectively represent their clients during litigation. This involves all of the methods used in presenting a case in court such as opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations and closing arguments. Effective trial advocacy requires a combination of legal knowledge, effective communication skills, and the ability to read the dynamics of a courtroom in order to ultimately influence the outcome of the case in the favor of your client. Law students develop their trial advocacy skills through classes, competitions, or personal development. Military justice refers to the legal system …

"Band-Aids Don't Fix Bullet Holes:" The Veterans Who Are Not "Veterans," The Unique Crises They Face, And Why Proactive Interagency Collaboration Is Key, Elizabeth Kubala, Seth M. Owens

Voices of Service Symposium

Not all veterans are "veterans." Over 540,000 living veterans have served this country, yet their military administrative discharge status prevents them from accessing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and benefits. A shocking number of these veterans suffer from undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions, and when exacerbated by the secondary effects from lack of access to VA support, put them at one of the highest risks for other psychosocial crises such as suicide and homelessness. The VA excludes these veterans from accessing their services due to the "less-than-honorable" nature of their discharge, which is excluded in the federal …

Supporting Veteran And Military-Connected Students: Initiatives And Future Plans At Syracuse University Libraries, Patricia Giles, Joel Carpenter

Voices of Service Symposium

Over the past two years, Syracuse University Libraries has been creating services and events tailored to the academic and community needs of veteran and military-connected students. This presentation focuses on two key initiatives: (a) A student veteran exhibit at Bird Library held around Veterans Day, and (b) A Veteran & Military-Connected Students Guide to the Libraries. The annual student veteran exhibit is designed to give student veterans a platform to share their stories with the broader Syracuse University community. The Veteran & Military-Connected Students Guide, developed by liaison librarian Patricia Giles and Information Literacy Scholar Joel Carpenter (MLIS '26), aims …

Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Treatment Reduces Need For Clinical Services And Behavioral Healthcare, Dessa Bergen-Cico, Emily M. Johnson, Kyle Possemato, Mia Zappala, Allyson Smith, Robyn Sedotto

Voices of Service Symposium

Behavioral healthcare engagement is low for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) even in systems where high-quality evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) are available. Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) may mitigate avoidance in treatment through self-regulation and non-judgmental self-awareness. This study analyzed treatment engagement and service utilization of Veterans engaged in a randomized clinical trial MBI for PTSD (A Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Training (PCBMT)) to assess its impact on behavioral healthcare engagement in populations with PTSD.

Veteran's Service In Research Veteran's Advance Complementary And Integrative Mental Healthcare, Dessa Bergen-Cico

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster encompasses findings from research using complementary and integrative health interventions for Veterans with traumatic stress/PTSD. These studies encompass: a.) the use of mindfulness-based interventions for treatment of PTS/PTSD, suicidality, and depression (Possemato, Bergen-Cico et al, 2016) b.) implementation science involving Veteran peers as co-facilitators of primary care delivery of mindfulness-based interventions for Veterans with PTS/PTSD (Possemato, Bergen-Cico et al, 2022) c.) the efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention as evidenced by changes in biomarkers like cortisol a stress hormone(Bergen-Cico, Possemato, et al, 2014) d.) dog ownership and companionship for management of PTS/PTSD (Bergen-Cico et al, 2019; Ramon, Bergen-Cico Possemato, 2022)

Bisphosphonates Loaded Nanoparticles In Microparticles As Macrophage Targeting Immunomodulatory System For Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Therapy, Paul Sagoe, Kaixiang Zhang, Benjamin Zink, Era Jain

Voices of Service Symposium

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a painful and debilitating disease that emerges following a joint injury. Given the rigorous nature of military training and the subsequent injuries sustained during service, the incidence of PTOA in military demographic is five-times higher than the general population, making it the leading medical cause of disability and early discharge from active duty. Emerging evidence suggests inflammatory macrophages as key drivers of PTOA progression, thus abating their activity may advance therapy. Zoledronate (Zol), a bisphosphonate with high macrophage-affinity and anti-inflammatory properties, has potential for PTOA treatment but is limited by low bioavailability, rapid joint-clearance and elevated …

Enhancing The Impact And Longevity Of Research On Veterans And Military-Connected Populations At Syracuse University, Grace R. Swinnerton, Dylan Mohr

Voices of Service Symposium

What happens to your poster on veterans and military-connected populations after today's presentation? What about future research outputs? Are you seeking a platform that offers persistent access, increased discoverability, and encourages the use and re-use of your work? This poster explores how SURFACE, Syracuse University's digital repository, provides a comprehensive solution to these needs.

SURFACE is a free, open-access resource that ensures long-term preservation of a wide range of content, including digital posters, articles, books, journals, and more. For example, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has leveraged SURFACE to store their Applied Research outputs. This partnership has …

Research That Drives Economic & Social Mobility For Veterans And Military Families, Rosalinda V. Maury

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster highlights IVMF's data-driven research and programs that advance economic and social mobility for veterans and military families. It showcases findings on employment, entrepreneurship, transition readiness, and community reintegration, with insights drawn from national surveys and ongoing data monitoring. These findings inform policy, improve program design, and support stakeholders working to enhance veteran outcomes across sectors.

Pain Interference And Hazardous Drinking Among U.S. Veterans: The Role Of Combat Deployment, Joon Kyung Nam, Kyle Mackenzie White, Victoria E. Carlin, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (i.e., patterns of alcohol consumption that elevate risk for negative health outcomes) are both common and often co-occur among U.S. veterans. Research examining associations between pain interference (i.e., extent to which pain disrupts daily functioning) and alcohol use among non-military samples has yielded mixed findings, with some linking greater pain interference to lower levels of alcohol consumption, and others linking it with increased odds of alcohol dependence. However, there has been a paucity of research examining these relations among veterans, and the role of combat exposure remains unexplored. The goal of these analyses was to …

Race And Military Service: Economic Mobility For Underrepresented Racial Minority (Urm) Veteran Entrepreneurs, Mauricio Mercado, Arielle Badger Newman

Voices of Service Symposium

The United States military has long been perceived as a path to upward economic mobility, offering comprehensive training and a robust support network for veterans. Yet for historically underrepresented minority populations, the full scope of this potential remains uncertain due to ongoing discrimination and disparities in access to opportunities. This research interrogates how intersecting identities of military service and race shape entrepreneurial outcomes and pathways to economic mobility.

Perceptions About Pain And Alcohol In Relation To Hazardous Drinking Among Veterans With Chronic Pain, Ava Cohen, Victoria E. Carlin, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction. Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (e.g., patterns of alcohol consumption associated with increased risk for negative consequences) are highly prevalent among U.S. military veterans. Perceptions regarding pain-alcohol interplay (i.e., pain as a motivator of drinking, use of alcohol to cope with pain, and pain as a barrier to alcohol cessation/reduction) may contribute to the onset and maintenance of hazardous drinking among individuals with chronic pain. Methods. Participants included 430 veterans who reported current chronic pain and past month alcohol consumption (24% female; 73% White; Mage = 57) and completed an online survey using Qualtrics Panels. Measures included the Perceptions …

Introduction To Military Culture And Mental Health Practice, Ken Marfilius, Sam Coyl

Voices of Service Symposium

The Introduction to Military Culture and Mental Health Practice course equips students across disciplines primarily social work with foundational skills for working with service members, veterans, and their families. Developed in 2016 by a former U.S. Air Force officer, the course addresses trauma, ethical dilemmas, dual loyalty, and command structures within military systems. Coursework includes case studies, ethical analysis, and interviews with military-connected individuals, fostering clinical and cultural competence. With 153 students trained to date, the course supports careers in the VA, nonprofits, and the Armed Forces, while advancing the university's commitment to military-affiliated students.

Legal Services For Homeless Veterans: New Va Grants Aim To Provide Critical Services To Veterans In Crisis, Elizabeth Kubala, Seth M. Owens, Andrew M. Patterson

Voices of Service Symposium

Ending and preventing homelessness among Veterans is a priority for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 2022, the VA created the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans (LSV-H) grant program, providing funds for legal services organizations to deliver essential legal aid to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. As one of only three law schools that are current LSV-H grant recipients, the Syracuse University Veterans Legal Clinic provides legal aid to homeless veterans in the areas of housing, income support (VA disability), access to healthcare, and requests to upgrade military discharge or dismissal of a former member …

Expectancies For Alcohol Analgesia And Alcohol Use Among Veterans With Chronic Pain: The Moderating Role Of Discrimination In Medical Settings, Victoria E. Carlin, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joon Kyung Nam, Grant H. Ripley, Alexa G. Deyo, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction. Chronic pain and alcohol use are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur among U.S. military veterans. Expectancies for alcohol analgesia (i.e., degree to which an individual believes that consuming alcohol can help reduce or manage their pain) may contribute to alcohol consumption, dependence, and related harms. Discrimination in medical settings (i.e., degree to which one experiences inequitable treatment while receiving healthcare due to a stigmatized identity) has been linked to a variety of deleterious health outcomes and may amplify associations between expectancies for alcohol analgesia and drinking behavior. Methods. Participants included 430 U.S. military veterans with chronic pain who endorsed …

Increasing Access To Valuable Services For Veterans Treatment Court Participants, Elizabeth Kubala, Bill Rielly

Voices of Service Symposium

The Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) at the Syracuse University College of Law is partnered with the New York Health Foundation (NYHF) to develop and implement an approach for expanding the services available to Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) participants across New York. VTCs offer an alternative to criminal court for many low-level offenses. The participants complete an intensive 18-month program of counseling, support groups, and recovery before graduating. A significant number of participants earned VA benefits through their service but are not receiving those benefits. Advocating for these veterans benefits reinforces that their service was valuable, …